Competitive Strategy (MSB260)

The course focuses on key economic concepts and provides students with the tools to develop a sound business strategy. Armed with general principles and based on a game-theoretic mindset, students learn about the fundamental laws of business gravity and competition. This enables them to analyze and develop organizational and tactical strategies to adapt their company's business strategies to the demands of the ever-changing environment. Whether it's pricing, product portfolio design, or advertising campaign planning, a competitive advantage is only sustainable if it can survive in a dynamic competitive environment and integrate competitor reactions into the strategic planning process.

Limit: 40 students (first come, first served).


Course description for study year 2023-2024. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

MSB260

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

Examples of typical subject areas covered are:

  • Fundamental concepts of managerial economics
  • Demand analysis and estimating demand
  • Business and economic forecasting
  • Industry analysis
  • Competitors and competition
  • Positioning and competitive advantage
  • Production and costs
  • Product differentiation and quality decisions
  • Pricing techniques and analysis
  • Advertising optimization
  • Strategic behaviour and game theory
  • Linear Regression

Learning outcome

Knowledge

On completion of the course, students will gain knowledge in:

  • Utilizing fundamental statistical concepts, methods, and data to gain insights
  • Basic game theory
  • Basic proficiency in Excel

Skills

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Determine a demand function through linear regression
  • Perform basic profit-optimization in Excel
  • Apply basic concepts of managerial economics to real business problems
  • Understand and apply basic pricing strategies
  • Optimize advertising tactics and budgets
  • Perform industry analysis
  • Determine competitive advantage
  • Apply basic game theoretic concepts to analyse competitive dynamics
  • Use Excel to run a basic methods of business analytics

Required prerequisite knowledge

Introduction to statistics and economics.

Exam

Term paper and school exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Term paper in groups 45/100 1 Semesters Letter grades
School exam 55/100 4 Hours Letter grades Valid calculator

The final grade is based on a group project and a final individual exam. No re-sit. The term paper (45%): work in group of 3-4 students. Due at the end of the term.Individual digital written exam (55%).

Coursework requirements

Assignments, Attendance 80%

The assignments are given in forms of individual practice questions or group work.

80% attendance

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Robert Kreuzbauer

Method of work

In this course, you will learn through a mixture of traditional lectures, instruction videos, learning sessions, Excel sessions, and individual study. Lectures provide the basic theoretical and analytical concepts, while both learning and Excel sessions will be problem/project-based in interactive and collaborative settings.

Open for

Industrial Economics - Master of Science Degree Programme Business Administration - Master of Science

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course coordinator, the student representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital course evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto