MG220: Corporate and Organisational Strategy

Course Content

This course is an introduction to the strategic management of modern diversified firms. It studies how the firm’s portfolio of products and its internal organisation can be designed to maximise corporate performance. 

The course addresses the following questions facing modern managers: 

• What products and businesses should the firm focus on? 
• What activities should be subcontracted and which should be carried out inside the firm? 
• How should the firm be organised internally to coordinate and motivate employees, managers and other stakeholders? 
• What are the consequences of providing workers and managers with performance pay?
• What is corporate culture, and does a strong culture affect the way that an organisation reacts to changes in the environment?
• What are the decision-making and integration challenges arising in mergers and acquisitions?
• What makes strategic alliances valuable and stable? 

The issues will be approached by integrating conceptual, empirical and case methods. Particular emphasis will be placed on bringing these different perspectives together. The course will only require basic mathematical knowledge but will call for rigorous reasoning. In the classes, students are expected to make presentations and to participate actively in the discussions.

Texts*

There is no textbook that covers all the issues in this course. A number of optional readings will be provided to students on the course.

* A more detailed reading list will be supplied prior to the start of the programme

**Course content, faculty and dates may be subject to change without prior notice