Syllabus - Business Strategy (CB-504)

Introduction to Strategic Management, Importance of Strategic Management, Vision and Objectives, Schools of thought in Strategic Management, Strategy Content, Process, and Practice, Fit Concept and Configuration Perspective in Strategic Management

Internal Environment of Firm- Recognizing a Firm’s Intellectual Assets, Core Competence as the Root of Competitive Advantage, Sources of Sustained Competitive Advantage, Business Processes and Capabilities-based Approach to Strategy.

External Environments of Firm- Competitive Strategy, Five Forces of Industry Attractiveness that Shape Strategy, The concept of Strategic Groups, and Industry Life Cycle, Generic Strategies, Generic Strategies and the Value Chain.

Corporate Strategy, and Growth Strategies, The Motive for Diversification, Related and Unrelated Diversification, Business Portfolio Analysis, Expansion, Integration and Diversification, Strategic Alliances, Joint Ventures, and Mergers & Acquisitions

Strategy Implementation: Structure and Systems, The 7S Framework, Corporate Governance Strategic Control and Home Assignment:  Latest business events would be discussed in class and students should be ready to discuss these events (in groups). The topic will be mentioned beforehand. Students are required to meet in groups before coming to class and prepare on the topic.  There will be periodic homework assignments relating to the course concepts or mini-cases. Specific instructions will be given separately. Final Project: Students (in groups) are required to work on a project and submit the project report and deliver presentation. The topic of the project will be given later.