STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

The course is one of the core courses of the degree programme in Economics and management (http://www.unive.it/data/32461/ ). The course will introduce the basic concepts of business strategy, with a special emphasis on the strategic analysis, and the relationship between business strategy and the competitive ecosystem. The course is designed to introduce students to key strategy concepts and to provide the opportunity to integrate and apply prior learning acquired during the degree.

The course will enable students to critically analyze concrete examples of business strategy and how firms are facing the challenges of global competition. In particular, students will be expected to be able to:
1 Knowledge and understanding
- knowledge of the fundamental principles of strategic management;
- knowledge of the theoretical frameworks apt at understanding and explaining strategy formulation and implementation,
- Knowledge and understanding of the different theoretical approaches to the study of the relationship between resources and capabilities, corporate strategy and business strategy.
2 Applying knowledge and understanding
- application of the fundamental tools and models on strategic planning;
- analyze and evaluate critically real-life company situations and develop creative solutions, using a strategic management perspective (individually and in a team setting).
3 Making judgments
- know how to frame a hypothesis and which is the most appropriate tool or model to apply;
- ability to critically evaluate the most suitable strategic options.

Basic knowledge of the theory of the firm, microeconomics, and basic management concepts will be taken for granted. Those who have not passed Principles of Management and International Accounting exam, cannot take this exam. Please consult the following page: https://www.unive.it/web/it/1188/esami

The course program includes presentation and discussion of the following subjects:
The Concept of Strategy
Industry Analysis
Resources and Capabilities
The Nature and Source of Competitive Advantage
Industry Evolution and Strategic Change
Technology-Based Industries and the Management of Innovation Corporate Strategy
Cases

Required Textbook

Foundations of Strategy
Authors: Robert M. Grant, Judith J. Jordan
ISBN: 978-1-118-91470-0
Publisher: Wiley
Chapters: 1–7

Further Reading

Strategic Management of Technological Innovation
Author: Melissa A. Schilling
Publisher: McGraw Hill
Chapters: 1–4

Additional Readings

Additional reading materials will be made available on Moodle.

The exam is written and oral (oral is optional)

Written part of the exam
- Traditional pen & paper. no external help allowed
- 10 multiple choice questions to answer in 30 minutes. Each question is presented with four options.
- Correct answers awards 3 points. Blank answers are worth 0 points. Wrong answers are worth -1 point.
The exam consists of a written and an oral part (the oral part is optional).

Written Part of the Exam
• Traditional paper-based exam; no external assistance is permitted.
• 10 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 30 minutes. Each question has four options.
• Correct answers are worth 3 points. Blank answers are worth 0 points. Incorrect answers are worth -1 point.

Oral Part of the Exam
Students who are dissatisfied with their grade on the written exam may register for an optional oral exam to improve their grade (or, for those who obtain 30/30 on the written exam, to be considered for honors).
The oral exam consists of a single question. If the answer is complete, the student may receive up to three additional points. If the answer is incorrect or insufficient, the student's grade may be reduced by up to three points.

Bonus Points
During the course, there will be up to four case study discussions and/or lectures given by business professionals. Students will be asked to write a short essay addressing one question from each case study or lecture.
Students who participate in the discussions/lectures and submit the corresponding essay will receive bonus points that will be added to their final exam grade. Bonus points are valid only the first time a student registers for the written exam. If the student passes the exam, the bonus points will be added to the test score.

written and oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Grades are determined based on the scores obtained for each exam question.

Each question has four answer options. Correct answers are worth 3 points. Unanswered questions receive 0 points. Incorrect answers receive -1 point.

In the optional oral examination, points are awarded based on the student's demonstrated mastery of the subject:
- 3 points: Excellent mastery of the subject in response to the questions asked.
- 1 or 2 points: Good knowledge and acceptable answers to the questions asked.
- 0 points: Inadequate answers.
- From -1 to -3 points: Incorrect answers, inability to discuss the proposed topic or justify the answers given in the written exam, or failure to answer.

The course teaching method is based on traditional lectures, case study teaching, class discussions.
Team or individual works might be proposed, requiring students to analyze real-world case studies. Bonus point might be provided, up to 3 points valid for the final exam.