CORPORATE STRATEGY

The course aims to present and discuss theoretical frameworks and models that may be used to formulate and implement corporate-level strategies. In particular, students will develop the competence to understand and analyze strategic decisions on: - Industry, resources and competitive advantage; - Scope of the firm and growth strategy; - Managing multi-business and international companies.

Basic knowledge of management, accounting, finance, organizational design and competitive strategy.

Knowledge and understanding. The course will present theories and frameworks to analyze corporate strategy. Students should be able to understand the corporate strategy theories and frameworks presented during the course. Applying knowledge and understanding. Being exposed to different active learning teaching methods (e.g., incidents, cases, project works, videos), students will learn how: (i) to analyze the corporate strategy of specific companies; (ii) to assess if and how the corporate strategy may promote value creation; (iii) to advance proposals aimed at improving the corporate strategy of specific companies. Making judgements. The use of active teaching methods will encourage students to collect and analyze data on the corporate strategy, so to assess its consequences on value creation. Students will be also asked to present and explain their position on corporate strategy decisions of specific companies. Communications Skills. Thanks to lectures in class and reading the textbook at home, students will learn key concepts, theoretical frameworks and topics related to corporate strategy. Moreover, during highly interactive sessions (e.g., incident, cases, videos, project work) they will present their position and defend it in front of the class. Learning skills. The several teaching methods employed will allow students to develop a customized (i.e., “one size does not fit all”) approach in the analysis of the corporate strategy decisions. Thanks to high interactions in class, students will mature a critical assessment of their understanding of key concepts, theoretical frameworks and practices related to corporate strategy.

Corporate Strategy. Industry, resources and competitive advantage. Vertical integration and the scope of the firm. Global strategy and the multinational corporation. Diversification. Implementing corporate strategy. External growth strategy. Corporate governance.

The textbook of the course is a collection of readings (chapters) from: Robert Grant, Contemporary Strategy Analysis, Wiley, 2016 (or more recent editions). Materials provided online by the professor

Classes, case discussion, guest speaker, work groups,

The grade will be the result of: a) a written exam (70%); b) a group project (30%) c) individual contribution to case discussion .

To pass the exam, a project defined following instructions given by the professor