Topics
It is often stated that making strategic decisions is the easy part, implementing them is the hard part. In this course we draw on cases and research to discuss how to implement strategies that require radically different ways of thinking about and conducting work. This includes strategies aiming for growth (e.g. M&As), innovation, restructuring, offshoring/outsourcing and radical cost-cutting. Students gain hands-on experience through exercises, role play and case discussions of various aspects of planning and managing the transformation process. Themes include: setting up structures and processes that enable change and innovation, creating readiness for change, communicating a clear vision, mobilizing support, managing stakeholders, designing the transition process, handling unforeseen events, and developing capacity for parallel and subsequent changes.