STR464 Cases in Strategy

• Topics

  The course will cover cases within the key areas of the field of strategy. Starting with business level strategy as the core level in strategy, we discuss issues such as how competitive advantage is created and exploited, how business model innovation and business model thinking can be usefully applied, and how firms can understand strategic interaction in a market.

  We next move up one level to strategic issues typically related to multi-business firms and issues related to vertical integration and its alternatives (such as partnerships and ecosystems).

  The final part will take us down one level as we dive into more functional or thematical strategies and challenges. These include a deeper dive into more narrow areas such as strategic challenges related to innovation and technology, strategic human capital, and the management of reputations and brands:

   

  Business level strategy

  • Creating and exploiting competitive advantage
  • Business model innovation
  • Coopetition and strategic interaction

   

  Corporate level strategy/Boundaries of the firm

  • Diversification and vertical integration
  • Partnerships/alliances and ecosystems
  • Growth and expansion

   

  Functional or thematical strategies

  • Innovation and technology
  • Human capital
  • Reputations and brands

• Learning outcome

  After completing the course, the student can:

  Knowledge

  • Understand the practical application of core constructs, theories and tools in business level strategy.
  • Understand the practical application of core constructs, theories and tools in corporate level strategy. 
  • Understand the practical application of core constructs, theories and tools in key functional areas of strategy.

  Skills

  • Identify the crucial aspects of strategic business problems of different types (see topics).
  • Separate key information from less important details.
  • Identify the trade-offs and risks involved.
  • Create solutions and recommendations in light of these trade-offs and risks.
  • Communicate strategic reasoning and recommendations.

  General competence

  • Build competence in analyzing practical business situations using tools, mechanisms and theories from the field of strategy.
  • Build competence in participating constructively in strategy discussion both in smaller teams and in larger (plenary) groups.

• Teaching

  The teaching will primarily consist of in-class case discussions, case discussions in smaller groups, and brief reviews of theory in a traditional format.

• Recommended prerequisites

  Students should have completed a bachelor-level course in Strategic Management

• Credit reduction due to overlap

  None

• Compulsory Activity

  Attendance at lectures is mandatory (minimum 80%) and participation in class discussions. Students will write one course paper in groups of 3-4 and present this in class. 

• Assessment

  4-hour written digital school exam.

• Grading Scale

  A-F

• Permitted Support Material

  One bilingual dictionary (Category I)

  All in accordance with Supplementary provisions to the Regulations for Full-time Study Programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics Ch.4 Permitted support materialhttps://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/and https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/