Strategy and Competition / Strategy and Competition

The Academic Board of Business Administration, Odense
Teaching activity id: 9264101.
Teaching language: English.ECTS / weighting: 7,5 ECTS / 0.125 full-time equivalent.
Examination language: 0.
Exam activity id: 9264102.Approved: 29-09-17.
Period: Spring 2018.
Grading: External examiner.
Assessment: 7-point scale.
Offered in: Esbjerg.
Subject director:
Associate Professor Tove Brink, Department of Sociology, Environmental and Business Economics.

Prerequisites:
Bachelor Degree in Business or Economics.
Purpose:
The purpose of this course is that the student develops knowledge and understanding of the most important concepts, theories, and methods within the strategy and competition disciplines as well as skills in analysing strategic positioning and strategy processes through these concepts, theories and methods.

Furthermore, the course gives the student skills in application of strategic concepts, theories and methods according to different business cases drawn from various business contexts e.g. production, service and combinations of these two approaches. The business cases can both be situated in private and public frames. This knowledge and these skills equip the student with competences that enables her/him to give valuable contributions to management and leadership on strategic and competitive issues. The student should develop generic competences within strategy development and the need to adapt according to competition.


Content - Key areas:
The strategic concept and the development of the concept.
Strategic positioning and re-positioning.
The concept of competitive advantage according to environment, uncertainty, organizational and cultural support.
Strategy and the creation of relations
Strategy and social media
Corporate strategy, business unit strategies, functional strategies
Strategic Change and implementation processes.
Innovation and competitive advantages within different industry contexts
Global strategies, Mergers & Acquisitions and the multibusiness firm
Sustainability of strategy development and competitive advantages.

Goals description (SOLO taxonomy):
The student must be able to demonstrate knowledge of concepts, theories, and methods; and skills in using them on such a level that he/she can demonstrate the competences obtained in a specific case organisation. Moreover the students must demonstrate competences to reflect on differences in business contexts and the impact this has on the use of concepts, theories and methods.

It means that students in a team gather data and analyse the business context and based on this produce a clear and well-structured proposal for strategic re-positioning of the case organisation by correctly applying relevant methods, models, and theories to the case. The proposal for strategic re-positioning must include a proposal for implementing the strategy in the case organisation. The development of an appropriate proposal is thus a challenge for the students. The selection and application of relevant theories is a cornerstone in the argumentation of strategic initiatives.

Literature:
Grant, R. M. 2012. Contemporary Strategy Analysis. 8th edition, Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
+ selected articles and case material

Supplementary literature for Bachelor students not previously attending strategy courses:
Besanko et al., Economics of Strategy, 5th ed

Time of classes:
3rd Quarter.
Scheduled classes:
1x4 hours weekly in 8 weeks.

Form of instruction:
The student is expected to take responsibility for own learning and independently and in student teams study literature and work on small student presentations and assignments. The student’s learning is supported by lectures giving an overview of the concepts, theories and methods of strategy and competition.

Moreover the work on specific business cases is an integrated part of the learning provided in the lectures.

Workload: 187,5 hours
- 32,00 hours for lectures (8 weeks à 4 hours)
- 80,00 hours reading literature and course materials and preparation of lectures
- 75,50 hours preparing and attending exam

Time of examination:
Ordinary exam in April; re-exam in June.

Registration for the course is automatically a registration for the ordinary examination in the course. Cancellation is not possible. If the student does not participate in the examination, the student will use an examination attempt.
The university may grant an exemption from the rules in case of exceptional circumstances.
Examination form at the re-exam can be changed.

Examination conditions:
None.
Form of examination for the certificate:
Group report and oral exam

Supplemental information for the form of examination:
Individual oral examination in about 20 min. based on a written report in teams of 4-5 students.

Duration: See the plan for exam.
Place: No restrictions.
Internet access: Necessary.
Distribution of assignment: Through Blackboard.
Submission of examination paper: Via SDU-assignment in Blackboard.
Number of pages: The student report is limited to 15 pages (4-5 students).
In the report the student’s contribution to the report must be clearly specified. The team assignment consists of a case provided during lectures. In the penultimate lectures lots will be drawn on what case to work on in the team for examination. The team has to produce a proposal for strategic re-positioning and implementation of strategy to utilise the opportunities for gaining competitive advantages. Please read the General requirements for written assignments, which you find here.
Examination aids: All examination aids are permitted.

The student’s performance at the exam will be assessed and based on his/her ability to:
  • In the report gather information, analyse according to relevant methods, models, and theories and suggest a proposal for strategic re-positioning and implementation for the case company.
  • Answer questions on theory and applicability and reflect on the proposal and context of the case organisation posed during the oral examination.

Programmes:
MSc in Economics and Business Administration - Marketing and Innovation
2nd semester, 1. quarter, mandatory. Offered in: Esbjerg
MSc in Economics and Business Administration - Sports and Event Management
2nd semester, 1. quarter, mandatory. Offered in: Esbjerg
International Graduate Programme
Spring Semester, 1. quarter, elective subject. Offered in: Esbjerg