ESCUELA SUPERIOR POLITÉCNICA DEL LITORAL
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS SOCIALES Y HUMANÍSTICAS (FCSH)
COURSE SYLLABUS
BUSINESS STRATEGIES
1.
2.
CODE AND NUMBER OF CREDITS:
CODE
NUMBER OF CREDITS
ICHE04887
Theoretical: 4
Practical: 0
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The objective of this course is to consolidate students knowledge about the different aspects of running a
company, builds their confidence in analyzing the revenue-cost-profit economics of a business, helps them
understand how the functional pieces of a business fit together, provides valuable practice in crafting profitable
growth strategies, and sharpens students business judgment. Students will gain some useful experience and
practice in assessing business risk, analyzing industry and competitive conditions, making decisions from a
companywide perspective, thinking strategically about a company's market position and the kinds of actions it
will take to improve it, developing strategies and revising them in light of changing conditions, and applying
what they have learned in the University.
3. PRE-REQUISITES AND CO-REQUISITES
PRE-REQUISITES
(ICHE03988) MARKETING RESEARCH
CO-REQUISITES
None
4.
CORE TEXT AND OTHER REQUIRED REFERENCES FOR THE TEACHING OF THE COURSE:
CORE TEXT
1. Duane Ireland, Robert Hoskisson, Strategic Management:
Competitiveness and Globalization: Concepts and Cases Michael Hitt,
Nineth edition, 2011, South-Western Cengage Learning.
REFERENCES
1. The Business Strategy Game, Study Guide and Software, Third Edition,
2012, Editorial McGraw-Hill.
2. Power point slides provided by the professor in class.
3. BSG-Online Game software.
5.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
Consolidate their knowledge about the different aspects of running a company and the strategies they
could apply.
Gain experience and practice in assessing business risk, analyzing industry and competitive conditions, and
making business decisions.
Develop strategic thinking and development of strategies to successfully compete in the business
environments.
Develop abilities to work in teams to correctly distribute de decisions regarding the different areas of the
company.
COURSE PROGRAM:
IG1003-3
1.
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
THE BUSINESS STRATEGY GAME. (14 HOURS)
Software explanation.
Practice Decisions.
10 years of simulation.
Strategic Plan.
Report presentation.
2.
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FOR BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS. (4 HOURS)
The I/O model of above-average returns.
The resource-based model of above-average returns.
Vision and mission.
Stakeholders.
Strategic leaders.
The strategic management process.
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COURSE SYLLABUS
BUSINESS STRATEGIES
3.
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS. (4 HOURS)
The general, industry, and competitor environments.
External environmental analysis.
Segments of the general environment.
Industry environment analysis.
Strategic focus.
Strategic groups.
4.
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS. (4 HOURS)
The nature of internal environmental analysis.
Resources, capabilities, and core competencies.
Building core competencies.
Outsourcing.
Competencies, strengths, weaknesses, and strategic decisions.
5.
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
BUSINESS LEVEL STRATEGY. (4 HOURS)
Effectively managing relationships with customers.
The purpose of a business-level strategy.
Types of business-level strategies.
Differentiation strategy.
Focus strategies.
Integrated cost leadership/differentiation strategy.
6.
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
COMPETITIVE RIVALRY AND COMPETITIVE DYNAMICS. (4 HOURS)
A model of competitive rivalry.
Competitor analysis.
Drivers of competitive actions and responses.
Competitive dynamics.
7.
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
CORPORATE LEVEL STRATEGY. (4 HOURS)
Levels of diversification.
Reasons for diversification.
Value-Creating Diversification: Related constrained and related linked.
Unrelated diversification.
8.
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
ACQUISITION AND RESTRUCTURING STRATEGY. (4 HOURS)
The popularity of merger and acquisition strategies.
Reasons for acquisitions.
Problems in achieving acquisition success.
Effective acquisitions.
Restructuring.
9.
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
9.6
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY. (4 HOURS)
Identifying international opportunities: incentives to use an international strategy.
International strategies.
Environmental trends.
Choice of international entry mode.
Strategic competitiveness outcomes.
Risks in an international environment.
10. COOPERATIVE STRATEGY. (4 HOURS)
10.1 Strategic alliances as a primary type of cooperative strategy.
10.2 International cooperative strategy.
10.3 Network cooperative strategy.
10.4 Competitive risks with cooperative strategies.
11. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CONTROLS. (4 HOURS)
11.1 Organizational structure and controls.
11.2 Relationships between strategy and structure.
11.3 Evolutionary patterns of strategy and organizational structure.
11.4 Implementing business-level cooperative strategies.
11.5 Implementing corporate-level cooperative strategies.
11.6 Implementing international cooperative strategies.
IG1003-3
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COURSE SYLLABUS
BUSINESS STRATEGIES
12. STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP. (2 HOURS)
12.1 Strategic leadership and style.
12.2 The role of top-level managers.
12.3 Managerial succession.
12.4 Key strategic leadership actions.
7.
