Growth Strategies and Organizational Challenges

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/E_BA_GSOC

Course Objective

Academic and Research Skills:
• To grasp and illustrate the theories and focal concepts of growth at the individual, firm, and industry level. Knowledge of Theory + Methods and Solving Complex Problems:
• To understand, describe and explain the motives, modes, and dilemmas of growing a firm in mature and emerging markets at home and abroad.
• To understand and describe the organizational challenges, contingencies, and outcomes of various growth strategies. Professional Social Skills:
• To propose evidence-based managerial interventions targeted at financial or non-financial growth. Horizon Beyond Professional Area:
• To critically evaluate research on growth strategies. Self-Reflective Professional:
• To apply insights from the GS&OC course to the professional growth trajectory in the S&O Master specialization.

Course Content

´Growth is magic. It makes it easier to fund new investments, attract great talent, and acquire assets. But the environment for growth has been difficult since 2008, and while there are signs that the Great Recession is at last receding, significant challenges remain.´ (Atsmon and Smit, 2015). According to McKinsey, we’re still living in a business environment in which ‘grow or go’ dictates strategists’ behaviors. Growing a firm and dealing with organizational challenges effectively is therefore more than ever key for competitive reasons. The GS&OC course focuses on contemporary growth challenges in mature and emerging markets at home and abroad. The course addresses core growth challenges at the individual, firm, and industry level. Throughout the course, we pay attention to how researchers study growth-related topics. Students are invited to co-study relevant growth challenges and to apply insights in a real life case study.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and tutorials

Method of Assessment

Written exam; case study report; research assignment

Literature

Scholarly articles, to be announced

Target Audience

BA master students

Recommended background knowledge

Basic Strategic Management course(s)