Student Guide STR/581 Version 4

Week Four Student Guide

Strategy implementation and alternatives for growth are the focus this week. Students are required to evaluate and recommend the best value discipline, the best generic strategy, and the best grand strategy for implementation by their organizations. Students are also introduced to portfolio strategies for multibusiness organizations. Students learn the Boston Consulting Groups approach to multibusiness strategic analysis, read examples from Pepsi and IBM, and learn the limitations of portfolio approaches. This is important to fully understand diversification as a viable grand strategy.

Strategic Choice and Evaluation

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate potential generic strategies for an organization. Resources: Ch. 6 & 7 of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage and Ch. 7 & 8 of Strategic Management Content

Ch. 6: Cost Leadership of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage o o o o Defining Cost Leadership The Economic Value of Cost Leadership Cost Leadership and Sustained Competitive Advantage Organizing to Implement Cost Leadership

Ch. 7: Product Differentiation of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage o o o o o o Defining Product Differentiation Identifying Bases of Product Differentiation The Economic Value of Product Differentiation Product Differentiation and Sustained Competitive Advantage Organizing to Implement Product Differentiation Implementing Product Differentiation and Cost Leadership Strategies

Ch. 7: Long-Term Objectives and Strategies of Strategic Management Generic Strategies Ch. 8: Business Strategy of Strategic Management Evaluating and Choosing Business Strategies: Seeking Sustained Competitive Advantage

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate potential value disciplines for an organization. Resource: Ch. 7 of Strategic Management Content

Ch. 7: Long-Term Objectives and Strategies of Strategic Management

Student Guide STR/581 Version 4

The Value Disciplines

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate potential grand strategies for an organization. Resources: Ch. 11 of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage and Ch. 7 & 8 of Strategic Management Content Ch. 11: Diversification Strategies of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage o o o Types of Corporate Diversification The Economic Value of Corporate Diversification Diversification and Sustained Competitive Advantage

Ch. 7: Long-Term Objectives and Strategies of Strategic Management Grand Strategies Ch. 8: Business Strategy of Strategic Management Dominant Product/Service Businesses: Evaluating and Choosing to Diversify and Build Value

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate potential multibusiness strategies for an organization. Resources: Ch. 9 of Strategic Management Content

o o

Ch. 9: Multibusiness Strategy of Strategic Management The Portfolio Approach: A Historical Starting Point The Synergy Approach: Leveraging Core Competencies The Corporate Parent Role: Can It Add Tangible Value?

Note. The information above is intended to help you complete your assignments. Read chapters in their entirety, as indicated in the syllabus. Additional information from sections not outlined above may be needed for classroom discussions.