Contemporary Strategic Analysis
Course description
Unlike other business courses that concentrate narrowly on a particular function or field
of the business—accounting, finance, marketing, production, human resources, or information
systems, strategic management is a big picture course. It cuts across the whole spectrum of
business and management. The center of attention is the total enterprise – the industry and
competitive environment in which it operates, its long-term direction and strategy, its resources
and competitive capabilities, and its prospects for success.
Course objectives
 To introduce students to some basic concepts and theories in strategic management.
 To develop capacity to think strategically about a company, its present business position, its
long-term direction, its resources and competitive capabilities, and its opportunities for gaining
sustainable competitive advantage.
 To build skills in conducting strategic analysis in a variety of industries and competitive
situations.
 To give hands-on experience in crafting business strategy.
 To acquaint with the managerial tasks associated with implementing company strategies.
 To integrate the knowledge gained in earlier core courses (finance, accounting, marketing,
logistick).
Course content
The methods of analizing environment, crafting a well-conceived strategy and executing it
competently are introduced in the course. Developing skills in the field of strategic management
predetermines using active learning including broad variety of techniques. Case studies have an
especial important role in the course as a way of developing skills and knowledge in strategic
management. Students use cases about actual companies to practice strategic analysis and to gain
some experience in the tasks of crafting and implementing strategy.
Assessment
The assessments’ process include both final exam and some points of current control based
on such tools as essays, case analysis, tests, group work, comments on an article's theoretical
perspective and so on.
Main reading
Robert M. Grant. 2010. Contemporary Strategy Analysis (8th edition). John Wiley &Sons
Ltd.
Arthur A. Thompson Jr., A.J. Strickland. 2007. Strategic Management: Concepts and
Cases (11th edition). McGraw-HILL.