D R A F T - The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

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Preliminary, Subject to Change Posted: 11.25.2013Journey “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Lewis Stevenson, Across the Plains, 1892 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Week of January 13 th The notion of journey not only conveys a sense of purpose (embodied in the destination) but also is inextricably associated with the path (the process of getting there). Furthermore, the journey is a personal undertaking that often shapes, tests or refines our worldview. This week’s readings and class explore various tools that are useful in learning from a journey, and surface how they can be helpful in strategic thinking and leadership. Readings Articles: Mintzberg, “Crafting Strategy” Book: Rumelt, Introduction & Chapters 1-‐3 (pp. 1-‐57) Coelho, The Alchemist Written Individual Assignment: (Paper due 1/14 section 81; 1/15 section 01). This paper should be double-‐spaced and not exceed 600 words. In order to be fair to everyone and to encourage succinctness, you should assume that I will not read beyond the word limit. For all assigned papers, please include a cover sheet with your name and section in front of your written material. Rumelt suggests some characteristics of a “good” strategy. In that spirit, identify two “good” strategic questions after reading The Alchemist. For the purpose of this assignment, think of a good question as one that: a) invites exploration of an important idea; and b) is open to empirical research as the basis for an answer. Select one question that relates to strategy in a business context, and a second question that relates to strategy in your personal life. For each, describe why you have chosen that question, and how you propose to collect data in pursuit of an answer. 4
Preliminary, Subject to Change Posted: 11.25.2013Competitive Advantage You Do Something to Me You do something to me, something that simply mystifies me. Tell me, why should it be? You have the power to hypnotize me. Let me live ‘neath your spell. You do that voodoo that you do so well. For you do something to me that nobody else could do. Cole Porter, songwriter ______________________________________________________________________________ Week of January 20 th Many consider the goal of creating a sustainable competitive advantage to be the essence of strategy. This week explores some of the most important approaches that have been employed to establish a competitive advantage. One objective is to help you develop a better understanding of the broader context in which such competitive advantage is expected to operate. Assumptions that are made about the contextual frame of strategic work are critical to creating competitive advantage even though they are often ignored or treated only implicitly in most discussions of this topic. Readings: Article: Thaler, “Finding Your Cello” Book: Case: BEGIN: Gerstner, Parts I and II (pp. 1-‐177) Honda (A) Written Group Assignment: (Paper—not to exceed 900 words—plus your visual due on 1/21 section 81; 1/22 section 01) The visual imagination is often a crucial component in the mix that leads to new insights. Einstein wrote: “The words or language, as they are written or spoken, 5
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D R A F T - The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

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