Course content
PROGRAM IN DETAILS AND SESSIONS
1. Introduction to the course and Diversification
Introduction to the course contents, and methodology. Introduction to Diversification Strategies
Objectives: Motives of corporate diversification. How to plan a successful diversification strategy. Diversification and Performance.
2. Growth and strategic models
Acquisitions and Strategic Partnerships as mode to externally grow into new business opportunities.
Objectives: How to evaluate when an acquisitions and/or a strategic alliance is the most appropriate choice.
3. Venture Financing
Introduction to the principles of venture financing, advantages and challenges, and growth opportunities for new ventures
Objectives: How to see VC as an opportunity for growth; how the model of VC works and impact venture strategy development.
4. Managing corporate growth: The growth corridor
Why is growth essential for the survival of organizations? What are the (upper and lower) limits of growth? How to determine a growth corridor, which helps to determinate growth boundaries of an for-profit organization
5. Competitive dynamics in digital markets
What are digital markets? What types of digital markets we have? How do they differ from traditional markets”? How to think about market boundaries and competition in digital markets? What are the competitive strategies in digital markets and how do they differ from competitive strategies in traditional markets?
Objectives: Difference of digital markets and traditional markets. How to assess competition in digital markets. How to design competitive strategies in digital markets
6. Platform-based disruption of traditional sectors
What is platform disruption? Platform disruption vs. Disruptive innovation. Types of platform disruption. Pre-conditions and predictors of platform disruption
Objectives: When are incumbent firms most likely to be disrupted by platforms. What is platform disruption and how it unravels. Predictors of platform disruption.
7. Ecosystem design and strategy
Ecosystems: what they are and why they matter. Ecosystems vs. platforms. Ecosystem emergence and strategy. Strategies for leveraging ecosystems
Objectives: Ecosystems: understanding the firm’s broader environmental context. How to design a successful ecosystem strategy: building your own ecosystem vs. playing in others’ ecosystems
8. Corporate Entrepreneurship
Innovation in large incumbents. Corporate Venture Capital. Collaboration between startups and corporations.
Objectives: Understand the innovation challenges in large organizations. Introduction to collaborations between large firms and startups via equity investments.
See course description in course catalogue