Posted: September 13th, 2017

Strategic Manangement

Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

BUSM 086 –Coursework essay questions. (These questions are from last year’s exam

paper).

You are required to:

(a) Select ONE question

(b) Write a 2,500 essay.

(d) Deadline for submission is Friday 12th December 2014. You may submit earlier.

(1) Michael Porter argues that a firm seeking competitive advantage must choose the

type advantage that it seeks. Discuss the merit of this argument using industrial

examples of your choice.

(2) During the 1990s the capital markets rationed investment funds to old economy

companies but gave virtually unlimited funds to loss-making internet companies with

no model for cost recovery. Discuss the implications for corporate strategy and

performance.

(3) To what extent do you agree with Porter’s (1980) claim that a firm’s low cost

position yields above average returns despite strong competitive forces and

competitors. Discuss using an extended example.

(4) Critically examine whether the exploitation of core competencies results in strong

corporate financial performance. Use an example of your choice to illustrate points.

(5) ‘Many listed UK and US companies pursued shareholder value during the 1990s but

nearly all failed to meet the post-tax target return on capital employed set by

investors’. Using an example of your choice, discuss the causes of underperformance

(6) Critically examine Kay’s (1993) statement that firms often face difficulties in

‘securing the returns from innovation for themselves’. Select a business sector of

your choice and discuss the methods used to secure returns.

(7) To what extent does a mature product market drive restructuring? Discuss using an

extended example.

(8) Critically examine the claim that the ‘sector matrix’ concept provides a more robust

understanding of the demand and supply side linkages of a product market than

other frameworks. Discuss using an extended example.

Reading List:

Please refer to the lecture and Seminar Programme for a detailed listing of the

readings for each week.

Assessment

Type Weighting Details Submission Date

Coursework

Essay 40% 2,500 words To be confirmed

Exam 60% Exam End of year exam

Coursework:

Coursework information will be provided in the seminar and via QMPlus.

Assessment for 2014-15 Resit students

If you fail the module overall, you will have to resit the assessment components that

you fail. You will be informed of the details.

Lecture and Seminar Programme

The lectures introduce a topic and develop issues. The aim is to incorporate

contemporary issues into the lecture framework to add context to the discussion.

Consequently, there may be some changes to the schedule and outline. The module

leader for this course will make every effort to communicate these changes to you in

good time.

Please prepare for each lecture and seminar by reading the relevant reading before

the lecture and seminar

Semester 1

Week 1 Introduction plus

Sustainable advantage and what management can do?

Lecture Reading:

Grant, R. (2002) Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 4th edition, Blackwell, pp.16-17.

Further reading:

Shaoul, J. (1998) ‘Critical financial analysis and accounting for stakeholders’, Critical

Perspectives on Accounting, 9, 235-249. BUSM Module outline 2014-15 Page 6 of 10

Stoney, C. and Winstanley, D. (2001) ‘Stakeholding: Confusion or Utopia? Mapping

the Conceptual Terrain’, Journal of Management Studies, 38 (5), 603-626.

Key reading:

Froud, J. et al (2006), Strategy and Financialisation: Narrative and Numbers,

Routledge. The introduction which is long and can be read over successive weeks.

Seminar: No seminar in first week

Week 2 1980s Porter and strategy as classification

Lecture Reading:

Classic original statement:

Porter M. E. (1985) Competitive Advantage, especially chap.1 pp.1-30 on the five

forces and generic strategies. Reprinted in DeWitt and Meyer, Strategy Process,

Content, Context, pp.344-358 with a useful preceding introduction and other

readings.

Johnson G. and Scholes K. (1999) Exploring Corporate Strategy (5th edition) chap 3

on analyzing the environment, pp. 97-141. Especially pp.115-141 (straightforward

textbook account of positioning)

Porter, M. (1999) ‘How Competition Forces Shape Strategy’ in H.Mintzberg, J.Quinn and

S.Ghoshal (eds.) The Strategy Process, Financial Times/Prentice Hall, pp.60-69.

