Business Environment and Strategy Management
Order ID 53563633773 Type Essay Writer Level Masters Style APA Sources/References 4 Perfect Number of Pages to Order 5-10 Pages Description/Paper Instructions
WEEK 1
You can access the reading list for the whole course via the reading lists tab.
There are two reading tasks for this week.
1.As general background reading please read the paper by Whittington et al (2011):
Richard Whittington, Ludovic Cailluet and Basak Yakis-Douglas (2011) ‘Opening Strategy: Evolution of a Precarious Profession’ British Journal of Management, Volume 22, Issue 3, pages 531–544. Access via the online reading list or at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8551.2011.00762.x/epdf
This paper includes a discussion of the rise of the strategy profession, development in the last couple of decades and current challenges. Don’t worry about understanding all the terminology at this stage, but concentrate on the main trends because some of these will recur when we start to explore strategy in a couple of weeks’ time.
2.Read Whittington et al Exploring Strategy chapter 1 on ‘What is strategy’ sections 1.1 to 1.3 inclusive (you can read further in the chapter if you have time). This textbook can be accessed via online reading list
If you have free time and are looking for something else to do, make a start on preparing for the seminar in week 2.
WEEK2
Watch Lecture 1 – What is the business environment
Watch Lecture 2 Describing the business environment: the PESTEL framework
Watch Lecture 3 – How the business environment shapes strategy
Follow up reading
Haberberg and Rieple pp.59-65, pp.104-117; & mobile phones case study pp.147-51.
McKinsey’s 2014 essay on the context for strategy ‘Management Intuition for the Next 50 Years’ (to mark McKinsey’s 50 th anniversary):
http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/strategy/management_intuition_for_the_next_50_years
Follow the links from the lectures in week 2 to read a bit more about Vodafone’s strategy.
WEEK3
Watch Lecture 1 – The history of strategy
Do Activity 1
Lecture 1 introduced the idea of strategy as finding an advantage and how this is often characterised as ‘warfare’. The lecture also provided some examples of the UK supermarket sector where companies are often described a being engaged in a series of competitive battles.
Think about how this struggle to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage in the food retailing industry may have changed as a result of Covid-19.
For example, how has the business environment changed? How does this affect the relative advantages and disadvantages of the different supermarkets; and is this a temporary or a permanent change in the distribution of advantage between different companies.
You could look at the example of the UK or any other country. Use the FT or other business media to find some stories and analysis. Make some notes about what you find.
Post a comment in the week 3 discussion board. In the lecture we can review what you have found.
Watch Lecture 2 – Origins and development of strategy
Watch Lecture 3 – The big question in strategy
Do Activity 3
McKinsey is one of the most well-known international strategy consultancies. In week 2 lectures I referred to a recent report by McKinsey on electric vehicles and if you go to their website you will find other, similar reports on a range of topics.
Core
The core reading is an article – ‘What is strategy’ – written by Michael Porter and published in the Harvard Business Review in 1996 https://hbr.org/1996/11/what-is-strategy (this can be accessed directly from the online reading list).
Follow-up
For follow up reading,
- You can find out more about the development of strategy in chapter 1 of
Carter, C. et al (2008) A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about studying strategy.
There are copies of this book in the library. You can also access parts of the book via google books https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/A_Very_Short_Fairly_Interesting_and_Reas.html?id=vl16jaRn1vsC&redir_esc=y If you like this book, there are also copies in the library or you could consider buying a copy as it also includes discussion of key concepts that we’ll cover later.
- For a non-orthodox view (though there are similarities you may spot with Porter’s views), read Kim, W.C. and Mauborgne, R. (2004) ‘Blue Ocean Strategy’. Harvard Business Review, Oct 2004, pp.71-79
This is also useful background reading for week 5.
WEEK5
Watch Lecture 2 Porter’s 5 forces
Watch Lecture 1 – The industry context for strategy
Watch Lecture 3 – Generic strategies and positioningCore
For week 5 the core reading is:
Porter’s original 1979 HBR paper. ‘How competitive forces shape strategy’ Harvard Business Review, March-April 1979, pp.137-45. https://hbr.org/1979/03/how-competitive-forces-shape-strategy
You are asked to review this paper for Activity 1.
You should also look at Michael Porter’s updating of his classic analysis, published in the Harvard Business Review, January 2008, pp.79-93
Follow-up
Peppard & Rylander (2006) ‘From Value Chain to Value Network: insights for mobile operators’ European Management Journal vol.24, no.2.
Carter et al Chapter 3 ‘Understanding what’s inside the firm’ (pp.34-40 in particular but read on for more on this topic)
If you want to read more about Porter’s concepts, consult the core text (Whittington et al) or an alternative
- Whittington et al. Exploring Strategy:chapter 3 pp.110-126 on the five forces and chapter 7 pp.287-302 on generic strategues
- Haberberg & Rieple pp. 118-137on 5 or 6 forces; pp.173-78 on generic strategies Haberberg & Rieple on value chains, pp.229-56, including extended examples of H&M.
