PART A: Approximately 1500 words

An analysis of a core strategic issue of your choice, based on a review of the academic literature on this issue. Examples of “core” strategic issues that you might investigate would be the following:

Why, and to what extent, does strategy matter? Is it necessarily the case that firms need to have an explicit strategy?
“Analysis of the external environment means trying to focus on a moving target”. Is this true, and what can firms do to anticipate the potential impact of future environmental conditions?
In what ways is following a particular type of strategy (e.g., a niche strategy, a cost leadership strategy, a differentiation strategy) associated with performance?
What obstacles to change would a company pursuing a cost-leadership strategy face, if forced to pursue a differentiation strategy?
Where does the success of “Blue Ocean” strategies rely upon?
What is the relationship between a firm’s resources, its capabilities, and its performance?
Discuss some of the key challenges in assessing the performance of a firm. Which in your own opinion is the most important challenge when assessing firms internationally?
How does an organization increase its scope? Discuss the key strategies of diversification as identified by Ansoff, while reflecting on their benefits and challenges.
Which are the key strategic decisions a firm needs to make regarding its international strategy?
Which are the key criteria for assessing the attractiveness of a foreign market?
Which are the key characteristics of a Global Manager?
Which are the key human resource challenges addressed by Global Managers?
How can a firm’s international strategy and its organizational structure be “aligned”? Does strategy precede organizational structure, or is it the other way around?
Growing organically or through M&A? Compare the two approaches, while discussing the benefits and key challenges associated with each.


All of these questions are just examples of questions you may address. You need to analyze ONLY ONE of them. If you are uncertain about defining a question, don’t hesitate to contact the Module Convenor at [email protected]



PART B: 500 words

An empirical analysis of the issue that you have chosen to focus on. You need to apply the issue that you have discussed above to either:



A specific organization (a company, or a public sector / non-profit organization): You may focus on any organization of your choice, except the ones that we have addressed in class as cases.
An industry (e.g., if you address industry-specific questions, such as strategic groups).


Regardless of which unit of analysis you choose, make sure that you focus on the specific question you want to address i.e., don’t just tell us everything that’s interesting about this company, or that industry. It should be clear from your discussion how the issue of focus chosen in Part A plays out at either the specific organization or the specific industry analysed.

Make sure you use specific qualitative and/or quantitative evidence to support your argument.

Use the appropriate strategic tools that apply to support your arguments.



NOTE: A complete essay should have an introduction and a conclusion and be written in a clear, structured manner.