Strategic Management

3 units

This course introduces the skills and concepts of general management and strategy. The course adopts the perspective of the general manager; an individual charged with diagnosing complex situations and resolving them in ways that enhance organizational performance. To succeed as a general manager requires a vast set of skills. Many of these skills will be developed in subsequent coursework during your Olin EMBA program. By placing you in the shoes of the general manager early in your EMBA program, this course previews the issues and content that will arise throughout the program. The course focuses on how general managers position businesses and assets and craft strategies in ways that maximize long-term returns and generate value. We will focus on the characteristics of competencies and strategies that make some competitive positions strong and viable, while leaving others weak and vulnerable. We will examine how varying industry conditions influence firm performance and alter strategic decisions. An overriding objective of the course is to cultivate your skills in analysis, diagnosis, and strategy development. Through cases and discussion, you will analyze current capabilities and competencies, diagnose problems, and develop strategies that promote sustained competitive advantage.