Course

Business Strategy & Competitive Analysis

Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Department
Business
Course Code
BUSN 4275
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 Weeks
Max Class Size
30
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Course Designation
None
Industry Designation
CPIM
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course integrates the knowledge and applied skills gained in other business courses with comprehensive case reviews and shows how the various business functional units work together in formulating and applying strategies in a global setting. The course uses a comprehensive business case review method to develop critical thinking and understanding of business strategy in the international marketplace.
NOTE: As this is a capstone course, it is recommended that students take this course towards the end of their studies.
Course Content
  1. Overview of strategic management and competitiveness
  2. Review of corporate performance (operational and financial), and measurement criteria
  3. External environment, industry competitiveness, industry players (national and international)
  4. Internal resource assessment, corporate strength and core competencies
  5. Business level strategies and implementation issues
  6. Corporate level strategy formulation, competitive dynamics and competitive response
  7. International takeovers, amalgamation, mergers, restructuring, alliances, entry and exit strategies
  8. Corporate monitor, control systems
  9. Management of financial and operational risks, in international settings
  10. Management control and reward systems
  11. Corporate innovation, and technological forecasting
  12. International trade systems, trade tribunals, trade agreements
  13. Restrictive trade practices and their impact on formulating strategic positioning
  14. Diversity and inclusion
  15. Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
  16. Framework for executing strategy
Learning Activities

Lecture and discussion.

Means of Assessment
Group written case analysis        20%
Midterm 20%-25%
Participation 10%-15%
Individual written case analysis     15%-25%
Group case presentation 0-10%
Final exam 20%-30%
Total 100%

Students must pass the combined total individual assessment components in order to pass the course. 

Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to: 

  1. Use strategic thinking about a company, its present position and long-term strategic direction
  2. Conduct critical strategic analysis in a variety of industries and competitive situations including for-profit and non-profit organizations, in global settings
  3. Demonstrate applied skills in crafting business strategies, reasoning strategic options, and the use of “what-if analysis” for risk management
  4. Evaluate strategic action alternatives, and make sound strategic decisions
  5. Identify and optimize among a range of options managers can take to effectively execute strategy
  6. Integrate the knowledge and skills gained in other business/ accounting courses, and show how the various pieces of the operation fit together for strategic positioning and success
  7. Conduct an internal analysis, assess the external environment, determine and prioritize strategic actions
  8. Assess the impact of international trade agreements on industry performance
  9. Assess the role of technology in the formulation and delivery of corporate strategy
  10. Identify the best courses of action for corporate strategy implementation and viable financial results
  11. Evaluate the strategic decisions and their consequences in a comprehensive case review setting
  12. Evaluate the impact of diversity and inclusion in executing company strategies
  13. Assess the role of culture and leadership in executing company strategies

 

 

 

Textbook Materials

Thompson, Jr., A.A., Peteraf, M.A., Gamble, J.E., and Strickland III, A.J., Crafting and Executing Strategy, McGraw-Hill, latest edition

Or

Any alternative textbook that has been approved by the department.

Students are also expected to review / analyze several journals, research reports.

Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration approved calculators only.

Requisites

Prerequisites

90 Credits towards BBA Degree OR permission of instructor

Corequisites

Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:

  • No corequisite courses

Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for BUSN 4275
Athabasca University (AU) AU ADMN 4XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU BADM 3XX (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN BPOL 250 (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR MGMT 411 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU ENTR 4200 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG BUSM 2XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU BUS 2XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU MNGT 2XXX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU MNGT 4780 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU BUSI 300 (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW BUSI 3XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC COMM 3XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV BUS 403 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC COM 400 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU MGMT 4th (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
25
Currently Enrolled
14
Remaining Seats:
11
On Waitlist
0
Building
Anvil Office Tower
Room
807
Times:
Start Time
18:30
-
End Time
21:20
Section Notes

BUSN 4275 051 - This section is restricted to Business Management Diplomas, BBA Management, BBA Financial Services, BBA Accounting, PBD Accounting, PDD Accounting, PBD International & PDD Supply Chain Management, PBD Advanced Human Resource Management, PBD Advanced Supply Chain Management, and PBD Computer and Information Systems - Data Analytics, & Emerging Technology Streams until Monday, December 02, 2024, at 9:00 am.

Students must have 90 credits towards a BBA Degree or be in 4th year standing to register.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
25
Currently Enrolled
21
Remaining Seats:
4
On Waitlist
0
Building
Anvil Office Tower
Room
608
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20
Section Notes

BUSN 4275 002 - This section is restricted to Business Management Diplomas, BBA Management, BBA Financial Services, BBA Accounting, PBD Accounting, PDD Accounting, PBD International & PDD Supply Chain Management, PBD Advanced Human Resource Management, PBD Advanced Supply Chain Management, and PBD Computer and Information Systems - Data Analytics, & Emerging Technology Streams until Monday, December 02, 2024, at 9:00 am.

Students must have 90 credits towards a BBA Degree or be in 4th year standing to register.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
25
Currently Enrolled
20
Remaining Seats:
5
On Waitlist
0
Building
Anvil Office Tower
Room
808
Times:
Start Time
15:30
-
End Time
18:20
Section Notes

BUSN 4275 003 - This section is restricted to Business Management Diplomas, BBA Management, BBA Financial Services, BBA Accounting, PBD Accounting, PDD Accounting, PBD International & PDD Supply Chain Management, PBD Advanced Human Resource Management, PBD Advanced Supply Chain Management, and PBD Computer and Information Systems - Data Analytics, & Emerging Technology Streams until Monday, December 02, 2024, at 9:00 am.

Students must have 90 credits towards a BBA Degree or be in 4th year standing to register.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
25
Currently Enrolled
12
Remaining Seats:
13
On Waitlist
0
Building
Anvil Office Tower
Room
None
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
11:20
Section Notes

BUSN 4275 004 - This section is restricted to Business Management Diplomas, BBA Management, BBA Financial Services, BBA Accounting, PBD Accounting, PDD Accounting, PBD International & PDD Supply Chain Management, PBD Advanced Human Resource Management, PBD Advanced Supply Chain Management, and PBD Computer and Information Systems - Data Analytics, & Emerging Technology Streams until Monday, December 02, 2024, at 9:00 am.

Students must have 90 credits towards a BBA Degree or be in 4th year standing to register.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
25
Currently Enrolled
5
Remaining Seats:
20
On Waitlist
0
Building
Anvil Office Tower
Room
None
Times:
Start Time
11:30
-
End Time
14:20
Section Notes

BUSN 4275 005 - This section is restricted to Business Management Diplomas, BBA Management, BBA Financial Services, BBA Accounting, PBD Accounting, PDD Accounting, PBD International & PDD Supply Chain Management, PBD Advanced Human Resource Management, PBD Advanced Supply Chain Management, and PBD Computer and Information Systems - Data Analytics, & Emerging Technology Streams until Monday, December 02, 2024, at 9:00 am.

Students must have 90 credits towards a BBA Degree or be in 4th year standing to register.