Università degli studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Master of Science in Business Administration
______________________________________________________________________
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COURSE:
Aggregate Prof. Giovanna Lucianelli
Email: lucianelli@economia.uniroma2.it
Availability: contact via-email
PRE-REQUISITES FOR THE COURSE:
NONE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To provide students with background about the main issues that characterize Strategic
Management, from strategy definition to its implementation.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course analyses strategic behavior of firms. It deepens the analysis through an
Italian model in order to understand the differences between three ideal alternatives
to optimise a strategic position (competitive strategies – in order to control external
variability; flexibility strategies - to give greater flexibility to organisational and
operational structures; integration strategies - to control internal variability and move
towards an increased degree of coordination of decisions).
In this course the main schools of thought will be analysed and discussed, in order to
gain an in-depth understanding of how strategic management research has evolved.
At the end of the course, the students will be able to:
1. appreciate the contribution that strategy can make to successful performance,
both for individuals and for organizations;
2. comprehend the basic framework of strategy analysis;
3. identify the main structural features of an industry that influence competition
and profitability;
4. identify and appraise the resources and capabilities of a firm;
5. understand how strategy is made within organizations.
TEACHING METHODS
The course is based on two complementary learning approaches: critical discussion
and case study analysis. Some lectures introduce the students to case work and explain
trhough an example how to do the task. The case work is mandatory.
______________________________________________________________________
1
Università degli studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Master of Science in Business Administration
______________________________________________________________________
MAIN REFERENCES
Grant, Robert M. Contemporary Strategy Analysis, Wiley & Sons Ltd , London, 7th
edition, 2011 (Textbook).
Porter, M. “From Competitive Advantage to Corporate Strategy”, Harvard Business
Review, May/June, 1987.
Mintzberg, H. Ahlstrand, B. & Lampel, J. Strategy Safary: a guided tour through the
wilds of strategic management, Free Press, New York, 1998 (Chapter 1).
Porter, M. “What is Strategy?”, Harvard Business Review, November/December, 1996
(revised 2002).
As far as the textbook Grant, Robert M. Contemporary Strategy Analysis, Wiley &
Sons Ltd , London, 7th edition 2011, is concerned, students will need to prepare the
following sections:
1. Chapter 1 (Introduction to Strategy);
2. Chapter 2 (Performance Diagnosis and Strategic Analysis);
3. Chapter 3 (Industry Analysis) and Chapter 5 (Analyzing Resources and
Capabilities);
4. Chapter 4 (Further Topics in Competitive Analysis).
During the course, cases will be discussed from the textbook.
CASE DISCUSSIONS
Students are expected to be fully engaged in the entire learning process. This means
that students need to prepare the assigned readings of the cases prior to each class
and come to class prepared to participate in group work and/or discussions to enhance
the learning of the individual and the class. Students will find the relative assignment
for each case on the website. Please read the questions carefully before the lesson.
The objective is to involve all the class members in the discussion. The cases are
designed to integrate the concepts from the case into the context of the course.
With case discussions, each student will develop:
1. The ability to set the parameters for the problem (key concepts from the case);
2. Ample knowledge regarding the subject of the case (understanding of material,
good response to the observations of others);
3. The ability to connect the case to other course concepts;
4. The ability to involve others in the discussion.
In order to effectively discuss the cases, students need to be:
 prepared with facts and specific quotes from the case;
______________________________________________________________________
2
Università degli studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Master of Science in Business Administration
______________________________________________________________________

prepared to comment, ask questions, or make observations about the case;
During the discussion, students need to:
 take a position on a question or a point;
 ask questions to clarify a point;
 help keep the discussion moving and on track;
 help draw others into the discussion;
 integrate theories and content from other cases.
During the discussion, students should not:
 come unprepared and show your lack of knowledge;
 monopolise the discussion;
 make irrelevant comments;
 be insensitive to other’s desire to speak or share opinions.
