English
W471 – Competitive Strategy
Competitive Strategy
Version: 3
Prof. Dr. Gerard Lewis
gerard.lewis(at)htw-dresden.de
Prof. Dr. Gerard Lewis
gerard.lewis(at)htw-dresden.de
Englisch
5.00 Credits
150 Stunden
4.00 SWS (2.00 SWS Vorlesung | 2.00 SWS Übung)
90.00 Stunden
Schriftliche Prüfungsleistung
Prüfungsdauer: 90 min | Wichtung: 60 % | nicht kompensierbar | Wird in englischer Sprache abgenommen
Alternative Prüfungsleistung - Referat
Prüfungsdauer: 20 min | Wichtung: 40 % | nicht kompensierbar | Wird in englischer Sprache abgenommen
Lectures
The basic principles, concepts and theories will be presented during lectures. Occasionally handouts will be distributed covering specific topics.
Case Studies
Students will be asked questions on the case contents and expected to present their arguments and reasoning.
Readings
For each topic area a number of chapters from the main textbooks and a number of readings support the concepts presented in the lectures.
Project
Student teams will be required to work on a project. The project teams are expected to organise their own data gathering.
Project Presentation
Student teams make a 20 minute presentation on the project's findings and recommendations.
Directed Study:
The module lectures will cover the following main areas:
Understanding the Business Context
Understanding Industries
The resource based view
The Value Chain
Competitive advantage
Competitor Strategy
Self Study:
Readings and case studies are assigned which complement the lecture material.
The aim of the module is to provide a conceptual understanding of the frameworks and tools which help practicing managers to develop competitive strategies and competitive advantage.
After successfully completing the module the student will be able to: 1. systematically analyse an organisation's international strategic context, 2. understand the bases for competitive advantage, 3. develop and assess a firm's competitive strategy.
Language: B2, TOEFL 550 or equivalent
Competitive Strategy is a capstone module and requires the application of many areas from the IB degree programme.
The following textbooks are recommended for supporting and complementing the module lectures. Limited copies of these books are available in the HTW library. Please be sensible about their use and availability:
Exploring Corporate Strategy Gerry Johnson, Kevan Scholes & Richard Whittington Prentice Hall, London
Contemporary Strategy Analysis Robert M. Grant Blackwell, London
Also recommended are the following books which will go into more breadth and depth about a number of topics presented during the module:
Porter, M.E.; Competitive Strategy Techniques for Analysing Industries and Competition, Free Press, 1980.
Porter M.E., Competitive Advantage, Free Press, 1985.
Valuable lists of additional annotated references and key readings can be found at the end of the chapters in the Johnson, Scholes & Whittington book.
Students are expected to do research in the library and on the internet in order to provide the necessary academic and practitioner sources for their project.
Module materials are available on Portal Sachsen (OPAL)
The module is completely taught in English.
The module is multi-disciplinary and can be applied to the competitive strategy of business units in almost any market and industry. It also requires students to take a more holistic view of business in an international context. The module is especially relevant for those who wish to make a career in strategy / general management.