In this course participants will learn the basics of strategy formulation and implementation. They will learn how to carry out a strategic analysis and how to develop an effective business and corporate strategy. Topics discussed range from competitive strategy to industry dynamics, from strategic planning to strategy innovation.
In particular, by the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Understand the complex process that leads to strategy formulation;
2. Understand interdependences and integration in strategic choices;
3. Place strategic decisions within the context of industry structure and evolution;
4. Identify the nature and sources of competitive advantage and assess its sustainability over time;
5. Evaluate the implications of strategic decisions in terms of their execution;
6. Identify the available strategic options, their expected return and implicit risk;
7. Understand and analyse the exogenous variables that can impact the company’s strategic scenario and modify its position and performance;
8. Understand the relations that link strategy to business models and the firm’s ultimate goals;
9. Understand how strategic decisions can impact on social responsibility and business sustainability issues

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- What is strategy? The Strategy Diamond. Strategy as Business Model.
- Measuring Success. Principles of Value Management.
- How Much Does Industry Matter? Linking Strategy to Performance and Competition.
- Five forces model and its applications.
- Business and Corporate Strategies. Strategies for Growth.
- Diversification and portfolio matrixes.
- M&As and Alliances.
- Strategic Outsourcing and Vertical Integration.
- Platform strategies and ecosystems
- Strategy evaluation criteria.
- A Dynamic View of Strategy: from Decline to Innovation.
- In search of blue oceans: strategic innovation.
- Behavioral Strategy and Strategic Decision Making.

The teaching material will be made available on the Teams platform.

- What is strategy? The Strategy Diamond. Strategy as Business Model.
- Measuring Success. Principles of Value Management.
- How Much Does Industry Matter? Linking Strategy to Performance and Competition.
- Five forces model and its applications.
- Business and Corporate Strategies. Strategies for Growth.
- Diversification and portfolio matrixes.
- M&As and Alliances.
- Strategic Outsourcing and Vertical Integration.
- Platform strategies and ecosystems
- Strategy evaluation criteria.
- A Dynamic View of Strategy: from Decline to Innovation.
- In search of blue oceans: strategic innovation.
- Behavioral Strategy and Strategic Decision Making.

Lectures and case discussions.
Class activities will be recorded and made available online.

You are invited to contact the lecturer to receive detailed instructions on how to prepare the written papers.

Oral exam. The student will submit and discuss with the lecturer the following paper: Acquisition assessment: feasibility, acceptability and suitability of strategic decisions.

The course aims at increasing the students' awareness on the role of corporations in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals as set in the UN Agenda 2030 and in particular of the goals 8, 9 and 12.