Lahore University of Management Sciences

MGMT 400 - Strategic Business Management

Fall Semester 2021

Instructor Salma Zaman

Room No. Room -5, 4th floor, SDSB Building
Office Hours By Appointment
Email [email protected]
Telephone 8038
Secretary/TA Abdul Basit
TA Office Hours TBA
Course URL (if any) suraj.lums.edu.pk

Course Teaching Methodology (Please mention following details in plain text)

 All lectures will be live. Recording will be available for students in case they miss lectures.

 Teaching Methodology: blend of both synchronous and asynchronous lectures.

Course Basics
Credit Hours 3
Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 75 mins
Recitation/Lab (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration
Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration

Course Distribution
Core Yes
Elective
Open for Student Category
Close for Student Category

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Strategic Business Management is a senior-level management course about how firms create and sustain competitive advantage.
Formulating an implementing superior strategies is more critical now than ever because no firm or organization can take its
competitive advantage for granted in this fast paced, global business environment.

In this course, we will adopt a general management point of view and analyze decisions and strategies in light of the total
enterprise. We will also touch upon corporate strategy topics such as how business create value when operating multiple business
units, as well as touching on mergers and acquisitions. These theories and concepts will provide you with a language for discussing
strategy and the tools necessary to conceptualize a firm’s competitive environment and resources.

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)

ACCT 221 OR ACCT 220 OR DISC 320.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
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The objective of the course is to ensure that students to develop a strategic mindset with an understanding of
strategy formulation, strategy implementation and evaluation & control of a business unit.

The course has the following objectives:

1. Business Knowledge: Develop an understanding of strategic management concepts, research, and

theories. Develop framework of analysis to enable students to identify central issues and problems in
complex situations to suggest alternative courses of action; recommendations for future actions. Develop
conceptual skills to articulate a new strategy for a business situation

2. Ethical Judgement: Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate unstructured strategic business
issues and decisions to develop innovative and ethical decisions.
Effective Communication: Students who complete this course will enhance their ability to construct and deliver
clear, concise and convincing oral and written business communication.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES

General Learning Goals & Objectives
Goal 1 –Effective Written and Oral Communication
Objective: Students will demonstrate effective writing and oral communication skills
Goal 2 –Ethical Understanding and Reasoning
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify and address ethical issues in an organizational
context.
Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify key problems and generate viable solutions.
Goal 4 – Application of Information Technology
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to use current technologies in business and management
context.
Goal 5 – Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to work effectively in diverse environments.
Goal 6 – Understanding Organizational Ecosystems
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they have an understanding of Economic, Political, Regulatory, Legal,
Technological, and Social environment of organizations.

Major Specific Learning Goals & Objectives

Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific Knowledge and Understanding
Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and how they interact including
application to real world situations (Including subject knowledge).
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the “science” behind the decision-making process (for MGS Majors)
Objective: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze a business problem, design and apply appropriate
decision-support tools, interpret results and make meaningful recommendations to support the decision-maker

GRADING BREAKUP AND POLICY

Assignment(s)(2): 20%
Homework: 20%
Quiz(s): 20 %
Class Participation: 15%
Attendance: 5%
Project:20%
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Course Project
The course project requires students to work with a group of their colleagues to submit a strategic plan for any real life
organization.
They are to act like a group of consultants advising the company on their strategic plans.
This project will allow students to:
 Develop skills for analyzing and interpreting company internal and external environments.
 Apply in class theory to practical complex organizational contexts.
 Achieve confidence in making key strategic decisions.
 Improve skills for working as part of a team and develop personal and team organizational skills.
This project consists of two parts:
Part 1: Analysis:
Students are required to do a complete analysis of the history of the company and its external environment which includes an
industry analysis and analysis of the competitive environment.
Students are also required to demonstrate knowledge of the organization’s mission, vision and organizational goals.
Students are not required to engage with the firm itself, but secondary sources such as newspaper articles can be used to find
additional information about the company itself.
Part 2 Analysis of a strategic decision:
In the second part, students are required to analyze any strategic decision the firm has taken recently. This can be a decision
regarding a merger, acquisition, introducing a new brand, increasing number of franchises, etc. Students have to analyze how this
decision corresponded to the organization’s vision and mission and have to decide whether the decision was a correct one or not.
The decision should be analyzed on the basis of ethics as well.
A comment on free-riding: If any team has any serious problems with free-riders or slackers:
First try to manage and discuss your concerns with the slacking individual directly.
Only if that doesn’t work, talk to me, well before the final submission is due.
Remember team management skills are part of the learning goals in this exercise, so try and manage teams as best as you can.
In extreme cases, non-performing team members may, at my discretion, fail the course or be severely penalized.
Students will be required to work on this project throughout the semester. They will be asked to periodically present their findings
in class. They will be also asked to submit a written project at the end of the semester.

