Contemporary Perspectives in Corporate Strategy

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/E_HP1_CPCS

Course Objective

Understanding strategy is an important part of the business acumen for every educated manager. The overarching objective of this course is to develop your understanding of strategy and strategic management. You will engage with the course material through extensive in-class discussions, and team-based analyses of a major public corporation. After successfully completing this course, you will:understand the different theoretical perspectives that have informed strategy research (Bridging Theory and Practice
- Knowledge)develop competencies in the critical application of AI-generated material (Academic and Research Skills)be able to communicate effectively their own informed ideas regarding the focus and purpose of corporate strategy (Academic and Research Skills)gain confidence in using evidence-based theoretical reasoning to evaluate a modern public corporation (Bridging Theory and Practice
- Knowledge & Application)improve your skills in working with teammates from with diverse background (Academic and Research Skills)gain competence in allocating tasks among team members under time pressure (Academic and Research Skills)develop critical thinking and creativity in your approach to problem-solving (Broadening your Horizon)develop the critical thinking needed to analyze and evaluate complex organizational problems and make well-reasoned decisions (Broadening your Horizon)

Course Content

Here’s a couple simple questions: why do some organizations outperform others? Why do some organizations prosper and grow, while others in the same industry go out of business and die? It turns out that answering these questions is not so simple ... and has motivated decades of scholarly research on strategic management. This course will explore the core theoretical perspectives in the research that has examined these questions. We begin from the premise that the organization’s strategy is its approach to achieving success in general, and competitive advantage in particular. We then examine four theoretical perspectives that unpack this premise in very different ways and come to very different conclusions about the role of the manager in formulating and executing an organizational strategy. Developing a critical understanding of these different perspectives is important not only for aspiring managers, but also for anyone who wants to be an informed consumer of the business press and an active participant in today’s fast-paced global economy.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and tutorials.

Method of Assessment

The final grade will be composed of both individual (50%) and team-based (50%) components:Individual components: quizzes, class participation and individual reflection paperTeam-based components: corporation analysis and living case studies

Literature

Whittington, R. (2001). What is Strategy -
- and does it matter? (2nd Edition) Hampshire, UK: Cengage Learning EMEA. ISBN: 978-1-86152-377-8.Other articles and readings will be posted on Canvas.

Target Audience

Honours Program students: the course can be followed by a broad audience, but requires an interest in business administration in general, and strategic management in particular.

Entry Requirements

A basic understanding and acquaintance with the current world of business and economics (or a great passion and desire to understand and get acquainted) is expected of students in order to allow an in-depth discussion of the selected topics.

Explanation Canvas

Canvas will be used as the primary mode of communication outside the classroom.