Corporate Strategy

About this course: In this course you will learn how organizations create, capture, and maintain value, and how it is fundamental for sustainable competitive advantage. You will be able to better understand economic value creation and value appropriation, and learn the tools to analyze both competition and cooperation from a corporate level perspective, (e.g., through vertical integration, diversification, and geographic scope decisions). You will: • Understand how corporations create, capture, and sustain competitive advantage. • Analyze business situations and create a coherent corporate strategy. • Understand the fit between corporate strategy and organization structure to improve economic performance. This course is part of the iMBA offered by the University of Illinois, a flexible, fully-accredited online MBA at an incredibly competitive price. For more information, please see the Resource page in this course and onlinemba.illinois.edu.

Created by:  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Taught by:  Joe Mahoney, Professor of Business Administration

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign College of Business Department of Business Administration

Basic Info Course 6 of 7 in the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization Commitment 4 weeks of study, 5-7 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.4 stars Average User Rating 4.4See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Course Orientation
You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.


1 video, 6 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Welcome to Corporate Strategy
2. Reading: Syllabus
3. Reading: About the Discussion Forums
4. Reading: Glossary
5. Reading: Description of Organizations and Brands
6. Practice Quiz: Orientation Quiz
7. Reading: Updating Your Profile
8. Discussion Prompt: Getting to Know Your Classmates
9. Reading: Social Media

Module 1: Vertical Integration and Diversification
This module focuses on corporate strategy with particular emphasis on vertical integration and diversification. It seeks to explain when vertical integration and diversification can create a competitive advantage.


7 videos, 3 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Module 1 Overview
2. Reading: Module 1 Readings
3. Video: 1-1.1: Scope of the Firm
4. Video: 1-1.2: Backward and Forward Integration
5. Video: 1-1.3: Benefits and Costs of Integration
6. Practice Quiz: Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz
7. Video: 1-2.1: Diversification and Economic Value
8. Video: 1-2.2: Corporate Portfolio
9. Video: 1-2.3: Acquisition Process
10. Practice Quiz: Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz
11. Reading: MIT Case 1 - Resolute Marine Energy
12. Discussion Prompt: Module 1 Case Study Discussion
13. Video: Like this course? Learn more with the iMBA! (optional)

Graded: Module 1 Peer Assessment
Graded: Module 1 Graded Quiz

WEEK 2


Module 2: Global Strategy
This module focuses on corporate strategy with particular emphasis on global strategy and competing around the world. It seeks to explain why multinational enterprises adopt different global strategies.


4 videos, 3 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Module 2 Overview
2. Reading: Module 2 Readings
3. Video: 2-1.1: Globalization and Global Strategy
4. Video: 2-1.2: The Modes of Foreign Market Entry
5. Practice Quiz: Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz
6. Video: 2-2.1: The Four Types of Global Strategy
7. Video: 2-2.2: The Diamond Model of National Competitive Advantage
8. Practice Quiz: Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz
9. Reading: MIT Case 2 - CX Technology
10. Discussion Prompt: Module 2 Case Study Discussion

Graded: Module 2 Peer Assessment
Graded: Module 2 Graded Quiz

WEEK 3


Module 3: Strategy and Structure



This module focuses on the fit between corporate strategy and organizational structure with particular emphasis on diversification strategy and multidivisional structure. It seeks to explain why we observe patterns in the matching of corporate-level strategy and organizational structure.


5 videos, 3 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Module 3 Overview
2. Reading: Module 3 Readings
3. Video: 3-1.1: Organization Design
4. Video: 3-1.2: Functional Structure
5. Video: 3-1.3: Multidivisional Structure
6. Practice Quiz: Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz
7. Video: 3-2.1: Matching Corporate Level Strategy and Organizational Structure
8. Video: 3-2.2: Matrix Structure
9. Practice Quiz: Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz
10. Reading: MIT Case 3 - CEMEX
11. Discussion Prompt: Module 3 Case Study Discussion

Graded: Module 3 Peer Assessment
Graded: Module 3 Graded Quiz

WEEK 4


Module 4: Corporate Governance
This module focuses first on the characteristics of public firms. Second, it considers stakeholder impact analysis and corporate social responsibility. Third, it emphasizes corporate governance and the mitigation of agency problems.


3 videos, 3 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Reading: Module 4 Overview
2. Reading: Module 4 Readings
3. Video: 4-1.1: Public Firms and Their Role in Society
4. Video: 4-1.2: Corporate Social Responsibility
5. Video: 4-1.3: Mechanisms of Corporate Governance
6. Practice Quiz: Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz
7. Reading: MIT Case 4 - BP
8. Discussion Prompt: Module 4 Case Study Discussion

Graded: Module 4 Peer Assessment
Graded: Module 4 Graded Quiz