Business Strategy

1.5 Credits · Level: Graduate

Why do some firms dramatically outperform others, even in the same industry? The answer lies in strategy—the choices firms make about where to compete, how to create and capture value, and how to sustain competitive advantage over time. Business Strategy is a course that develops the conceptual toolkit you need to make and evaluate those choices, drawing on the latest academic research from the field of Strategy and applied to real business decisions. We will explore strategic considerations associated with the attractiveness of various markets and industries; how firms utilize resources and capabilities and develop unique activities for competitive advantage; how firms position themselves in markets relative to rivals; how firms expand their vertical, horizontal, and geographic scope. We also delve into topics at the intersection of current events and strategy, such as innovation, digitization, technological change, and nonmarket strategy. Throughout the course, students are placed in the position of decision makers (or their advisors) and are expected to address various challenges germane to the firm’s competitive advantage. Reading materials provide contextual familiarity and teach the tools and skills required for meeting these challenges.