Insegnamento a.a. 2020-2021

The course will focus on the analysis of the business environment, the assessment of a firm’s resources and capabilities and the formulation of a competitive strategy. Moreover, the Business Policy course will train you in formulating coherent business plans and address complex strategic issues.

As a result of this course you will be able to:

1. Understand the nature of business and business strategy, the role of strategy in influencing the long-term performance of a business enterprise, and the role of   managers in formulating and implementing strategy.

2. Identify and critically evaluate a firm’s strategy—including analysis of the reasons for good or bad performance.

3.  Analyze and understand the environment within which business enterprises operate, including the characteristics of competition, and threats and opportunities that       managers must take account of.

4.  Identify the resources and competencies available to the business enterprise and appraise their potential to create a competitive advantage.

5.  Analyze the potential for corporate strategy to create value for a company in relation to vertical integration, diversification, and international expansion.

6.  Generate strategic options for an enterprise and appraise these options in terms of their potential to augment the firm’s performance

7.  Recognize the key issues involved in implementing strategy in relation to the design of organization structure and management systems and the role of leadership,       values, and coherence.

8.  Engage in the discussion of strategic issues and articulate views clearly and concisely.

• Understand the domain of international and global strategy.
• Gain an understanding of processes of strategy formulation and implementation, and learn how to apply them in a global setting.
• Be aware of competing arguments behind a number of strategic issues.
• Understand the generalist nature of management work.

• Design foreign market entry strategies.
• Asess the organizational design of multinational firms.
• Rapidly structure ideas and presentations, both as individuals and as members of a team.
• Analyze material quickly and efficiently, and to structure it into coherent arguments.
• Research material related to companies and business contexts under tight deadlines.
• Organize teamwork.

• Face-to-face lectures
• Online lectures
• Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
• Individual assignments
• Interactive class activities (role playing, business game, simulation, online forum, instant polls)

The course is taught using a combination of online learning, online lectures, case analyses, and class discussions.

• The readings give students a broad picture of what global strategy is all about.
• The course includes several case-based sessions. Preparatory questions are assigned for all case sessions. Students are expected to analyze the cases either individually or within their working groups before class. Each individual is required to discuss and prepare the cases specified in the course outline for the respective sessions. Individuals may be asked at random to present their findings to the class. It is the express policy of the instructor(s) that no late assignments are accepted under any circumstances.

Strategy App 40%

The Strategy App will ask you to go through multiple choice questions at the end of each chapter. These DO NOT count for grading purposes. What I do consider when making grades is your work uploaded in relation to the study-buddy exercises.

Reflection Paper 60%

On maximum 4 pages (including title page, references, and appendix), you are asked to reflect upon your most important learnings from the course. What have we studied that is interesting? What new things have you learned? Has the program changed your way of thinking? Did it conflict with beliefs you held previously, and what evidence did it provide you with in order to change your thought process on the topic? Writing this reflection paper encourages you to find what is meaningful to you and thus it adds value to your learning. Do not simply outline or summarize the material we have covered. I want to know what the material means to you.

Bonus points

Up to two bonus points will be given to students that have actively engaged during the online live sessions. 

•       Cases available online

•       Material provided in the Strategy App