MGMT 452 - Case Studies in Global Management

Objectives

The need for global strategy is intense as capital markets become more erratic, growth opportunities dwindle and competition emerges from unexpected countries and in unexpected ways. This course exposes students to strategic management in an international context. Students learn how to assess the strategic position and align the conflicting goals of the various regional, divisional and functional managers with an enterprise's mission.

The course introduces the basic concepts and tools for formulating business strategy and focuses on how firms can develop sustainable competitive advantages. The course also introduces the role of the board of directors and general management as strategy makers. It provides the tools necessary to analyse the business environment, the resources of the firm, and alternative strategies. The course consists of lectures, extensive case work to demonstrate the use of the tools in a business context, written analysis and simulated board room presentations and interactions. The course is designed to help students apply the cultural, business and academic experiences gleaned from their year abroad within a theoretical framework to practical problems that businesses face in a globally competitive environment. The goal is to foster research skills, persuasion skills, integrative case-solving skills, practical planning and implementation skills.

Central topics include assessing industry economics and dynamics to identify strategic threats and opportunities, evaluating the profit potential of strategic resources and capabilities, and strategic diversification. Other topics include assessing actual and potential cost and differentiation advantages, vertical scope of the firm, strategic management of multi-business firms, global strategy, strategic alliances, competitive advantage, strategic management in technology-intensive industries, and strategy under uncertainty.

Content

• The Nature Of Global Strategy
• Strategy Formulation.
• The Business Mission.
• The External Assessment.
• The Internal Assessment.
• Strategy Analysis And Choice.
• Focusing On The Network Vs. Competitive Advantage
• Strategy Implementation.
• Implementing Strategies: Management And Operations Issues.
• Implementing Strategies: Marketing, Finance/Accounting, R&D, And Mis Issues.
• Strategy Evaluation.
• Strategy Review, Evaluation, And Control.
• Strategic Management Case Analysis.
  • How to Prepare and Present a Case Analysis