NUS BUSINESS SCHOOL BMA5013

Corporate Strategy

Lecturer: Dr. Nitin PangarkarOffice: BIZ1 #02-22, Tel: 6874 5299e-mail: bizpn@nus.edu.sg

Term: Semester 1, 2004/2005.

Course objectives

This course requires you to assume the role of a general manager. Since general managers have to cope with tremendous complexity, uncertainty, and inadequate information, an important requirement of a general manager's job is the ability to think in a cross- functional and holistic manner. Very often, decisions that are optimal for an individual business unit or department are not in the best interests of the whole firm. Creativity and innovation are critical to achieve success as a general manager since following often-traveled strategic paths is unlikely to result in a superior performance. Creativity can be exercised in both analysis as well as implementation.

This course seeks to develop both the analytical skills as well as the action orientation that is required of a general manager. The assigned readings and discussion sessions in the course will address the analytical tools required of a general manager but the theoretical knowledge can only be imbibed with considerable practice. Hence a significant part of the course will be devoted to the discussion of cases.

Recommended Text Strategic Management, Competitiveness and Globalization (5th Edition) ,

By M.A. Hitt, R.D. Ireland and R.E. Hoskisson, Thomson/ South-Western Publishing, 2003 (Hereafter HIH). WE WILL USE THE CONCEPTS BOOK.

We will also discuss several Harvard cases and one Ivey case. The method for procuring these cases will be discussed during the first class.

We will be using 2 cases from Business Strategy in Asia, A Casebook (2nd

edition) by Singh, Pangarkar and Heracleous, Thomson Learning (2004). A few copies of the book will also be available on RBR. Students who intend to take Global Strategic Management later may find it worthwhile to buy the book.

Weightage of assessmentClass participation+ contribution to the discussion forum 20%Two quizzes through the term 20%Group case analysis 20%Group project on a selected topic (presentation) 20%Final (format to be decided later) 20%

Course Schedule

Session

Topic Readings

1 Introduction to the course Nature of strategy (Introduction) Macro-environmental analysis

HIH, Chapters 1 and 2

2 Macro-environmental analysis (contd)

Porter's Five forces analysis

HIH Chapter 2

3 Business level strategy, competitive advantage & sustainability

Case discussion

HIH, Chapters 3 and 4

Crown Cork and Seal

4 Case discussion Coca Cola versus Pepsi Cola and Soft Drinks Industry

5 Quiz 1 Case discussion The Singapore

Airlines Group†6 Entry and response to entry,

Case discussion

HIH, Chapter 5 Wal Mart’s

Discount Store Operations

7 Case Discussion

Vertical integration

Samsung in the Theme Park Industry

8 Diversification, Portfolio Planning techniques (1)

Case Discussion

HIH Chapter 6 Corporate Strategy

at the Hour Glass† 9 Take home mid-term case analysis;

no class10 Diversification, Portfolio Planning

techniques (2) Quiz 2

HIH Chapter 6

11 Mergers and acquisitions Case Discussion

HIH Chapter 7 Asahi Glass

Company: Diversification Strategy

12 Strategic intent Catching up/ Summary and wrap-up Group Project Presentations

13 Group Project Presentations

14 In-class final

† denotes cases available in Business Strategy in Asia by Singh, Pangarkar and Heracleous.General standards and evaluation process:

1. Participating in class is important to learning strategy through the case method. It gives you an opportunity to discuss your proposed solution with peers. In the process, you can judge clarity of your own thoughts as well peers' reaction to your ideas. Attending as many classes as possible is important for receiving a good grade on class participation.

2. There may not be one correct answer to the question posed in the case though some answers may be more correct than others. The quality of supporting reasoning that you provide for choosing one alternative over others will be used to evaluate your contribution to the class discussion.. Class participation also means listening to other people and being sensitive to their points of view.

3. Please read, in advance, the cases and the readings assigned for every class. If you are not prepared for any class, please let me know in advance so that I don't inadvertently embarrass you. Individuals and/or groups may be called on to present their analyses in class.

4. Feel free to come and talk to me regarding any aspect of the course including your individual performance or issues discussed in the class. Suggestions for improving the quality of class discussion are always welcome.

PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR MOBILE PHONES WHILE YOU ARE IN CLASS. UNLESS IT IS ESSENTIAL, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM LEAVING THE CLASSROOM DURING THE DISCUSSION.

Mid-term case analysis Each group is required to hand in a paper on a case assigned to you around the middle of the term. The paper should not exceed 5 double-spaced pages with a standard font such as Times Roman 12. Exhibits and figures can be in addition to the 5 pages but they must add value and not repeat the information from the case. You may reference data or text from the case simply be citing the relevant page number (e.g., page 4, para 3 of case, or Table 2 in case).

Quizzes There will be two quizzes through the term. The quizzes are intended to reinforce the learning occurring in the previous classes and also test whether you are prepared for the particular class. They will often involve application of concepts learned. The duration for each quiz will be about 45 minutes.

Term Project to be done in groupsEach group is required to do a project on one of the contemporary topics listed in the guidelines. I have listed a number of topics that are of current interest. As far as possible, I have tried to pose the topic in the form of a question and/ or a debate. Your task is to gather some relevant material to the topic, read, summarize and synthesize the articles and prepare a 20-minute presentation on the topic. Your presentation should include, at the minimum, some background information introducing the issue, a brief summary of arguments that have been advanced by the previous literature, conflicts (if any) among the different arguments and your own view regarding the topic. Some initial references are provided with the list of topics. The list is NOT EXHAUSTIVE and I expect you to do some search on your own. Typically, projects that deal only with the references I have listed (don’t locate any materials on their own) receive a mediocre grade. If the topic is not clear, please feel free to contact me for explanation. You must hand-in a list of references that you have consulted for your project. TWO OR MORE GROUPS CAN DO THE SAME TOPIC AT THEIR OWN RISK (=DUPLICATION OF CONTENT ACROSS GROUPS)