Corporate Strategy

Strategy

This page should help you get an idea of some of the topics we will be discussing in practicals (the videos) and give you an idea of what is expected from the project, case study, and presentation. We look forward to a great semester with you all! Strategy Updates and Class Topics and Discussions along with helpful hints and forums can be on our Facebook (see to the left and become a fan) and Twitter accounts www.twitter.com/woltersworld AS WELL AS ON THE MAIN PAGE OF WOLTERS WORLD We will not be updating on this strategy page, but however on the main page www.woltersworld.com

Office Hours:

Mark: Thursday 12:30-2:00, or by appointment Office 131. Theoretical Classes: Tuesday and Thursday at 15:30. Practical Classes are on: Thursdays at 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 and 14:00.

The discussion topics are as follows: All topics and additional Strategy topic videos can be found at www.youtube.com/besteconomicsfaculty There are more than that are embedded here.

FOR CLASS NOTES CLICK HERE!!!!

 

Introduction to Strategy Course

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InjK0SCOuYo

Class Evaluation:

Exam: 50% of the final grade. You must achieve an 8 or higher to pass the course regardless of previous course work. If a student does not receive a exam grade of 8 or higher, their course work will not be enough to award them a passing grade. Case Studies 5% of final grade (included in the class participation 10%)

• A case study will be assigned and the group will need to analyze the case and make strategic decisions regarding what happened in the case and what the company or industry should do. Or there will be 3 questions.
• Two pages. 12 Font. Times New Roman. 1.5 line spacing.
• Due date pending. There will be a box at the security desk.

  Group Project and Presentation: 40% of final grade (50% project, 50% presentation). Choose one of the following two options

• Maybe you have an idea for a new company or product. Analyze the market and the current situation and give recommendations for possible strategies to go forward with the product/company/service.
• Ask your relatives/friends/others for companies that would like to be analyzed. Analyze the strategies used by their companies. Not only show what has been done, but what are the future possible strategies and why they would seem to be the most likely potential alternatives. You will be doing consulting work for them. www.woltersworld.com would be an example, and available topic.

The written project is divided into three parts, 1. History of the company (1-2 pages that are not graded). 2. Analysis: you analyze what a company is doing, you use as any of the tools as you need (7-9 pages). 3. Recommendations: your recommendations for the company moving forward (3-5 pages). The project is 12-15 pages long, 1.5 line spacing. Title page requires all student names and numbers. The date and time of your presentation. This page does not count in your 12-15 pages. Appendix also do not count. Project due Wednesday November 17, by 8:00 AM. There will be a box at the security desk from the preceding Thursday. Presentations: November 18, 25 and December 2. 15-20 minutes, basically a summary of the most important parts of your project. Professional dress required. Attendance Policy: Students are allowed to miss three practical courses, if they miss four practical classes they are failed from the course. Exceptions are made due to illness and work. Also, discretion of the professor.  Week 1: No discussion first week as it is a discussion class and they only start the second week of class. Week 2: Introductions and “What is Strategy?” Week 3: Emergent vs Intended Strategies, Corporate Governance

Emergent vs Intended Strategy Video

  httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue8VPmQraf8&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=1 

Intended Strategies are strategies that are set up in a “perfect world” that never really happens in real life. However, it gives us a goal to shoot for. Emergent strategies are the “things that pop up” along the way and we must then develop new strategies in order to deal with new market opportunities or troubles. Realized strategies are the strategies that actually happen. That is, they are a combination of intended and emergent strategies. Week 4: Micro and Macro Enviroment and their effects on Strategy Development

 

Micro and Macro Environment Effects on Strategy Development Video

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xwyGVr51Dw&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=2

The main thrust of this analysis is for you to look at the macro environment that a company or industry is facing and see how it can affect them and everyone else. We divide the analysis into four parts. This is called the PEST analysis. 1. Political: what legal or politcal happenings can affect our company directly or indirectly and how to we deal with them. 2. Economic: what economic issues can affect our company and how do we fight them off or at least lessen their blow. 3. Social-cultural: what trends, demographic changes, society needs do we need to look out for and adjust to. 4. Technological: What tech advances can help us or hurt us. And how do we deal with them.   Week 5: Key Success Factors  

