Strategic Management Foundations & Capabilities

Overview

Unlock the essential principles of strategic management with this comprehensive specialization. Dive into business strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation to develop competitive advantages and integrate organizational culture. Explore advanced frameworks like SWOT analysis, VRIN model, and Porter's Value Chain. Enhance your management skills, navigate complex environments, and solve real-world business challenges through practical projects and case studies.

Syllabus

Foundations of business strategy

This module provides an introduction into the strategic management theories and its practical application. It covers: mission and goal formation, stakeholder theories, corporate governance, and business ethics. In addition to these topics, this module equips you with the strategy toolbox that includes: external and internal analysis, corporate level strategies and business level strategies, strategic decision making and at the end overall evaluation of strategy implementation and evaluation.

The internal business environment

This week, the module delves into strategic capabilities such as physical, financial, and human resources. It covers SWOT and VRIN analyses applied to organizations like IBM and McDonald’s, and examines Porter’s Value Chain. Additionally, the module equips you with the skills to critically analyse strategic capabilities and understand strategic positioning. By the end of the week, you should be able to apply these concepts effectively.

The external business environment

This week, the module delves into the external business environment. It covers strategic positioning analysis, including Porter’s Five Forces and the PESTEL framework. Additionally, the module examines scenario planning and the industry lifecycle. By the end of the week, you should be able to identify key drivers in the macro environment, critically analyse the external environment, and evaluate the complexities of strategic management in dynamic contexts.

Dynamic capabilities

This week, the module delves into dynamic capabilities. It covers the VUCA model and its application, the evolution of strategic management, and the differences between ordinary and dynamic capabilities. Additionally, the module examines how dynamic capabilities can be contextualized in uncertain environments. By the end of the week, you should be able to apply the VUCA model, critically analyse the evolution of strategic management, and understand the role of dynamic capabilities in business performance.