Class Participation
Class participation should reflect that you have read the assigned material for the class. It should add value to the class discussion. If
a question is well thought out and shows understanding, it will also count as participation in the course. In effect, if anyone is
adding value to the class they will get points for it.

In this online semester, class participation will be a mix of in class assignments and class participation. Feel free to write your
thoughts on chat. In case you miss class, you will get the opportunity to submit your class participation later (but within 24 hours)

Attendance Policy
Students are required to attend at least 11 classes during the semester. These 11 sessions do not include the first two sessions of
the course or the last two presentation sessions. If more than 11 classes are missed, there will be a reduction of 0.5% from their
attendance score, for each additional missed class.
In case students have connectivity issues or other issues with online lessons, they should inform the instructor or the teaching
assistants.

Assignments
The assignments will consist of two cases (10% each). You will be required to read the cases and solve related questions. This would
be an individual effort. One of the assignments will be assigned to you in the beginning of the semester and the other assignment at
the end.

Homework
From time to time, you will be given small articles. You will be asked to use tools learned in class to interpret them and share
insights on the LMS discussion forum.
 Lahore University of Management Sciences
Quizzes:
Top 5 quizzes will be count. Each quiz will be announced and in class. You are required to keep your cameras on during the quiz. In
case you have any issues with this, please contact the instructor or the teaching assistants.

EXAMINATION DETAIL

Yes/No: No midterm exam

Combine Separate:
Midterm
Duration:
Exam
Preferred Date:
Exam Specifications:

Yes/No: No
Combine Separate:
Final Exam
Duration:
Exam Specifications:

     
COURSE OVERVIEW
Week/
Recommended Objectives/
Lecture/ Topics
Readings Application
Module
Lecture 1 Course Introduction and Overview Course Syllabus Getting students familiar with the
syllabus. Addressing their concerns.
Lecture 2 What is Strategy? What is Strategy? By Michael E. Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific
and 3 Porter Knowledge and Understanding:
The Strategy Concept I: Five Ps Understanding the concept of
For Strategy – Henry strategy.
Mintzberg
Rothaermel – Chapter 1: What is
Strategy? (page 5 -11)
Lecture 4 Chapter 1: section 1.2 (pages 11- Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific
Strategic leadership 18) Knowledge and Understanding:
Understanding the concept of
strategy.
Lecture 5 External Analysis Chapter 3 (Rothaermel) Goal 6 – Understanding
Up till page 73 Organizational Ecosystems
Lecture 6 Case Study TBA Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving Skills
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process

Lecture 7 -8 Internal Analysis: Resources, Capabilities Chapter 4 (Rothaermel) Goal 6 – Understanding

and Core Competencies Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific
Knowledge and Understanding:
Understanding the concept of
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strategy.
Lecture 9 Case Study TBA Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving Skills
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process

Lecture 10 - Business Strategy 1: Differentiation, Cost Chapter 6 (Rothaermel) Goal 6 – Understanding

11 Leadership and Blue Ocean Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific
Knowledge and Understanding:
Understanding the concept of
strategy.
Lecture 12 Case Study TBA Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving Skills
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process

Lecture 13- Business Strategy 2: Innovation and Chapter 7 (Rothaermel) Goal 6 – Understanding
14 Entrepreneurship Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific
Knowledge and Understanding:
Understanding the concept of
strategy.
Lecture 15 Case Study TBA Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving Skills
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process

Lecture 16- Corporate Strategy 1: Vertical Integration Chapter 8 (Rothaermel) Goal 6 – Understanding
17 and Diversification Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific
Knowledge and Understanding:
Understanding the concept of
strategy.
Lecture 18 Case Study TBA Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving Skills
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process
Lecture 18- Corporate strategy 2: Alliances and Chapter 9 (Rothaermel) Goal 6 – Understanding
19 Mergers and Acquisitions Organizational Ecosystems
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Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific
Knowledge and Understanding:
Understanding the concept of
strategy.
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process
Lecture 20 Case Study TBA Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving Skills
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process

Lecture 21- Global Strategy: Competing Around the Chapter 10 (Rothaermel) Goal 6 – Understanding
22 World Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (a) – Discipline Specific
Knowledge and Understanding:
Understanding the concept of
strategy.
Lecture 23 Case Study TBA Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving Skills
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process

Lecture 24 Case Study TBA Goal 3 – Analytical Thinking and

Problem Solving Skills
Goal 6 – Understanding
Organizational Ecosystems
Goal 7 (b) – Understanding the
“science” behind the decision-
making process

Lecture 25- Presentations Goal 1 –Effective Written and

26 Oral Communication
Goal 5 – Teamwork in Diverse
and Multicultural Environments

Textbook(s)/Supplementary Readings
Required Textbook:
Frank T. Rothaermel – Strategic Management (3rd Edition)

Supplementary readings will be uploaded from time to time.

I will upload cases to LMS one week before they are to be discussed in class.