• Demonstrate an understanding of what strategy is and how it is formulated in a business context.
• Demonstrate mastery of the business context by performing a situation analysis and knowledge of the market research process.
• Demonstrate an appreciation for various strategic decision making models and steps in an effective decision making process.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of business ethics and corporate culture and design in formulating strategy.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Chinese market and characteristics of Chinese consumers in devising effective business strategy to compete in China.

The goal of this course is to develop students’ ability to evaluate the strategy process and understand how executives make strategic decisions that ensures effective business performance. Students will be exposed to important managerial theories and models with the aim of developing sound business strategies to successfully compete in the marketplace. Numerous cases will be analyzed throughout the course to help contextualize the materials, and thereby help bridge theory and practice. Notably, students will also gain knowledge and insights into the Chinese marketplace and learn about current trends amongst Chinese consumers, all of which is important for anyone desiring to do business in and with China.

Mandatory readings:

1. Strategy
• Case: Netflix (HBS)
• What is Strategy (HBS)
• The Five Forces that Shape Competitive Strategy (HBS)
• What is Strategic Management (UVA)
2. Evaluating the External Environment
• Case: Uber: Managing a Ride in China (Ivey)
• Situation Analysis (HBS)
• China Business Report 2019 (Amer. Chamb. of Commerce)
• Xerox (note)
3. Executing strategy through organizational culture and design
• Case: Duane Morris (HBS)
• Leading by Leveraging Culture (HBS)
• Case: Appex Corporation (HBS)
• Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow (HBS)
4. Importance of Research when devising Strategy
• Case: Gap: Predicting Consumer Tastes with Big Data (HBS)
• Extreme Consumers (HBS)
• Big Data and a Framework for Corporate Strategy (IU)
• Oracle (note)
5. Understanding the Chinese Market and its Consumers
• China: the New Normal (HBS)
• Case: WeChat (LBS)
• Consumer Decision Journey (McKinsey)
• China Luxury Report 2019 (McKinsey)
• What Singles Day can Tell Us (McKinsey)
6. Strategic Decision Making
• Case: All Star Sports Catalogue (HBS)
• Delusions of Success (HBS)
• Strategic Decisions (McKinsey)
• The Hidden Traps of Decision Making (HBS)
7. Leadership
• Case: NYPD New (HBS)
• What Leaders Really Do (HBS)
• Leading Change (HBS)
• Chinese Philosophies and Leadership (Leadership Quart.)
8. Developing Strategy for China
• Case: Starbucks in China (HKU)
• Case: Ikea in China (Ivey)
• The Chinese Negotiation (HBS)
• China’s Furious Five Smartphones (INSEAD)
9. Importance of networks (or “guanxi” in China)
• How to Build Your Network (HBS)
• How Top Talent Uses Networks (J. of Org. Dynamics)
• Guanxi Practice in China (J. of Contemporary China)
• Chinese Business Etiquette (Oxford)
10. Ethics in strategic management
• Case: Becton Dickinson (HBS)
• Case: Designing a Compliance Program at AB InBev (HBS)
• Case: Crown Worldwide: Integrating CSR in Business (HKU)
• The Most Important Leadership Competencies (HBS)
• Moral Theory, Frameworks, and the Language of Ethics and Business (UVA)
11. Managing performance
• Case: Rob Parson at Morgan Stanley (HBS)
• Case: Strategic Management at Zhujiang Steel (HKU)
• Why it’s So Hard to be Fair (HBS)
• Performance Appraisal (HBS)
• Balanced Scorecard (HBS)