Intellectual Property and Competitive Strategy (CSIB 553)

From start-up companies to multinational enterprises, the effective management of intangible assets such as patents, secrets, or copyrights is often critical to a firm’s success. This course, introduced to the MBA curriculum in Winter 2003 (under CSIB743), examines the strategic value of intellectual property (IP) and its use in controlling, defending, or exchanging knowledge assets. Topics include: Linking IP strategies to a firm’s competitive environment; factors driving asset valuation and licensing decisions; the promise and pitfalls of on-line IP exchanges; and special topics in selected industries and national settings. The material is especially relevant for students interested in managing a business with significant technical or scientific content and for those pursuing careers in consulting or venture capital. The course is a 7-week strategy/international business elective in the MBA program. There are no prerequisites. Day and evening sections will be offered, starting March 2004.

Corporate Strategy (CSIB 601)

CSIB601 is the core strategy course in the evening MBA program. In this course, we examine the fundamental question of strategy: Why are some firms more successful than others? This course analyzes the sources of competitive success among firms and helps students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective strategy analyst, be it as a manager, a management consultant, or an investment banker. We will also tackle the complexity of analyzing the business enterprise in this era of increased uncertainty, technological change, and globalization.