Course 2014-2015 a.y.

Course Objectives

The course shows the nature of the problems and challenges confronted by managers responsible for corporate strategy and the skills needed by them to function effectively as strategists and organization builders. The course addresses the challenges of formulating and implementing strategy in companies that are active in multiple businesses. As such, it incorporates important recent developments in strategy that bring a broader perspective to issues of parenting advantage such as the management of strategy processes, resource allocation, realizing synergies, enabling knowledge sharing, internationalization strategies and managing diversification. The course provides the student with the analytic "toolkit" needed for strategic decision making, it also offers insights into the challenges of managing large organizations that enhance the student's abilities as a general manager.

Course Content Summary

• The Value Added of Corporate Headquarters.
• Diversification Strategies.
• Creating Value through Mergers and Acquisitions.
• Managing vertical integration.
• Internationalization Strategies.
• Understanding strategy processes.
• Implementing Corporate strategy: structure and system.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

• 50% written exam on the first exam date;
• 25% team assignment;
• 25% class participation. 

Textbooks

For attending and non attending students 

• R. Grant, Contemporary Strategy Analysis, Text Only, Wiley, 2012, 8th Edition.