DRE 3003 Strategy III - Research Frontiers in Strategy

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2012/2013

DRE 3003 Strategy III - Research Frontiers in Strategy

Responsible for the course
Bente Løwendahl

Department
Department of Strategy and Logistics

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
6

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
This course is mandatory for students majoring in strategy.

Learning outcome
Strategic Management is a broad and applied field of research and covers a number of key issues related to the management of organizations. This is the third course in the strategic management doctoral course sequence and explores current research issues in a number of different areas of research. The course builds on the topics and issues taught in DRE3002.

Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of the course, the students should have
  • updated knowledge on and understanding of a set of key research publications within each of the ten topics covered
  • updated knowledge on where to find additional current research in each area
  • updated knowledge and understanding of current research done by the professors teaching
  • updated knowledge and understanding of how to write a research article, and how to go about submitting it for review to key journals and conferences in our field of research
  • a better understanding of how review processes work and how to deal with reviewers and editors

Prerequisites
DRE3002 Fundemental Issues in Strategic Management. DRE3001 is strongly recommended, but not mandatory.

Admission to a PhD Programme is a general requirement for participation in PhD courses at BI Norwegian Business School.

External candidates are kindly asked to attach confirmation of admission to a PhD programme when signing up for a course with the doctoral administration. Other candidates may be allowed to sit in on courses by approval of the courseleader. Sitting in on courses does not permit registration for courses, handing in exams or gaining credits for the course. Course certificates or conformation letters will not be issued for sitting in on courses

Compulsory reading

Collection of articles:
A detailed syllabus with exact references to mandatory and recommended articles will be provided by the course coordinator.

Recommended reading

Course outline
The course is taught primarily as research seminars, where students and faculty interact in a combination of presentations and discussions of key contributions by outstanding scholars in the field. Each session focuses on one key issue, and includes 5-7 key contributions selected by the faculty member responsible for that session. 3-5 articles are required, the other 2-4 articles are recommended. Recommended articles will be discussed briefly, but not in the same detail as the required articles. For students wanting to continue doing research within a specific topic, the recommended articles are a good starting point.

Key issues discussed include, but are not limited to the following:
  • Current research on the theory of the firm and the characteristics of organizations
  • Current research on firm value creation, both from an activity based and a resource based perspective
  • Current research on organization design
  • Current research on leadership
  • Current research on resources and capabilities
  • Current research on knowledge intensive organizations
  • Current research on performance and competitive advantage
  • Current research on strategy making and strategy as practice
  • Current research on the internationalization of firms
  • Current research in transaction cost economics and agency theory
  • Current research on strategic processes

The course is taught by a number of faculty from the Department of Stategy and Logistics.

Computer-based tools
None

Learning process and workload
Required articles are listed in a detailed syllabus, and are mostly available from the library. Book chapters and articles not available from the library (e.g. work in progress) will be provided on Blackboard or in a a reader. Recommended readings can be acquired from the library or online sources. Students will be informed about who the other participants are, and recommended to collaborate on collecting and distributing copies of the articles. Detailed reading list will be available from the course coordinator.



Examination
Individual Academic Paper, 15-25 pages long, graded pass/fail. The paper should be original work, and be written specifically for this course..

Examination code(s)
DRE 30032 counts for 100% of the final grade in the course, 6 ECTS

Examination support materials
Not applicable

Re-sit examination
Next time the course is offered

Additional information
Honour Code
Academic honesty and trust are important to all of us as individuals, and represent values that are encouraged and promoted by the honour code system. This is a most significant university tradition. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the ideals of the honour code system, to which the faculty are also deeply committed.

Any violation of the honour code will be dealt with in accordance with BI’s procedures for cheating. These issues are a serious matter to everyone associated with the programs at BI and are at the heart of the honor code and academic integrity. If you have any questions about your responsibilities under the honour code, please ask.

Semesters

Translations