Seminar: Japan v America in cars in the 80s: what’s the business problem and what

should Ford and GM do about it?

Week 3 Strategy and organisation(al learning)

Lecture Reading:

Prahalad, C. and Hamel, G. “The Core Competences of the Corporation” Harvard

Business Review, May/June 1990. (for revision/or as introduction)

Prahalad, C. and Hamel, G. “Strategy as stretch and leverage” Harvard Business

Review, March/April 1993. (for revision/or as introduction)

Baden-Fuller, C. and Stopford, J. (1993) Rejuvenating the Mature Business, London:

Routledge, chap 1 “Maturity is a State of mind” pp.1-12 and Chapter 2 “The Firm

Matters, Not the Industry” pp.13-24. Sections reprinted in Segal-Horn, S. (1999) The

Strategy Reader, Oxford: Blackwell, pp.125-140.

Seminar: Strategy and structure: General Motors, the ‘autonomy’ of strategic

management and the displacement of Ford as the industry leader 1909-1929

BUSM Module outline 2014-15 Page 7 of 10

Week 4 Stakeholder analysis, distributive conflict and value

added

Lecture Reading

Jensen, M. (1998) “The takeover controversy: analysis and evidence”: in Stern, J.M.

and Chew, D.H. (eds), The Revolution in Corporate Finance (3rd edition, 1998)

Oxford: Blackwell, pp.351-377. (disciplining managers, from an agency point of

view).

Shleifer A. and Summers L H (1988) “Breach of trust in hostile takeovers” in

Auerbach, A. J. (ed) Corporate Takeovers: Causes and Consequences, Chicago:

University of Chicago Press, pp.33-68. (takeover as a breach of implicit contracts

with workers and suppliers).

Froud, J., Haslam, C., Johal, S. and Williams, K. (2000) “Restructuring for shareholder

value and its implications for labour” Cambridge Journal of Economics, Vol. 24, pp.

771-797 (using accounting data from a redistribution perspective).

Froud, J, Haslam C, Johal S and Williams K (2001) “Accumulation under conditions of

inequality”, Review of International Political Economy, Vol. 8, No 1, Spring, pp. 66-95

(identifies UK and US shareholders as households in the top 40% by income).

Seminar: Airlines in 2003 (and what happened next)

Week 5 Globalisation and the macro economy (and effects on

sectors)

Lecture Reading:

Piore, M. and Sabel, C. (1984) The Second Industrial Divide: Possibilities for Prosperity,

Basic Books: USA. “Introduction”, pp.1-19. (launched flexible specialisation: hugely

influential)

For perspective/ criticism (select one reading):

Peck, J. and Tickell, A. (1995) “Social Regulation After Fordism: Regulation theory, neoliberalism

and the global-local nexus” Economy and Society Vol.24, No.3, pp.357-386.

(critiques Regulationism)

Williams, K. Cutler, T. Williams, J. Haslam, C. (1987) “The End of Mass production?”,

Economy and Society, Vol. 16, No.3, pp.405-439. (the standard critique of Piore and

Sabel).

Hirst, P. and Thompson, G. (1999) Globalisation in Question (2nd edition) Malden:

Polity Press. Chapter 1 “Globalisation: A necessary myth?” pp.1-18; Chapter 2

“Globalisation and the history of the international economy” pp.19-65. (the best known

critique of globalisation).

Levitt, T. (1983) “The Globalisation of markets”, Harvard Business Review, May/June

1983, Reprinted in DeWit, B. and Meyer, R. (1999) Strategy: Process, Content and

Context, (1999, 2nd edition) pp.733-741. (The original statement about globalisation of

markets).

