Corporate Strategy

Overview

The course covers Corporate Strategy, focusing specifically on Growth. This comprises a strategic perspective of the whole organization, including the range, scope, and diversity of its activities.

This course is designed to teach Strategic Management, namely Corporate Strategy. Having participated in the course Strategic Management I by Prof. Georg von Krogh should be of advantage but no requirement.

During the course, students will learn in what ways companies can organize and plan. Internationalization strategies, Growth strategies, Forms of organizational design, Mergers & Alliances.Students will be asked to work on a teaching case which will be used as a discussion basis. An examination at the end of the semester will also be part of the student evaluation.

Instructor: Dr. Sebastian Späth
Assistant: Nina Geilinger

Format

The course is a mix of class lectures, guest lectures, case studies, and self-study literature. Students will prepare case studies and present them as a base for class discussions. This allows and encourages students to participate and apply the acquired knowledge on the case studies.

An examination at the end of the semester (Sessionsprüfung, 75%) and grading of the case presentation (25%) will be the basis of the student evaluation.

Participating in one of the case study groups is mandatory for MTEC students (ETH external students will only be admitted if enough open slots remain). Case study presentations will receive grades ("Testat") and the grade will count as 25% of the final grade.

It is an elective course within the MTEC Master programme, passing participants will receive 3 credits. Exchange students will receive a certificate, confirming the successful participation in the course on request.

Course structure

The lecture (course catalogue entry) usually takes place on Mondays, 10.00-12.00 in ML F39. Case study presentations are likely to be split, rooms will be announced. Changes will be announced at this page. Lecture slides will be made available via this site too.

Case study assignments will be posted here. Please notify Nina Geilinger in case you are not in a group yet. Participating in a case study group is mandatory for being able to participate in the examination (Testat)

Please note that lecture foils are subject to change before the lectures. They will become definitive by the time the lecture is being held.

1. Introduction & Assignment to case study groups (Lecture slides; Case questions)

• Monday, September 24, 2012, 10.00-12.00

2. Performance Measurement (Lecture slides)

• Monday, October 01, 2012, 10.00-12.00

3. Growth & Internationalization (Lecture slides)

• Monday, October 8, 2012, 10.00-12.00

4. Case discussion: Fraport (Case study, Case Presentation A, Case Presentation B, NETHZ password required)

• Monday, October 15, 2012, 10.00-12.00

5. Diversification (slides), Mergers and Acquisitions - (Lecture slides), Organization Structure (slides)

• Monday, October 22, 2012, 10.00-12.00

7. Case discussion: Swatch (Case study, Case Presentation A, Case Presentation B, NETHZ password required)

• Monday, October 29, 2012, 10.00-12.00

6. Guest lecture - Elizabeth Williams, Head of Corporate Strategy ABB (Lecture slides)

• Monday, November 05, 2012, 10.00-12.00

8. Case discussion: Google (Case study, Case Presentation A, Case Presentation B, NETHZ password required)

• Monday, November 12, 2012, 10.00-12.00

9. Guest lecture - Dr. Gilbert Grima, Partner at Bain and Company (Lecture slides)

• Monday, November 19, 2012, 10.00-12.00

10. Case discussion: Bombardier & Adtranz (Case study, Case Presentation A, Case Presentation B, NETHZ password required)

• Monday, November 26, 2012, 10.00-12.00

11. Case discussion: Philips vs Matsushita (Case study, Case Presentation A, Case Presentation B, NETHZ password required)

• Monday, December 03, 2012, 10.00-12.00

12. Standards & Product Architecture (Lecture slides)

• Monday, December 10, 2012, 10.00-12.00

13. No lecture

• Monday, December 17, 2012, 10.00-12.00

Exam

The exam will be in the form of a "Sessionsprüfung" - closed book
Date and time: preliminary examination date: between 21.Jan.2013 – 15.Feb.2013. TIme: TBD

Please note that the examination day is set centrally by the "Prüfungsplanstelle" of the ETH

There is no possibility at all to write the examination on a different day.

Note:

Guest lectures are relevant insofar as their topics are relevant, and issues and potential solutions that have been discussed during the presentations/discussions might be taken up in the examination. There will be no questions on the actual content of the presentations/case text (meaning, no "What are the three bullet points on slide 15" type of questions.).

There will be no questions on the actual content of the presentations/case texts.