Business Strategy

Introduction

The essence of strategy is the creation of sustainable competitive advantage, i.e. developing products and services that the customers perceive as valuable and unique. The field of strategic management provides a range of models that is useful in the attempts to develop sustainable competitive advantage. In this module the students will get acquainted with several of these models, both through lectures and case applications. On the level of the business unit, we will study both external, environmental conditions and internal resources and activities. External conditions include markets, economic parameters and competitive arenas with players and conditions that together give the conditions that the firm must position within. Internal analysis is a method to understand what resources and activities the firm possesses to take strategic action. On the corporate level, we will study the benefits of organizing several firms under the same corporate leadership. Strategic expansion, and different forms of organizations like alliances and mergers and acquisition will be given specific attention. We will also discuss firms operating across borders, and the specific challenges met by internationalisation. Finally we will look at  challenges related to strategy implementation.

Course content

DAY 1
An introduction to strategy. The field of strategy and its developments
Core concepts and approaches
Strategy levels.
External Analysis: The competitive arena and key strategic actors, strategic groups

DAY 2
Internal analysis: Activities and Resources, Strategic Choices

DAY 3
Global and Corporate Strategies

DAY 4
Implementation Strategies, 30% Course group exam. 

2 of the teaching hours in this course are dedicated to CSR, ethics, social and environmental issues.