P/S W No.

of TOTAL
Course Title: Business Strategy PSDA
UNITS
Course Code: STRA303

Credit Units: 4

Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is to let students study an organization’s vision, mission, inspect principles, techniques and models of
organizational and environmental analysis, discuss the theory and practice of strategy formulation and implementation such as corporate
governance and business ethics for the development of effective strategic leadership.
The course is designed to expand the student’s capacity to integrate and appreciate the changes in the environment that shape the strategy
of a business and lead to developing a competitive edge.
Being an integrative course, it aims to develop the perspective of students towards understanding the culmination of different functional
areas into building up of a corporate strategy.
The purpose is to expose the students to the various approaches in crafting business strategy, in a dynamic business environment using
analytical tools that aid in reasoning carefully about strategic options and make sound strategic decisions.
Pre-requisites: The student should have basic understanding of the business environment and functional areas of finance, marketing and human
resource management that impacts the firms’ strategies and decision-making.
Course Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the course, the student will be able to
• Explain the strategic decision-making process in the organization and recognize the importance of strategic planning for success of an
organization.
• Explain the basic concepts, principles and practices associated with strategy formulation and implementation.
• Discuss and evaluate the firm’s environment and industry competition through insights into strategic models of successful organizations.
 • Develop a cognitive framework to understand and analyse the hyper-turbulent business environment.
• Appraise the challenges presented by the environment and design creative and sustainable business opportunities and strategies.
• Investigate into existing business firms to understand the relevance and implementation of strategic management process.

Course Contents/Syllabus:
Weightage (%)
Module 1: Fundamentals of Strategic Management 20%
• Introduction to Strategic Planning and Strategic Management Process
• Challenges to Strategic Management and Organizational Adaptation
• Strategic Decision Making
• Strategic Direction and Purpose: Mission and Vision
• Corporate Governance- Role of the Board of Directors
• Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Decision Making
Module 2: Environment Analysis and Diagnosis 25%
• Concept of Environment and its Impact on Strategic Planning
• External Environment Scanning: Remote Environment
• Industry Analysis (Porter’s Approach to Industry Analysis)
• Internal Scanning through Organizational Analysis (Resource Based Approach, Value Chain Analysis, Benchmarking)
Module 3: Strategic Formulation and Choice 30%
• Situation Analysis: SWOT analysis for Strategic Choice
• Understanding the Balanced Scorecard Approach
• Formulating Corporate Strategies
• Formulating Business Level Strategies: Porter’s Competitive Strategies
• Understanding the Red Ocean and Blue Ocean Strategies
• Strategy Formulation at Functional level
• Multi-business Strategy
 Module 4: Strategic Implementation and Control 15%
• The Implementation Process
• Objective, Task setting and Resource Allocation
• Organization Structure
• Leadership and Culture
• Strategic Control
Module 5: Strategic Change, Innovation and Entrepreneurship 10%
• Managing Strategic Change
• Role of Technology and Innovation in Strategy Development
• Strategic Issues in Entrepreneurial Ventures

Pedagogy for Course Delivery:

The course design shall use blended learning mode. It will combine theoretical inputs delivered through e-content provided by the course
instructor, further refined through discussion and deliberations in the synchronous mode. Self-learning will be encouraged through student’s
performance on the professional skill development activities (PSDAs). Guest lectures by Industry Professionals will be arranged to expose the
students to experiential learning. Continuous assessment of student learning will be conducted through class tests, quiz, assignments and case
presentations.

List of Professional Skill Development Activities (PSDA):

i. Project 1: Business Plan

The purpose of this project is to offer the opportunity to analyze the immediate environment and exercise creativity and ability to discover and
exploit opportunities by using strategic management concepts. The plan will be graded based upon creativity, timeliness, specificity, depth and
breadth of analyses, and viability of the business idea. (Detailed outline shall be developed and distributed by the instructor).

ii. Project 2: Strategic Audit

The purpose of this exercise is to act as consultants and analyze a company, its environments, and apply strategic management concepts to find
insightful strategic options for this firm. Based on an existing corporation, student team will prepare a written strategic analysis applying
strategic management concepts, with the goal of suggesting some type of improvement strategy based on the analysis and their learning in class.
The audit will be graded based upon timeliness, specificity, depth and breadth of analyses, and feasibility of recommendations made.

iii. Project 3: Business Strategy

Select an industry to analyze. Identify companies for each of four Porter’s competitive strategies. How many different kinds of business
strategies can you find? 1). Cost Leadership, 2) Differentiation, 3) Cost Focus, 4) Differentiation Focus

iv. Project 4: Management of Technology and Innovation in entrepreneurial firm

Interview 2-3 technology-based startup firms which have innovated in their industry/sector. Assess the challenges they faced and the strategies
they devised. Share your findings with the class and discuss.

Assessment/ Examination Scheme:

Theory L (%) S/W (%) Total

60% 40% 100

Theory Assessment (L/FW):

Continuous Assessment Components
Components Mid-Term Project Case Study Attendance End Term
Exam Examination
Linkage of PSDA The students shall prepare a Students will make a
with Internal report graded based upon presentation on their
Assessment creativity, timeliness, review and analysis of
Component specificity, depth and breadth case facts and
of analyses, and viability of proposed solutions for
the business idea/ given case studies
recommendations made.
Weightage (%)
10% 15% 10% 5% 60%

Text:
Strategic Management, Formulation, Implementation & Control, Pearce, Robinson and Mittal (McGraw Hill), (12th Edition)
References:
• Concepts in Strategic Management & Business Policy, Wheelen and Hunger (Pearson), (13th Edition)
• Crafting & Executing Strategy, The Quest for Competitive Advantage, Thomson, Strickland, Gamble & Jain (McGraw
Hill), (16th Edition)
• Concepts in Strategic Management and Business Policy – Towards Global Sustainability, Wheelen & Hunger (Pearson),
(13th Edition)
• Strategic Management and Business Policy, Kazmi (McGraw Hill), (3rd Edition)
• Corporate Strategy, Lynch (Pearson), (4th Edition)