Corporate Strategy

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Corporate Strategy refers to the overall strategy of a multi-business firm. It is different from business strategy. The individual businesses in the corporate “family” have the responsibility of determining how to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. Corporate Strategy refers to the task of the corporate “parent” and involves answering two distinct questions: 1) What businesses are we going to have in our portfolio? and 2) How is Corporate (i.e., the Corporate office) going to add value to the individual businesses? The first of these questions is normally straightforward and involves issues like scale and scope of the businesses we are in as well as the amount of diversification we wish to have. The second question is typically the more difficult. It involves not only capturing the synergies that exist among the businesses in the portfolio but also managing strategic risk. This course is designed to help managers understand strategy at the corporate level and equip them to formulate and execute Corporate Strategy.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Identify and distinguish between Business Strategy and Corporate Strategy
• Determine ways that value can be created through specific forms of corporate organization and corporate capabilities
• Evaluate corporate performance and develop ideas for improving it from a financial and market perspective
• Develop and execute a corporate strategy

• Class preparation and discussion (15%)
  • Throughout subject
• Quiz (15%)
  • 1 hour
  • Midway through subject
• Syndicate project (30%)
  • Report (equivalent of 750 word assessment)
  • Presentation (equivalent of 750 word assessment)
  • Midway through subject
• Final Exam (40%)
  • Hurdle requirement
  • 90 minutes
  • End of subject

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.