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Global Strategy and Organization

Graduate · Historical course

Spring 2012

This subject focuses on the specifics of strategy and organization of the multinational company, and provides a framework for formulating successful and adaptive strategies in an increasingly complex world economy. Topics include the globalization of industries, the continuing role of country factors in competition, organization of multinational enterprises, and building global networks. This particular version of the subject is taught and tailored specifically to those enrolled in the {{% resource_link "f4b7926e-7c5c-4488-9276-810dcb88d7af" "MIT Sloan Fellows Program" %}}.

Readings

Spring 2008

Companies today confront an increasing array of choices regarding markets, locations for key activities, outsourcing and ownership modes, and organization and processes for managing across borders. This course provides students with the conceptual tools necessary to understand and work effectively in today's interconnected world by developing strategic perspectives that link this changing environment, the state of the global industry, and the capabilities and position of the firm. The goal of this subject is to provide the foundations for taking effective action in the multi-layered world of international business. The first section of the course provides frameworks for identifying and taking advantage of the opportunities presented in a dynamic global environment at the level of the country and industry. The second section of the course focuses on firm-level strategic choices regarding where to engage in which activities. The third section focuses on the challenges of integrating the multiple perspectives, functions, and interests that constitute the multinational firm.

Readings

  • In the following table, the Ghemawat readings are taken from the required textbook:
    Listed reading
  • Ghemawat, Pankaj. Redefining Global Strategy: Crossing Borders in a World Where Differences Still Matter . Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 2007. ISBN: 9781591398660.
    Listed reading
  • Friedman, Thomas. “It’s a Flat World, After All.” The New York Times Magazine , April 3, 2005.
    Listed reading
  • Ghemawat. “Semiglobalization and Strategy.” Chapter 1.
    Listed reading
  • Porter, Michael. “Competing Across Locations: Enhancing Competitive Advantage through a Global Strategy.” From On Competition . Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 1998. ISBN: 9780875847955.
    Listed reading
  • Beise, Marian. “Lead Markets: Country-Specific Drivers of the Global Diffusion of Innovations.” Research Policy 33 (2004): 997-1018.
    Listed reading
  • Lessard, Donald. “Frameworks for Global Strategic Analysis.” Journal of Strategic Management Education 1 (2003): 19-37.
    Listed reading
  • Ghemawat. “Differences Across Countries.” Chapter 2.
    Listed reading
  • Reading assignment
  • Ferdows, Kasra. “Making the Most of Foreign Factories.” Harvard Business Review (March-April 1997): 3.
    Listed reading
  • Ghemawat. “Arbitrage - Exploiting Differences.” Chapter 6.
    Listed reading
  • “IBM and Globalization: Hungry Tiger, Dancing Elephant.” The Economist (April 4, 2007).
    Listed reading
  • SES #: 6 · TOPICS: Expanding from new regions · READINGS: Bartlett, Christopher, and Sumantra Ghoshal. “Going Global: Lessons from Late Movers.” Harvard Business Review (March-April 2000): 133-142. · CASES: ICICI’s Global Expansion, HBS 9-706-426.
    Reading assignment
  • Dawar, Niraj, and Tony Frost. “Competing with Giants: Survival Strategies for Local Companies in Emerging Markets.” Harvard Business Review (March-April 1999): 119-129.
    Listed reading
  • Ramamurti, Ravi, and Jitendra Singh. “Generic Strategies of India’s Emerging Multinationals.” In Emerging Multinationals from Emerging Markets . Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming.
    Recommended
  • Bartlett, Christopher, and Sumantra Ghoshal. “Managing Across Borders: New Organizational Responses.” Sloan Management Review 29 (Fall 1987): 43-53.
    Recommended
  • Ghemawat. “Adaption - Adjusting to Differences.” Chapter 4.
    Recommended
  • Santos, Jose, Yves Doz, and Peter Williamson. “Is Your Innovation Process Global?” MIT Sloan Management Review 45 (Summer 2004): 31-37.
    Recommended
  • Majchrzak, Ann, Arvind Malhotra, Jeffrey Stamps, and Jessica Lipnack. “Can Absence Make a Team Grow Stronger?” Harvard Business Review (2004): 131-137.
    Recommended
  • Ghemawat. “Aggregation - Overcoming Differences.” Chapter 5.
    Recommended
  • Ghoshal, Sumantra, and Lynda Gratton. “Integrating the Enterprise.” Sloan Management Review 44 (Fall 2002): 31-38.
    Recommended
  • Ghemawat. “Playing the Differences.” Chapter 7.
    Recommended
  • Bartlett, Christopher, and Sumantra Ghoshal. “What is a Global Manager?” Harvard Business Review 81 (2003): 101-108.
    Recommended
  • Ghosn, Carlos. “Saving the Business Without Losing the Company.” Harvard Business Review (January 2002): 3-11.
    Recommended
Sources