Competitive Industry Analysis

3 units

Competitive Industry Analysis (CIA) applies economic and game-theoretic models to develop a systematic way of thinking about business decisions in competitive markets. The goal of each session is to extract insights from specific settings that can be applied to future real-world business challenges. Students learn how firms’ choices shape rivals’ actions, how companies legally and sustainably achieve profits and market share, and what strategic pitfalls to avoid. The course integrates ideas from economics, strategy, marketing, finance, and related fields. Topics include price and quantity competition, barriers to entry, product differentiation, mergers and acquisitions, real options, vertical integration, quality management, R&D, cost structures, and patent strategies. CIA emphasizes (1) economic intuition (without requiring advanced mathematics) and (2) case studies of global industries (e.g., diamonds, cereal, pet food, sports equipment, TV) and firms (e.g., Nintendo, Uber).