Course Description

This course introduces the key concepts, tools, and principles of strategy formulation and competitive advantage. It is concerned with managerial decisions and actions that affect the performance and survival of business enterprises. The course is focused on the information, analyses, skills and business judgment managers must use to craft strategies to maximize long-term profits in the face of uncertainty and competition. It assumes a broad view of the environment that includes suppliers, buyers, competitors, the economy, technology, capital markets, the government and global forces and views the external environment as dynamic and characterized by uncertainty. 

Comments from Students

"I truly admire your ability to educate while showing genuine compassion and care for us as students. This was the first class I felt comfortable enough to actively participate and share my opinion in due to the environment you created and your encouragement. I really enjoyed the structure of this course and the clarity it was led in along with its clear cut expectations. Undoubtedly the best professor I have had the pleasure of meeting here at Marshall!"

"Professor Kwon is highly professional, organized, kind, and encouraging. He's been one of the most pleasant instructors I've had, and a top–notch example of how to approach modern college courses."

"Professor Kwon is arguably the best professor I've had thus far at USC Marshall. He was sure to be receptive to various student needs, intelligible in complex questionings and teachings, and overall just a great energy to be around. Professor Kwon truly inspired me in many ways, as both a student and as someone who is soon going to be joining the workforce." 

"I loved the class as a whole – it was extremely enriching and interesting for me. It was probably the only class I have taken at USC where we studied so many real–world examples through the case studies which is what made the theoretical part easier to understand. Everything from this class was extremely positive – the participation, games, discussions and assignments."

"Professor Kwon was a really sweet and caring teacher, which are rare to find. There were lots of ways to learn and speaking up was always welcomed and encouraged, no matter what we said. He took the time to help students out whenever and outside of class. It was clear he places the students above all else and wants us to be happy while learning in the best way we can. He was supportive and is very genuine and knowledgeable. One of the best professors I've had."

"I was initially concerned about taking BUAD 497, given its reputation for being a material–dense class. However, Professor Kwon completely changed my perspective. His passion for the subject matter was evident from the start, and he showed genuine care for his students' success. Not only did I appreciate Professor Kwon's teaching style, but my entire team for the group project also shared their sentiments on iMessage. I can confidently say that Professor Kwon is, without a doubt, the best Marshall professor I've had. His passion, care, and commitment to his students' success made BUAD 497 a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience."

Course Description

Technology & Innovation Management is a rapidly emerging area as technological innovation has been at the core of sustainable competitive advantage for firms. The module provides an overview of technological innovation management with an emphasis on the integrative relationship of technology development with strategic planning, marketing, finance, engineering and operations over the entire life cycle of technology. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and term-projects, this course will examine not only the fundamentals of managing innovation and technological dynamics, but also the formulation and implementation of innovation strategies within an organization.

Course Description

The course draws from studies of technical change to provide a set of tools to craft a technology strategy as an integral part of business strategy. Technology strategy is “an integrated set of choices about how to use new technology to produce superior financial returns in the long run.” For businesses, making decisions about responding to a new technology developed by someone else or about introducing a new technology is integral to strategizing on how to compete in the marketplace. Furthermore, the focus on new technologies is essential because what matters from a competitive strategy perspective is technological change: technology carries the promise of making a strategic impact as long as not all businesses use the same technology.  The most recent technological change, artificial intelligence (AI), is becoming ubiquitous across all industries. Rather than looking at the role of past technological changes in shaping societal and business outcomes, this class takes a forward-looking approach and focuses on emerging technologies and their likely role in shaping the technology strategy of modern businesses.  

Course Description

GSBA 540 is designed to introduce the concepts, tools, and first principles of strategy formulation and competitive advantage. We will focus on the analyses, skills, and business judgment that executives must use to craft strategies for maximizing long-term gains in the face of uncertainty and competition. The course is also designed to develop the “general management perspective,” often also called the general manager's point of view. This view is critical because fundamental strategic business decisions can only be effectively made by viewing a firm or organization holistically and over the long term. These decisions typically include the determination of organizational purpose, the pursuit of specific opportunities, the creation of competitive advantage, the allocation of critical resources, and the choice of competitive strategies.

Course Description

This course introduces the key concepts, tools, and principles of strategy formulation and competitive advantage. It is concerned with managerial decisions and actions that affect the performance and survival of business enterprises. The course is focused on the information, analyses, skills and business judgment managers must use to craft strategies to maximize long-term profits in the face of uncertainty and competition. It assumes a broad view of the environment that includes suppliers, buyers, competitors, the economy, technology, capital markets, the government and global forces and views the external environment as dynamic and characterized by uncertainty. The course draws together and builds on the ideas, concepts, and theories from your functional courses such as economics, accounting, finance, marketing and statistics.

Course Description (for one of the modules)

Effective managers are architects of the firm’s business model and the underlying resources and capabilities. We will use the Enterprise Rent-a-Car case to understand the mutually reinforcing dynamics among strategic choices within a given business model and their effects on the competitive advantage of firms, especially ability to respond to competitive threats. We will continue our discussion of Whole Foods in the light of its acquisition by Amazon.com and will assess the compatibility of their business models and their implication for the paths forward.