Tel-Aviv University
Faculty of Management
The Leon Recanati School of Business Administration
3045-02-b-a
Strategic Management - 1231.3045.05
Spring Semester 2002
Lecturer:
Class schedule:
Office:
Office hours:
Teaching Assistant:
Telephone:
Dr. Tamar Almor
Mondays 8:15 – 9:30, room 408
Tel: 03-9634270 (you can leave a message if I am not in)
E-mail: talmor@colman.ac.il; or tamalmor@netvision.net.il
According to appointment
Mr. Shlomo Tarba
052 436675
E-mail: tarba@agri.huji.ac.il or shlomo_tarba@yahoo.com
Course objectives
The objective of this advanced course is to extend your knowledge in strategic management.
The course is based on the introductory "Principles of strategy" and will touch upon issues such
as business strategies and models for firms operating in the "new economy" and
knowledge-intensive firms. It will also discuss models for corporate strategies and global
strategies. The course will further develop the relationship between strategic thinking and
strategy implementation and will integrate knowledge gathered in other courses regarding
functional strategies and management. The course will be based on case studies and recently
published articles.
Course structure
The course is based on lectures, class discussions, reading material, preparation of case studies
as well as a project. The course is based largely on in-class learning experiences, therefore it is
recommended strongly to participate in class discussions and oral presentations.
Reading material:
1. Grant, R.M. Contemporary Strategy Analysis. Blackwell, 1998.
2. Almor, T. and Hashai, N. FDI, International Trade and the Economics of Peace Making.
Academic Studies Division, Rishon LeZion, 2000.
3. Besanko, D., Dranove, D. and Shanley, M. The Economics of Strategy. John Wiley and
Sons, 1996.
Requirements
All students are required to hand in a term paper as well as two case-study analyses. In addition
each group presents an analysis of one of the case studies in class. Your grade is established as
follows:
Final project - term paper (group)
40%
Case study - two in total (individual grade) 20% each – 40 % total
Case study presentation (group)
20%
The case study questions should be answered individually. The term paper (final project) can
be prepared by a group of three people at most. All written assignments may be handed in either
in Hebrew or English.
Class attendance and participation
Students are expected to participate actively. This means that you have to attend at least 75% of
all classes. In addition you must contribute significantly to in-class analysis of cases. Each
student is expected to be an active participant and to make meaningful comments on cases
being discussed. Merely attending class is not sufficient, attendance is not the same as
participation. Bonus points will be rewarded to active, smart participants.
Case study preparation
You either hand in answers to the question(s) or a short one-page summary of the case study,
make sure to hand in answers to two case studies. Answers to the case studies should be
prepared individually. Written answers to case studies are due the week the case is discussed in
class and should address the specific question(s) posed in the syllabus only. Analysis of
financial and other data should be presented in appendices. The assignments should be based
on analysis, not present summaries and ungrounded opinions of the author(s).
All written analyses are to be typed and to follow correct form, spelling and grammar.
The paper should include a cover page, the name of the author, the name of the case study, the
date and the name of the instructor.
The paper should not exceed 1500 words (not including appendices). Short, accurate papers
are preferred. Papers can be written in English or in Hebrew.
Term paper
Each student (group) has to hand in a term paper at the end of the semester. You are requested
to choose a topic for your term paper by the seventh meeting. Present the instructor with a
short description of the project of your choice. Make sure that the instructor agrees with your
topic before you start working.
The paper has to be typed (double space) and should not exceed 8000 words. The term paper
has to be handed in two weeks after the last class meeting. Students who cannot meet this
deadline have to contact the instructor or the assistant prior to that date. Papers that are handed
in late without prior consent will not be graded.
The term paper should address one of the topics discussed during the semester while analyzing
a business firm.
1. In-depth analysis of the basis for the firm’s SCAs and their sustainability over time
2. Analysis of growth strategies, either international or diversification strategies.
3. In-depth analysis of a firm’s competitive environment.
Class Schedule
Meeting No.
1
11.3.02
2
18.3.02
3
8.4.02
4
15.4.02
5
22.4.02
6
29.4.02
7
6.5.02
8
13.5.02
9
20.5.02
10
27.5.02
11
3.6.02
12
10.6.02
13
17.6.02
Topics
Strategic management – formulation and
implementation: British Airways (movie)
Analysis of the competitive environment: the
industry life cycle
Strategies of cost leadership: Amazon.com (movie)
Reading
Grant ch. 7
Grant ch. 10
Grant ch. 8
Case study: WalMart
Strategies of differentiation: Benetton (movie)
Grant ch. 9
Case study: Cola Wars
Building competitive advantages for knowledge –
intensive firms
Knowledge-intensive firms in Israel: empirical
findings
Case study: Tecnomatix
Grant ch. 11
Almor
Business models and the implementation of strategy: Grant ch. 13
Dell (movie)
Strategies of growth: diversification
Grant ch. 15, 16
Strategies of growth: internationalization
Case study: Aladdin
Grant ch. 14
Assignment questions
WalMart Stores’ HBS 9-794-024
Discuss the drivers to Walmart’s competitive position. How does the company achieve cost
leadership? How sustainable is the position?
Cola Wars Continue: Coke Vs. Pepsi in the 1990s HBS 9-794-055
Explain why Coke and Pepsi are so profitable – use Porter’s 5 forces. Why should Coke and
Pepsi buy their bottlers since bottling is less attractive than CP?
Tecnomatix - A global entrepreneurial company - Almor, 1998
Analyze Tecnomatix’ current strategic situation. Tecnomatix is caught in a strategic
paradox – describe and analyze.
Aladdin Knowledge Systems (AKS) HBS N9-598-018, 1997
Analyze Aladdin’s current strategic situation. What growth strategy did Aladdin choose?
Express your opinion regarding Aladdin’s future success based on its strategic decisions.
Course assignments - Strategic Management
Dr. Tamar Almor
This form should be handed in before the fourth meeting. Hand in one form per group; keep a
copy for your own records.
Group members (name & student no.)
1.
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2.
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3.
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Oral presentation (choose one and specify):
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Case study: ______________________________

Final project:______________________________
Describe the project you would like to work on:
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Sources of information:
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