STR464 Cases in Strategy

• Topics

  The course will cover cases within the key areas of the field of strategy. Starting with business level strategy as the core level in strategy, we discuss issues such as how competitive advantage is created and exploited, how business model innovation and business model thinking can be usefully applied, and how firms can understand strategic interaction in a market.

  We next move up one level to strategic issues typically related to multi-business firms and issues related to vertical integration and its alternatives (such as partnerships and ecosystems).

  The final part will take us down one level as we dive into more functional or thematical strategies and challenges. These include a deeper dive into more narrow areas such as strategic challenges related to innovation and technology, strategic human capital, and the management of reputations and brands

   

  Business level strategy

  Creating and exploiting competitive advantage

  Business model innovation

  Coopetition and strategic interaction

   

  Corporate level strategy/Boundaries of the firm

  Diversification and vertical integration

  Partnerships/alliances and ecosystems

  Growth and expansion

   

  Functional or thematical strategies

  Innovation and technology

  Human capital

  Reputations and brands

• Learning outcome

  After completing the course, the student can:

  Knowledge

  • Understand the practical application of core constructs, theories and tools in business level strategy  
  • Understand the practical application of core constructs, theories and tools in corporate level strategy 
  • Understand the practical application of core constructs, theories and tools in key functional areas of strategy

   

  Skills

  • Identify the crucial aspects of strategic business problems of different types (see topics)
  • Separate key information from less important details
  • Identify the trade-offs and risks involved
  • Create solutions and recommendations in light of these trade-offs and risks
  • Communicate strategic reasoning and recommendations

  General competence

  • Build competence in analyzing practical business situations using tools, mechanisms and theories from the field of strategy
  • Build competence in participating constructively in strategy discussion both in smaller teams and in larger (plenary) groups

• Teaching

  Teaching will be mainly in the form of case discussions in class, case discussions in smaller groups, plus short reviews of theory in a traditional format  

• Recommended prerequisites

  Students should have completed a bachelor-level course in Strategic Management

• Credit reduction due to overlap

  None

• Compulsory Activity

  Requirements for course approval are participation in discussions in class, so attendance is mandatory. Students will write one course paper in groups of 3-4 and present this in class. Course paper is graded pass/fail.

• Assessment

  4-hour individual written school exam - digital

• Grading Scale

  Grading scale: A-F

• Permitted Support Material

  One bilingual dictionary (Category I)