Strategy
BackAs the business environment is becoming ever more complex, more turbulent, more global and more competitive, thinking strategically about how a firm should position itself in order to compete successfully is becoming increasingly critical. Those firms that will survive, grow and create value are firms with a clear vision of what their competitive advantage is and of how to maintain and enhance it.
The perspective of this course is that of a general manager whose responsibility is to maximize the overall performance of the firm or the performance of a business unit within the firm. To achieve this objective, general managers must analyze the drivers of the firm’s current performance and identify external changes that may affect this performance. On this basis, their job is then to find ways to better leverage the firm’s internal resources in order to sustainably improve performance.
At the corporate level, general managers’ responsibility is also to define the scope of the firm’s activities, to implement strategic moves that will affect this scope, and convince shareholders and stakeholders of the relevance of their strategy.
As newly hired MBAs, you will not only need to understand, share and implement the strategy of your company, you will also be required to participate in shaping it.
The objective of this course is to review the main concepts, methods and tools which are used in the strategy formulation and implementation processes, identify the business situations in which they can be applied most effectively, as well as understand the limitations of the various approaches.
The course comprises 14 case discussion sessions, 2 review sessions and 4 conferences given by top managers.
The course covers the two main areas of strategy: Business Strategy and Corporate Strategy. Business Strategy deals with how firms compete in one particular industry, while Corporate Strategy examines how companies create value by expanding into new areas of business.
The main topics addressed in Business Strategy
are:
- Industry analysis
- Competitive dynamics
- Sources of competitive advantage
- Firm-specific resources
- Competitor analysis
- Competitive interaction
The main topics covered in Corporate Strategy are:
- Value Creation
- Business portfolio analysis
- Vertical integration
- Globalization
- Diversification
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Strategic Alliances
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Yonatan Halter
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"Strategic Management is about asking the right questions. When it comes to evaluating a business, how can you discern its competitive advantage? Will you be able to replicate the advantage? Using case studies and meetings with CEOs, Strategic Management professors will guide you through the myths and reality of successful business. You will build your own tool box that will help you to assess business models in a systematic manner. Keep in mind: innovation is not only about technology, it is also about business models!" Yonatan Halter, Full-time MBA 2011 |
| "The Strategic Management course brought together all facets of my MBA education. Professor Dussauge taught us to analyze companies from the inside out and go beyond our initial conclusions. Now I look at a company and don't try and understand it at face value but to understand its story. The Strategic Management course helped me hone the analytical and critical thinking skills I'll need to be successful in my post MBA career." Kristin Baker, Full-time MBA 2011 |
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Kristin Baker
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Sauvik Tegta
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"The course on strategic management was a great blend of academics and personal interaction with the industry leaders. With a 100% case based approach the professor was instrumental in building an engaging classroom discussion and facilitating the exchange of ideas among students from varied backgrounds and over 50 nationalities. The case studies elucidated the application of various strategy frameworks and focused on a range of contemporary strategies such as the bottom of the pyramid strategies. The most unique experience was learning from the CEOs themselves who executed these cases in real life." Sauvik Tegta, Full-time MBA 2011 |
Dussauge Pierre
ProfessorStrategy and Business Policy
Phelps Corey
Associate ProfessorStrategy and Business Policy
Which MBA is for you?
Inform us of your experience and background as well as your personal and professional objectives by completing the candidate profile online! This no-obligation form is also quick and easy to complete. A Development Manager will provide a preliminary evaluation of your profile giving you an assessment of your potential as an HEC MBA candidate.