Seminar: The Apple Business Model (and financialization across the Atlantic)

BUSM Module outline 2014-15 Page 8 of 10

Week 6 Meso analysis: production chain v sector matrix

Lecture Reading:

Porter, M. E. Competitive Advantage (1985), chap 2 “the value chain and competitive

advantage” New York: Free Press, pp. 13-61 (started it all)

Gereffi, G. Korzeniewicz, M. and Korzeniewicz, R. (1994) “Introduction: global

commodity chains” pp. in Gereffi, G. and Korzeniewicz, M. (eds) Commodity Chains and

Global Capitalism, London: Praeger (political economy takes up chains). Reading will be

supplied and is available from Gereffi’s personal website.

Froud, J. Haslam, C. Johal S. and Williams K. (1998) “Breaking the chains? A sector

matrix for motoring” Competition and Change, vol. 3. no 3, pp. 293-334 (a different way

of thinking, illustrated by cars)

Seminar: The Sector Matrix, Production chains and the ‘Motoring Poor’

Week 7: READING WEEK

Week 8 Macro analysis (b) capital market, shareholder

value and Financialisation

Lecture Reading:

Froud J., Haslam C., Johal S. and Williams K. (2000) “Shareholder value and

financialization: consultancy promises and management moves”, Economy and Society,

Vol. 29, No 1, February 2000, pp 80-110. (on the difficulty of generating EVA).

Lazonick, W and O’Sullivan, M (2000) “Maximising shareholder value: A new ideology

for corporate governance” Economy and Society Vol. 29, No.1 Feb 2000, pp.13-35. (on

US corporations and “downsize and distribute”).

Boyer, R (2000) “Is a finance-led growth regime a viable alternative to Fordism? A

preliminary analysis” Economy and Society Vol. 29, No.1, pp.111-145. (theoretically

important contribution on the dynamics of a wealth-based growth regime).

Shiller R J (2000), Irrational Exuberance, Princeton:Princeton University Press, chap 1

(pp.3-14) on current stock prices, chap 9 (pp.171-190) attacking efficient markets, chap

11 conclusion (pp.203-233) (a cogent statement from the behavioural finance camp)

Seminar: BT and privatization

Week 9 Restructuring for capital and against labour

Lecture Reading:

Jensen, M. (1998) “The takeover controversy: analysis and evidence”: in Stern, J.M.

and Chew, D.H. (eds), The Revolution in Corporate Finance (3rd edition, 1998)

Oxford: Blackwell, pp.351-377. (disciplining managers, from an agency point of

view).

Shleifer A. and Summers L H (1988) “Breach of trust in hostile takeovers” in

Auerbach, A. J. (ed) Corporate Takeovers: Causes and Consequences, Chicago:

University of Chicago Press, pp.33-68. (takeover as a breach of implicit contracts with

workers and suppliers).

Froud, J., Haslam, C., Johal, S. and Williams, K. (2000) “Restructuring for shareholder

value and its implications for labour” Cambridge Journal of Economics, Vol. 24, pp. BUSM Module outline 2014-15 Page 9 of 10

771-797 (using accounting data from a redistribution perspective).

Froud, J, Haslam C, Johal S and Williams K (2001) “Accumulation under conditions of

inequality”, Review of International Political Economy, Vol. 8, No 1, Spring, pp. 66-95

(identifies UK and US shareholders as households in the top 40% by income).

Seminar: Caterpillar and restructuring in a mature market

Week 10 Rail Privatisation (and Government Guarantees)

Lecture Reading:

British Rail Privatisation

http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/cri/pubpdf/Occasional_Papers/23_Glaister.pdf

The Great Train Robbery

http://www.cresc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/GTR%20Report%20final%205%20June%2

02013.pdf

The Conceit of Enterprise

http://www.cresc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Conceit%20of%20Enterprise.pdf

Expert paper writers are just a few clicks away

Place an order in 3 easy steps. Takes less than 5 mins.

Strategic Manangement

Expert paper writers are just a few clicks away

Calculate the price of your order