• The thoroughness of the understanding of the relevant strategy theory.
• The ability to choose and apply relevant theories to solve the case problem(s), establish link to the relevant academic literature, integrate case data and information with analysis frameworks and theory.
• The quality of the case analysis in terms of relevance of aspects and issues discussed.
• The consistency as well as stringency in reasoning.
• The ability to reflect critically on own conclusions and recommendations.

This is the second course in strategic management at the study program. The aim of the first course was to provide students with a strong theoretical foundation in the strategy field. This second course takes a more pragmatic approach towards the application of strategy analysis, and extends the perspectives from the previous course to corporate strategy and, specifically, to the multinational, corporate management context.

All strategy topics of the course deal with the management of different businesses and product-market activities within the umbrella of the larger, typically multinational, enterprise. Hence, the course focuses on the effective management of business entities operating across different product-markets and thereby builds on the business strategy perspectives concerned with firm positioning in industry specific product-markets.

Effective corporate strategy relates to business expansion to a larger, multinational scope. One of the fundamental challenges is to lead and structure the firm so that its different parts provide a genuine contribution to global, corporate performance. Upon completion of this course the students should be equipped to address essential corporate strategy issues and analyze complex multinational enterprises. As a result, students will be able to assess strategic risks and opportunities for the firm itself but also for its stakeholders, such as employees or investors, both nationally and internationally.

The course is based on a combination of: textbook, scientific articles, case studies. The textbook, which will be available in the bookshop “SL books” is: Robert M. Grant.  Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 11th Edition. The additional readings for the ten class sessions and related exercises are listed below. All additional readings can be accessed via the CBS library homepage. If some of the articles are not accessible via the CBS homepage, the teaching team will provide the documents on Canvas.

Some of the case studies used in this course are available in the Grant book. Others are not in the book, and need to be bought separately. You can access the Harvard Business School Publishing website to purchase these additional cases. Please note that the case providers charge a fee for the use of each case. All students are individually responsible for purchasing the cases. We use this service in this course because it provides an efficient and cost effective way for students to purchase the case materials for this course. We do not condone the copy or use of these materials by students who have not purchased the materials from an authorized case provider themselves. This behavior is illegal and violates copyright law.

Please note that there might be some changes in the final readings before the respective class sessions. These changes will be announced in class or via Canvas and my.cbs.dk will also be used to communicate other course-related information such as illness of teachers.