- You can also listen to Michael Porter outlining his ideas at: https://hbr.org/video/2226587624001/the-five-competitive-forces-that-shape-strategyThis includes a 13 minute video with Porter talking about the 5 forces
WEEK6
Core reading (available via the online reading list)
– Prahalad, C K., and Hamel, G ‘The Core Competence of the Corporation’, Harvard Business Review, May/June, 1990 (required for activity 1)
– Grant, R.M. (1991) ‘The resource-based theory of competitive advantage: implications for strategy formulation’, California Management Review, Spring 1991, pp.114-35. (a useful overview of the field)
Follow up (these are alternatives, depending on which books you prefer)
Review one of the textbooks that covers the resource based approach:
Whittington et al. Chapter 4, sections 4.1-4.3
OR
Haberberg & Rieple, pp.284-97, theoretical debate on pp.298-300; Sony example on pp.300-305.
OR
Carter et al Chapter 4 ‘Strategy: understanding what’s inside the firm’ (pp.53-61 particularly)
Other useful references:
Hoopes, D.G., Madsen, T.L., Walker, G. (2003) ‘Why is there a resources-based view? Toward a theory of competitive heterogeneity’, Strategic Management Journal, vol.24, issue 10, pp.889-200.
Kraaijenbrink, Jeroen ; Spender, J.-C ; Groen, Aard J (2009) ‘The Resource-Based View: A Review and Assessment of Its Critiques’, Journal of Management (focus on pp.349-51 and table 1 on p.360 for the key issues). The paper by Kraaijenbrink et al (2009) referred to in lecture 3
WEEK7
CORE reading
Read the paper by McGrath on the notion of transient advantage (as opposed to sustainable competitive advantage)
McGrath, R. (2013) ‘Transient advantage’, Harvard Business Review (June), pp.62-70 https://hbr.org/2013/06/transient-advantage
Follow-up – look at one or two additional readings
On macro-conditions and their possible effect on strategy:
Rumelt, R.P. (2008) ‘Strategy in a “structural break”’. McKinsey Quarterly. December 2008. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/strategy-in-a-structural-break
Bryan, L. And Rumelt, R. (2009) ‘Setting strategy in a new context’ Interview with McKinsey Quarterly. June 2009. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/setting-strategy-in-the-new-era-a-conversation-with-lowell-bryan-and-richard-rumelt
Meyer, K. (2009) ‘Thinking strategically during the global downturn’ AIB Insights 9(2) pp.3-7. Available at:
http://www.klausmeyer.co.uk/publications/2009_meyer_AIB-Insights.pdf
Williamson, P.J. and Zeng, M. (2009) ‘Value for money strategies for recessionary times’, Harvard Business Review, March 2009 pp.66-74.
On the new economy episode
Evans & Wurster (1997) ‘Strategy and the New Economics of Information’ Harvard Business Review, Sept.-Oct. 1997: pp71-82
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/2165.html
Tapscott, D. (2001) Rethinking Strategy in a Networked World (or Why Michael Porter is Wrong about the Internet). Strategy and Business, Issue 24, June 2001. Available at: https://www.strategy-business.com/article/19911?gko=e37c4
On Blue Ocean strategy
- Chan Kim, Renee A. Mauborgne(2004) Blue Ocean Strategy, Harvard Business Review, Oct, 2004, pp.76-85. https://hbr.org/2004/10/blue-ocean-strategy
WEEK8
Core
- Froud, J., Johal, S. Leaver, A and Williams K. Financialization and Strategy (2006) chapter 3, “Shareholder value: the intrusion of the capital market” (especially pp 37-49 on shareholder value and VBM)* – available as an ebook via the course online reading list.