OTHER LEARNING SOURCES
Slides and other material will be available on the course website.
ATTENDANCE
Because of the concentrated nature of the MScBA programme, attendance in class is
very important. Students who miss more than 6 hours (including arriving late or
leaving early) will be required to prepare ALL the chapters of the textbook for the
exam.
NOTE: Attendance for the first class session is mandatory as important information
regarding the course and the instructor’s expectations are given. If you know in
advance that you will be absent for one session, please contact your instructor to
ensure that absence from a particular session is acceptable.
EXAM
Final exam is divided into written and oral parts and based on:
the course textbook, reading list and other learning sources 50%;
case work (written and oral report) 40%;
incident-insight: 10%.
The exam is made up of two parts: a written and an oral exam which will be held on
the same day.
I° - Written exam) You may be given questions to answer regarding the course
textbook, the reading list and other learning sources or a case study. As you respond to
the questions, please use specific content and theories (use names to identify theories
______________________________________________________________________
3
Università degli studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Master of Science in Business Administration
______________________________________________________________________
and models) as the basis of your analysis. You will not receive credit for your personal
opinions unless backed by theory, lecture, and/or text material. Moreover, describe
how the content/theory can be applied to the situation. Your answers will be
evaluated on both quantity and quality. Answers that are more detailed and
demonstrate a higher level of understanding and analysis will receive more points.
II° - Oral exam) You may be asked to discuss your written answers to the questions and
to focus on some specific theoretical issues.
______________________________________________________________________
4
Università degli studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Master of Science in Business Administration
______________________________________________________________________
ANALYTICAL SYLLABUS
Date
Time
Agenda
Lecture/Case
discussion
Lecturer
Section I :
________________________________
Mon, 14th
November
2011
Tue, 15th
November
2011
Wed, 16th
November
2011
9.00
11.00
Introduction and
Objectives
Lecture
G. Lucianelli
9.00
11.00
The Role of Strategy in
Success
Case study
(Madonna)
G. Lucianelli
9.00
11.00
Evolution of Strategic
Management
Case
discussion
G. Lucianelli
Section II:
_______________________
Mon, 21st
November
2011
Tue, 22nd
November
2011
Wed, 23 rd
November
2011
9.00
11.00
The Ten Schools of
Thought (Reading)
Case
discussion
G. Lucianelli
9.00
11.00
The Basic Framework
The Role of Analysis
Lecture
G. Lucianelli
9.00
11.00
Introduction to
Performance Diagnosys
and Strategy Analysis
Lecture
G. Lucianelli
Mon, 28th
November
2011
9.00
11.00
Performance Diagnosys
and Strategy Analysis
Tue, 29th
November
2011
9.00
11.00
Performance Diagnosys
and Strategy Analysis
Case study
(Laura
Ashley)
Lecture
G. Lucianelli
G. Lucianelli
______________________________________________________________________
5
Università degli studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Master of Science in Business Administration
______________________________________________________________________
Section III:
____________________________________
Wed, 30 th
November
2011
9.00
11.00
Website Tools Textbook
Industry Analysis
Trial test 1
Mon, 5th
December
2011
9.00
11.00
Tue, 6th
December
2011
9.00
11.00
Lecture
G. Lucianelli
Industry Analysis
Case study
(The US Airline
Industry)
G. Lucianelli
Cavalieri’s Model
Trial test 2
Lecture
Discussion
G. Lucianelli
Section IV:
______________________________
Wed,7th
December
2011
12th
Mon,
December
2011
Tue, 13th
December
2011
Wed, 14th
December
2011
9.00
11.00
Analysing Resources
and Capabilities
Case study
9.00
11.00
Analysing Resources
and Capabilities and
Further topics in
Industry and
Competitive Analysis
Lecture &
Final Summary
G. Lucianelli
9.00
11.00
Final Case work
Presentation
Students
9.00
11.00
Final Case work
Presentation
G. Lucianelli
Students
______________________________________________________________________
6