WORKLOAD: THEORY/PRACTICE:
Sessions per week: 2 sessions
Sessions length: 2 hours
Weeks per semester: 14 weeks
8.
CONTRIBUTION OF THE COURSE TO THE EDUCATION OF THE STUDENT:
Students will gain some useful experience and practice in assessing business risk, analyzing industry and
competitive conditions, making decisions from a companywide perspective, thinking strategically about a
company's market position and the kinds of actions it will take to improve it, developing strategies and revising
them in light of changing conditions, and applying what they have learned in the University.
BASIC TRAINING
PROFESSIONAL
TRAINING
SOCIAL SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT
X
9.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE AND THE LEARNING
OUTCOMES OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM:
LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE
DEGREE PROGRAM*
CONTRIBUTION
(High, Medium,
Low)
a) Have the ability to work as part
of a multidisciplinary team;
MEDIUM
b) Understand the ethical and
professional responsibility;
MEDIUM
c) Have the ability to communicate
effectively in Spanish both orally
and in writing;
d) Have the ability to communicate
effectively in English;
e) Having a broad education to
understand the impact of the
solutions of their career in the
global, economic, environmental
and social context;
f) Recognize the need to continue
learning throughout life and have
the ability and attitude to do it;
g)
Understand
issues;
IG1003-3
contemporary
LEARNING
OUTCOMES OF THE
COURSE**
4
1, 3, 4
THE STUDENT MUST:
Having a good level of
organization
and
teamwork.
Understand the importance
of moral and ethical
behavior at all times while
operating
their
virtual
companies,
duties
and
delivery of lessons.
LOW
MEDIUM
1, 2, 3
Write and write well
homework,
workshops,
exams, and also have a
good level of English to
manage the BSG Online.
LOW
MEDIUM
1, 2, 3
Recognize that business
strategies to be applied
will
depend
on
the
environment and the type
of organization where she
works.
LOW
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COURSE SYLLABUS
BUSINESS STRATEGIES
h) Have the ability to lead and
undertake;
i) Apply analytical tools to assist in
the evaluation and efficient
management of financial, human
and technological companies in
order to project internationally;
j) Analyze
the
economic
environment
and
recommend
business strategies and long-term
to add competitiveness to the
company in the domestic and
international markets;
k) Develop and evaluate export
and import projects that contribute
to the economic development of
the company and the country,
looking to fulfill corporate social
responsibility.
MEDIUM
Having a good organization
for the proper performance
of their virtual businesses.
3, 4
MEDIUM
Propose
strategies
to
optimize resources to gain
competitive advantage in
the market for BSG Online.
1, 2, 3
HIGH
Propose strategies to gain
competitive advantage in
the market for BSG Online.
1, 2, 3
HIGH
Propose strategies for the
proper performance of
virtual enterprises and the
correct sale and distribution
of products in different
markets.
1, 2, 3
(* This column must also include the common curricular outcomes (cross-curricular outcomes) that the institution
approved on 16th February 2012 via resolution CP 12-02-078 of 23rd February 2012 (CAc-2012-034))
(** Only the NUMBER corresponding to section 5 of this document must be written.)
10. EVALUATION IN THE COURSE:
Evaluation activities
Exams
Tests
Homework/tasks
Projects
Laboratory/Experiments
Class participation
Visits
Other
X
X
X
X
X
11. PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CREATION OF THE SYLLABUS AND THE DATE OF ITS CREATION
Created by
EC. MARÍA CECILIA MORENO
Date
NOVEMBER/2012
12. APPROVAL:
ACADEMIC SECRETARY OF THE
ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT
NAME:
Lcda. Ingrid León Vasconez
SIGNATURE:
DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL
ACADEMIC SECRETARY
NAME:
MSc. Marcos Mendoza Vélez.
SIGNATURE:
Date of approval by the Directive
Council: R-CD-FEN- 004-2013
January 14, 2013
13. VALIDITY OF THE SYLLABUS:
RESOLUTION OF THE
POLYTECHNIC BOARD:
13-10-269
DATE:
IG1003-3
October 17, 2013
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COURSE SYLLABUS
BUSINESS STRATEGIES