Course 2008-2009 a.y.

Course Objectives

The focus of this course is on how general managers enhance and sustain business performance by implementing some kind of long-term strategy. The course covers analytical and conceptual tools that are meant to be aids to the development of judment. Its fundamental focus, however, is not on tools, but on sharpening skills at developing robust judgments in the face of uncertainty and complexity.

Course Content Summary

• What is strategy?
• Industry Analysis
• The internal sources of competitive advantage
• Differentiation vs cost strategies
• Growth strategies
• Diversification: the scope of the firm
• Vertical integration
• Strategy implementation

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Attending  students
Students will be evaluated on class partecipation, individual assignments and final exam (NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO PARTIAL EXAM)

The final grade will weight these areas in the following way

Final written exam           60%

Individual assignments   25 %

Class Partecipation         15%

Non-attending students
Written exam.

Textbooks

Course pack (cases and readings), edited by the instructors.