Course content
The course explores strategic management choices along with the role of innovation in creating sustainable competitive advantage. The sessions explore actors’ choices as they formulate, implement, test and adapt a variety of strategies to compete in domestic and foreign markets. It introduces frameworks and tools to: 1) analyze organizations in their industry context; 2) design and execute a coherent strategy; 3) structure an organization and design processes, systems, and practices to support this strategy. Concepts such as value creation, product diversification, internationalization, clustering and open innovation will be explored to understand how entrepreneurs manage innovation inside and outside of the boundaries of organizations.
The course is structured in two modules. Module 1 introduces firm level strategies and walks students through the process of strategic management. They learn to analyze the external environment of organizations, including the institutional and industry environments. They then analyze organizations’ internal resources and their role for strategic positioning. Module 2 focuses on internal growth strategies, such as product diversification, internationalization, and innovation in business models, products and management practices. Each session combines theoretical readings with case discussions and encourages students to understand and apply abstract frameworks, but also discuss their limitations.
Using case studies of both successful and failed strategies and experiences of guest speakers, students explore how executives are able to recognize opportunities for innovation and strategically respond to such opportunities. The curriculum provides tools to formulate action plans for sustainable competitive advantage and to discuss their merits and downside risks.
See course description in course catalogue