Business Strategy

Course Description

The course contains four main parts which refer to the following:

• Strategy as a concept: Views of strategy "fit" to environment and capabilities, strategy as intention. Strategic processes, emerging strategy.
• Strategic analysis: frameworks, methods and tools for analysing the business environment. Resources and capabilities analysis. Stakeholder analysis. Sources of competitive advantage.
• Strategic choice: Choices of key competitive strategies. Creating alternative strategic options, across a range of growth internal and external to the firm. Options for strategic alliances versus acquisitions. Ways of evaluating these options.
• Strategy implementation: Translating strategy into programs with actions and activities covering a wide range: operational strategies, structures, systems, skills, culture, management styles. Structure and strategy. Strategic planning processes. Implementation of strategic changes.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand strategic issues in the business world.
• Be familiar with a set of concepts, frameworks, methods and tools from the formulation of a business strategy to its implementation.
• Apply concepts and tools.
• Appreciate both the theories developed in the field and business practices
• Evaluate and analyse strategic issues in the context of the complex processes that take place in the contemporary business environment.