Key Success Factors for Industries Video

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkmVLBn4_88&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=4   Ask yourself three questions: 1. What do customers want and why? 2. How do companies compete in this industry? 3. Is there any guarenteed death traps within this industry that we must avoid. You put those three questions together and you come up with 5 or 6 key success factors for an industry that help make the good companies good and the great companies great. Week 6, 7 & 8: Strategic analysis tools: SWOT, 5-forces, BCG Matrix, Ansov Matrix,Value Chain Analysis, Product life cycle, Competitive Strategies, National Diamond Framework, and much more…

 

Differentiation vs Cost Leadership Video (South Carolina, USA)

Cost Leadership – sell and produce as cheap as possible. Differentiation – do whatever you can to get people to value your product more, thus they will pay more for it. Focus – pick a specific niche and go for it!

 

SWOT Analysis Video

Look at Internal Strengths and Weaknesses of a company and figure out how to make them better.

Look at external Opportunities and Threats that companies must be watching out for.

 

BCG Matrix Video from Milan, Italy

You divide the market between, industry growth and market share.

Star – high market share and a high growth industry

Dog – low market share, low growth industry

Question Mark – high growth, low market share

Cash Cow – low growth but high market share

 

Ansov Matrix Video from Innsbruck, Austria

Coming up with new recommendations for companies. Either by finding ways to 1. sell more of your old product to your old customers. 2. sell your old product to new customers. 3. sell a new product to old customers. or 4. sell a new product to new customers.  

Product Life Cycle Video from Milan, Italy

Introduction – expensive new products, innovative, Differentiation strategies Growth – Product becomes accepted, differentiation strategies Mature – Growth tales off, product has saturated the market, few new customers, most are just replacing older versions of the same product, cost leadership strategies. Decline – death to the product! A new technology has come out or product that seals the doom of the product, DVD players for the VHS video tapes, still some buyers, like Schools for VCRs to play their old videos.  

 

Porter’s 5 Competitive Forces Video

from Vicenza, Italy

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B9CqNKnKDU&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=10

Bargaining Power of Suppliers – Does a company control or fear their suppliers

Bargaining Power of Buyers – Does a company fear its customers or control them.

Threat of New Entrants – how likely is it that a new company will enter the industry

Threat of Substitute Products – what is the threat of customers switching to a substitute product?

Strength of Rivalry – is competition tooth and nail or a friendly competition?

 

Value Chain Analysis Video

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMryzFllynw&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=11

You break a company into its many parts, there are two main groups. The primary activities that actually make, produce and sell a product or service and secondary activities like management, infrastrucutre or HR that are behind the scenes but can still add value to a company’s product or service. Basically you find a way to add value at any step of the value chain to get people to spend more for your product/service. Week 9: Instituting Change in an Organization

Change in an Organization Video from London

(poor sound quality, my apologies)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTV1vuMjpkM&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=12  

Week 10: Thinking Strategically

Strategic Thinking (Worst Case Scenario) Video

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1HlP5riMJo&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=15  

Porter’s National Competitive Diamond Analysis

from Vaduz, Liechtenstein

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZlaTpx-FOQ  

Why some nations are better than others in certain industries 1. Factor Conditions: you need the resources  2. Related and Suportive Industry: 3. Strategy, Structure, Rivarly: How to companies fight in their local markets. 4. Local Demand: How are their local customers driving the indutry and the company’s strategy.  

Vertical and Horizontal Integration Video

from Zurich, Switzerland

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmOFbk1aVbw&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=13  

 

Mergers and Acquisitions Video

from Zurich, Switzerland

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwQ2nZMECsg&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=14  

How to give a professional Presentation

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tYBkEtacsU&feature=PlayList&p=5F0FF1A0C6AFAAF2&index=16