Instructional goals
Course objectives are: a) to ensure theoretical and conceptual ground to formulate and implement corporate-level strategies, b) to enhance the understanding of critical success factors of external growth operations, c) to offer a complete framework for strategic analysis that regards optimization considerations in portfolio management by multinational multibusiness firms, d) provide practical skills and hands-on experience in business management (business game simulation).
Prerequisites
Business Economics and Management, Industrial Economy
Intended learning outcomes
Acquisition of transversal knowledge about main corporate-level strategies. Ability to use main tools for analyzing resources and competences as well as the competitive environment. Ability to interact with others during the business game and ability to discuss case studies during lessons.
Course Contents
The concept of Strategy. Megatrends. Industry, resources and competitive advantage. Vertical integration and the scope of the firm. Global strategy and the multinational corporation. Diversification strategy. Global strategy and the multinational corporation. Implementing Corporate Strategy: managing the Multibusiness firm.Corporate governance. Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG
Reference Books
Robert M. Grant. Contemporary Strategy Analysis. 12th Edition, 2024. Wiley Supplementary material announced during the course.
Teaching Methods
- Frontal teaching - Case discussions - Team work on a business challenge - Discussion with guest speakers
Assessment Method
The final grade for attendees consists of: 1) Final written exam, 60 minutes and confirmatory oral exam where 3 points can be added or subtracted from the grade of the written exam (67%) 2) Business Challenge (33%) the exam can only be taken in attendee mode and attendance is compulsory. No compliant students will have to take a final written exam, 90 minutes (100%) and oral exam (3 points can be added or subtracted from the grade of the written exam) on all topics covered by the Robert Grant’s manual.
Thesis assignment criteria
No merit criterion is required for thesis assignment (mean, 'grades, language skills, etc.). The only criterion followed is the assignments chronology. A written proposal must be sent to state the main topic and its relevance. Students have to provide a two- or three-pages word document, including bibliography, which describe in summary: - Reference literature: generical sources (e.g. Google), industrial sources (e.g. Il sole 24 ore, The economist, Il mondo) and related scientific literature
Week 1
Course overview. Presentation of the Enquiry-Based Project and Business game presentation. The concept of strategy. Corporate Strategy fundamentals. Megatrends.
Week 2
Industry. Competitive analysis.
Week 3
Resources and capabilities. Strategy implementation. Strategic change. Sustainable competitive advantage.
Week 4
Vertical integration and the scope of the Firm.
Week 5
Diversification strategy.
Week 6
Global Strategy and the Multinational Corporation.
Week 7
Institutions, culture and ethics. The role of institutions in the company growth strategy. Institutional and neo-institutional theory. Institutional entrepreneurship.
Week 8
External growth strategies. Greenfield, Brownfield, Mergers & Acquisitions. Collaboration strategies. Alternatives to vertical integration, long-term contracts, alliances & networks.
Week 9
Corporate Governance and management. Agency theory. Internal and external governance mechanisms. Governance mechanisms in different institutional contexts. Managing the Multibusiness Firm. Corporate restructuring. Divestment strategy and value creation.
Week 10
Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG. Sustainability impact on the firm’s competitive advantage.
Week 11
Digital transformation. Innovation. Business model innovation. Technology strategy and management of innovation.
Week 12
Business Challenge Presentations