BRAC University

School of Business
Executive MBA, Summer 2018

COURSE OUTLINE

MKT 711: Corporate Strategy

Instructor: Abu Daud Khan DAY TIME Room

E-mail: daud@enroute.com.bd Saturday 06:30 – 09:30 801
Phone: +8801713240168

Strategy involves the coordination and integration of the efforts within the different functional
areas of an organization for dealing with an uncertain future. This comprises formulating a
business strategy for each individual unit of the firm, formulating a corporate strategy, and
implementing these strategies. Strategy formulation involves understanding the business the firm
is in, determining how to position the strategic unit within this business environment, and
developing the capabilities to compete, but also to cooperate, in this environment. Therefore,
strategy at the same time coordinates and integrates the individual functional strategies such as
manufacturing, marketing, sales, and finance.

This course gives an overview of all essential aspects of business policy and strategic
management. The intention is to provide students with strategy insights; reflect on strategic
dilemmas; and practice strategy tools to enable students to become strategic thinkers. The
course will cover strategy analysis, formulation of strategies at different levels of the
organization, and strategy implementation. We will also reflect on the purpose of organizations,
their governance, and their role towards shareholders, stakeholders and society in general.

Debate and critical evaluations of these issues will be encouraged throughout the course.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• To provide an integrative framework that will allow students to synthesize knowledge from
other business courses into a comprehensive understanding of competitive advantage.
• To provide a basic understanding of the nature and dynamics of the strategy formulation
and implementation processes as they occur in complex organizations.
• Have awareness of some of the challenges inherent in implementing new strategies
• To encourage students to think critically and strategically.
• To develop the ability to identify strategic issues and design appropriate courses of action
• Analyze the role of ethics in strategy
Mechanisms to achieve course objectives:

• Throughout the session the students will be provided with different reading materials on
Corporate Strategy covering both local and international issues.
• Highly interactive class hours will be held for class discussion, clarifying the issues from
the text and reading materials.
• In order to gain more practical knowledge on local companies; assignments and other
research work have to be done on local companies.

Course Contents:

SL LIST OF TOPICS Chapter

1 What is Strategy and Why Is It Important? Chapter: 1
2 Leading the Process of Crafting and Executing Strategy Chapter: 2
3 Evaluating a Company’s External Environment Chapter: 3
4 Evaluating a Company’s Resources and Competitive Position Chapter: 4
5 The Five Generic Competitive Strategies: Which One to Employ? Chapter: 5
6 Diversification: Strategies for Managing a Group of Business Chapter: 8
7 Managing Internal Operations: Actions That Promote Good
Chapter: 11
Strategy Execution
8 Case 3: Whole Foods Market in 2014: Vision, Core Values, and
C-11
Strategy
9 Case 17: Tesla Motors’ Strategy to Revolutionize the Global
C-245
Automotive Industry
10 Case 22: The Walt Disney Company: Its Diversification Strategy in
C-319
2014
11 Case 20: Robin Hood C-335
12 Case 26: Detecting Unethical Practices at Supplier Factories: The
C-462 / 2009ed
Monitoring and Compliance

COURSE ORGANIZATION:

One 3 hours lecture each week

TEACHING METHOD:

The concepts will be discussed first in the class lectures. There will be discussion in the class
involving all the students and class participation will be highly encouraged. Students are expected
to make full use of the lecture classes to have full understanding of the topics.

METHOD of ASSESSMENT

Exams
There will be two exams- midterm and final. The mid term exam will consist of objective
questions along with few analytical questions. However, the final examination will be based on
case.

Quizzes
Three plus quizzes will be taken through out the semester. There will be no option for make up
quizzes. This will stimulate you to be on the same pace with the lecture and it is also an excellent
way to evaluate your learning.

Assignments

Five Article Review, Literature Review will be the part of assignments.

Case Study

Five Cases will be given to the students to solve. Students will form a group consist of 4 to 5
members. The Case Study paper must be submitted on time. The case has to be defended
through group presentation.

Class Participation

As mentioned earlier the whole course is designed on participative discussion so your enthusiasm
regarding learning the topic will be judged through the interaction you make in the class by
asking valuable and thought- provoking questions. The attendance in the class is also very
important aspect in this issue. Separate marks will be given for adding value to the class through
constructive class participation

Attendance

Students are required to attend all the classes unless there is a valid reason for remaining absent.
No attendance will be given if the students enter the class after 20 minutes. Two unexcused
absences will be permitted without having any effect on the students’ course grade. Each
additional absence will result in course grade being lowered. However, if a student fails to attend
at least 70% of the total classes as per university policy s/he will not be allowed to take the final
exam.

Basic textbooks:

1. Thompson/Strickland/Gamble Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive

Advantage: Concepts and Cases, 17th Edition, McGraw-Hill

In addition to the assigned text material, we will discuss case studies and relevant news about
ongoing Strategic Management issues.
COURSE EVALUATION:

Quiz 15%
Midterm Examination 20%
Final Examination 30%
Case Study (Group) 20%
Class Participation 10%
Attendance 5%
Total 100%

STANDARD BRAC GRADING POLICY SHOULD BE FOLLOWED

LESSON PLAN:
Class TOPIC Chapters Remarks
Lecture1 Well Come & Sharing Course Outline

Lecture 2 What is Strategy and Why Is It Important? Quiz 1

Charting a Company’s Direction: Its Vision,
Mission, Objectives, and Chapter 1 &2
Strategy

Lecture 3 Evaluating a Company’s External Environment Quiz 2

Evaluating a Company’s Resources and Chapter 3&4
Competitive Position
Lecture 4 Case 3: Whole Foods Market in 2014: Vision, Core Group
Values, and Strategy C-11

Lecture 5 The Five Generic Competitive Strategies: Which Quiz 3

Chapter 5
One to Employ?
Lecture 6 Case 17: Tesla Motors’ Strategy to Revolutionize Group
the Global Automotive Industry C-245

Lecture 7 Mid Term Exam Up to L6 2 Hours. 40

Marks
Lecture 8 Corporate Strategy Diversification and the
Multibusiness Company Chapter 8

Lecture 9 Managing Internal Operations: Actions That Quiz 4

Chapter 11
Promote Good Strategy Execution
Lecture 10 Case 22: The Walt Disney Company: Its Group
Diversification Strategy in 2014 C-319

Lecture 11 Group
Case 23: Robin Hood C-335
Lecture 12 Case 26: Detecting Unethical Practices at Supplier Group / 2009
C-462
Factories: The Monitoring and Compliance Edition
Lecture 13 Final Exam Comprehensive

Lecture 14 Contingency

Lecture 15 Contingency
Note:
Make up for Midterm and Final Exam is as per University Rules. The final exam is comprehensive.
Best of Luck