This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of howfirms develop corporate and business strategies (strategy development) and howthey can translate their strategies into employee action (strategyimplementation).

Strategic management deals with the basic question why and how firms canachieve sustained competitive advantage and how they can translate competitiveadvantage into superior financial performance. In principle, there exist twolines of reasoning to explain the origins and sources of competitive advantageand superior firm performance: the market-based view and the resource-basedview.

Very recently, these two schools of thought are complemented by moredynamic theories of strategic management (e.g., dynamic capabilities). In thiscourse the students will receive a broad and thorough understanding of thetheoretical foundations of strategic management and how they can be used tocraft and implement winning strategies in today´s challenging business world.

Topics covered by the course:

· Theoretical foundations of strategic management

· Competitive strategy analysis and design

· State of theart strategy topics

o Business model innovation

o Business eco systems

o Disruptive Innovation

o Strategy process / practice

o Alliances and M&As

After completing this course students will have the ability to:

apply state-of-the-field theories of strategy to solve problems of strategic management in the business world

carry out strategy analysis in a systematic and thorough way

design winning strategies at both the business and the corporate level

explain and analyze the relationship between competitive advantage and strategic performance

efficiently work and communicate in a team;

work on solutions for challenging and complex practical problems;

improve their oral and written communication and presentation skills;

engage in active discussions;

translate insights from class discussion to practical problems

The course will combine various learning methods to deliver the different topics to the students. These will include readings, lectures, open class discussions, student presentations in class, a strategy simulation game and case studies. Guest speakers will add additional perspectives to the class.

The final grade of the course will depend on:

5% entry exam (individual assessment)

20% midterm exam (individual assessment)

35% final exam (individual assessment)

10% case study preparation and presentation (group assessment)

20% performance airline game (group assessment)

10% participation in class (individual assessment)