Materials:

 There are three kinds of readings in this course:

1. My book with Adam Brandenburger, Sharon Oster’s book, and John Seely Brown’s
    HBSP collected readings.

2. A selection of articles from journals and books collected in a reading packet.

3. HBS and SOM cases.

I have tried to keep the reading to a reasonable level. In exchange, you should read the material with care. In particular, you should read the cases several times so that you understand them thoroughly.

A caveat: Although I believe this to be a final syllabus, we may rearrange the schedule as the semester develops. In particular, we may need to move a lecture in order to accommodate an outside speaker’s schedule. When this happens, it inevitably leads to some confusion and you have my apologies in advance.

Requirements:

1.  Class discussion of cases

I expect you to come to class prepared to discuss that day’s readings or case. Preparation for a case study involves more than just having read the case. You should be prepared to offer original and thoughtful analysis in which your claims are supported by evidence, logic, and possible calculations. A trip to the website of the company and related companies would typically be advised. I recommend that you discuss the case with your classmates prior to the class.

Your active contribution is what makes the class discussions sophisticated and lively, so reading and thinking before class, and debating during class are important. I will actively call on people. When I call on you my goal is to help the class discussion and to help improve your presentation skills. If I think you are wrong, I will tell you so, not to embarrass you, but to give you a chance to defend yourself or rethink your position. I look forward to being challenged by you as well. Previous experience has shown that people learn a lot from my courses. They also work hard.

I expect you to come to every class prepared. Accidents and emergencies do happen. I don't need to know about them and don't need to hear an explanation. If you are not prepared, leave me a note at the front of the class or speak to me beforehand and I won't call on you. I expect you to abide by this policy.

2.  Small strategy write-up

In this project, I want you to take some small and well-defined business activity and put it under a strategy microscope. For example, your write-up should be at the same level as the discussion we will have in class regarding why the Price Club charges a membership fee. Other sample topics (that we will discuss in the class) include why Microsoft sells its software as a bundle and why car dealers prefer to sell cars via leases. The point of this paper is to go beyond a superficial explanation and provide a much deeper understanding of why a particular activity (your choice) is structured the way that it is. What are some of the unexpected side benefits or costs of doing business in this fashion? This short (two to three page) write up is due October 15 (right before the mid-term break). This is not a group project.

3.  Exercises

During the semester there will be a small number of "problem set" like assignments.

Final project: Case study write-up
        Prospectus due at beginning of class, September 22.
        Write up case and teaching note due December 14.

The final project should be a thorough analysis of a strategy problem in no more than 20 pages of text and 8 pages of exhibits. Groups should have two or three people in them, but not four. Feel free to choose an industry or company that interests you because it is unusual, topical, glamorous, because you worked there, or because you hope to work there. Most importantly, I hope that the case that you choose will illustrate some aspect of changing the game (or failure to do so).

 Some specific projects that have worked well in the past include

a. Elvis Presley Enterprises
b. barnesandnoble.com
c. Introduction of the GM card program.
d. Oxford Health care
e. Sony and the Introduction of the MiniDisc.

You should think of the project as having two parts. I would like you to write a strategy case along with a teaching note. The case lays out the background information and the strategy problem. The teaching note gives your view of how the discussion should go and your proposed solution.

I am looking for three elements in your papers: Concise and clear writing; Application of the ideas from this course (e.g., changing the game); Most importantly, substance. Is the paper informative and interesting? Does it balance fact, analysis, and opinion?

A two-to-three page prospectus for the problem you propose to analyze is due at the beginning of class on September 28. Include the names of the people in your group, the questions you hope to pose and answer, sources of data and insight, and why you choose this particular industry or company. I am happy to meet with your group several times during the semester to discuss this project. The final paper is due December 14.

A note on collaboration: You are expected to pull you own weight in producing your group project. While the nature of group work often makes it impossible to assign all group members identical tasks, group members should undertake equivalent shares of work. You are encouraged to make your group members’ expectations of each other explicit. If you have intractable and irreconcilable difference that are undermining your ability to learn, you may discuss the problem confidentially with me. However, you are encouraged to use the management skills you have learned so far to devise methods to make your group work. At the end of the semester, each student will make and assessment of his or her contribution in the context of his or her group.

Grading policy:

My evaluation of your performance is based on all four components: class participation, exercises, small strategy write-up, and the final group project. I will endeavor to tell you along the way if your participation is not up to speed. Coming to class regularly is necessary but not sufficient for good contribution. Contribution means volunteering ideas (or criticism of others’ ideas) which moves the discussion along in a productive interesting way. If you are not volunteering and I’m not calling on you, then something is wrong: please let me know. Let’s get to work.