Follow up, for selective reading
- Van der Zwan, N. (2014) Making Sense of Financialization. Socio-Economic Review, 12 (1) – read pp.99-110 http://ser.oxfordjournals.org/content/12/1/99.full.pdf+html or via the online reading list
- Jacoby, S. (2005) The Embedded Corporation, (Princeton University Press)- chapter 1. Available as HTML or PDF at: http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/s8508.pdf
- Froud, J., Leaver, A., Nilsson, A. and Williams, K. ‘Narratives and the financialised firm’, Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsycholog, [copy available on Blackboard]
Froud et al Narratives and the financialised firm 2009.doc Froud et al Narratives and the financialised firm 2009.doc – Alternative Formats
- Jung, J. & Dobbin, F. (2012) ‘Finance and Institutional investors’ in Oxford Handbook in the Sociology of Finance (eds Knorr Cetina and Preda) http://scholar.harvard.edu/dobbin/publications/finance-and-institutional-investors and via the online reading list
- FCLT (2017) Rising to the challenge of short termism mgi-measuring-the-economic-impact-of-short-termism.ashx (mckinsey.com)
RUBRIC
QUALITY OF RESPONSE NO RESPONSE POOR / UNSATISFACTORY SATISFACTORY GOOD EXCELLENT Content (worth a maximum of 50% of the total points) Zero points: Student failed to submit the final paper. 20 points out of 50: The essay illustrates poor understanding of the relevant material by failing to address or incorrectly addressing the relevant content; failing to identify or inaccurately explaining/defining key concepts/ideas; ignoring or incorrectly explaining key points/claims and the reasoning behind them; and/or incorrectly or inappropriately using terminology; and elements of the response are lacking. 30 points out of 50: The essay illustrates a rudimentary understanding of the relevant material by mentioning but not full explaining the relevant content; identifying some of the key concepts/ideas though failing to fully or accurately explain many of them; using terminology, though sometimes inaccurately or inappropriately; and/or incorporating some key claims/points but failing to explain the reasoning behind them or doing so inaccurately. Elements of the required response may also be lacking. 40 points out of 50: The essay illustrates solid understanding of the relevant material by correctly addressing most of the relevant content; identifying and explaining most of the key concepts/ideas; using correct terminology; explaining the reasoning behind most of the key points/claims; and/or where necessary or useful, substantiating some points with accurate examples. The answer is complete. 50 points: The essay illustrates exemplary understanding of the relevant material by thoroughly and correctly addressing the relevant content; identifying and explaining all of the key concepts/ideas; using correct terminology explaining the reasoning behind key points/claims and substantiating, as necessary/useful, points with several accurate and illuminating examples. No aspects of the required answer are missing. Use of Sources (worth a maximum of 20% of the total points). Zero points: Student failed to include citations and/or references. Or the student failed to submit a final paper. 5 out 20 points: Sources are seldom cited to support statements and/or format of citations are not recognizable as APA 6th Edition format. There are major errors in the formation of the references and citations. And/or there is a major reliance on highly questionable. The Student fails to provide an adequate synthesis of research collected for the paper. 10 out 20 points: References to scholarly sources are occasionally given; many statements seem unsubstantiated. Frequent errors in APA 6th Edition format, leaving the reader confused about the source of the information. There are significant errors of the formation in the references and citations. And/or there is a significant use of highly questionable sources. 15 out 20 points: Credible Scholarly sources are used effectively support claims and are, for the most part, clear and fairly represented. APA 6th Edition is used with only a few minor errors. There are minor errors in reference and/or citations. And/or there is some use of questionable sources. 20 points: Credible scholarly sources are used to give compelling evidence to support claims and are clearly and fairly represented. APA 6th Edition format is used accurately and consistently. The student uses above the maximum required references in the development of the assignment. Grammar (worth maximum of 20% of total points) Zero points: Student failed to submit the final paper. 5 points out of 20: The paper does not communicate ideas/points clearly due to inappropriate use of terminology and vague language; thoughts and sentences are disjointed or incomprehensible; organization lacking; and/or numerous grammatical, spelling/punctuation errors 10 points out 20: The paper is often unclear and difficult to follow due to some inappropriate terminology and/or vague language; ideas may be fragmented, wandering and/or repetitive; poor organization; and/or some grammatical, spelling, punctuation errors 15 points out of 20: The paper is mostly clear as a result of appropriate use of terminology and minimal vagueness; no tangents and no repetition; fairly good organization; almost perfect grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word usage. 20 points: The paper is clear, concise, and a pleasure to read as a result of appropriate and precise use of terminology; total coherence of thoughts and presentation and logical organization; and the essay is error free. Structure of the Paper (worth 10% of total points) Zero points: Student failed to submit the final paper. 3 points out of 10: Student needs to develop better formatting skills. The paper omits significant structural elements required for and APA 6th edition paper. Formatting of the paper has major flaws. The paper does not conform to APA 6th edition requirements whatsoever. 5 points out of 10: Appearance of final paper demonstrates the student’s limited ability to format the paper. There are significant errors in formatting and/or the total omission of major components of an APA 6th edition paper. They can include the omission of the cover page, abstract, and page numbers. Additionally the page has major formatting issues with spacing or paragraph formation. Font size might not conform to size requirements. The student also significantly writes too large or too short of and paper 7 points out of 10: Research paper presents an above-average use of formatting skills. The paper has slight errors within the paper. This can include small errors or omissions with the cover page, abstract, page number, and headers. There could be also slight formatting issues with the document spacing or the font Additionally the paper might slightly exceed or undershoot the specific number of required written pages for the assignment. 10 points: Student provides a high-caliber, formatted paper. This includes an APA 6th edition cover page, abstract, page number, headers and is double spaced in 12’ Times Roman Font. Additionally, the paper conforms to the specific number of required written pages and neither goes over or under the specified length of the paper. GET THIS PROJECT NOW BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK TO PLACE THE ORDER
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