Corporate Level Strategy Theory and Applications

The challenges faced by diversified corporations—firms that operate in more than one industry or market—have changed over the years. In this new edition, Olivier Furrer helps students of corporate strategy to consider the impact of critical changes in resources, businesses and headquarters roles on the firm’s ability for establishing and sustaining corporate advantage. New to this edition are stimulating pedagogical features and additional material such as a new chapter on the theoretical foundations of multibusiness firms, along with a host of new examples from across the world. A companion website supplements the book, providing PowerPoint slides, a test bank of questions, and lists of suggested case studies.

Preface 1. What is Corporate Level Strategy? 2. Why Do Multibusiness Firms Exist? Theoretical approaches to diversification 3. Managing the Multibusiness Firm: Theoretical approaches to corporate level strategy 4. Defining the Business 5. Diversification Strategies: Creating corporate value 6. The Issue of Relatedness: Creating synergies 7. Diversification and Performance: Limits to the scope of the firm 8. The Role of the Parent: Managing the multibusiness firm 9. Organizing and Structuring the Multibusiness Firm 10. Vertical Integration: Coordinating the value chain 11. The Growth of the Firm: Internal development, mergers & acquisitions, and strategic alliances 12. Restructuring Strategies: Reducing the scope of the firm 13. Multipoint Competition: Managing market power 14. International Diversification: Global integration and local responsiveness 15. Corporate Governance: Controlling top managers and meeting corporate social responsibilities

Olivier Furrer is Chaired Professor of Marketing at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and Visiting Professor at HEC Geneva, Switzerland and the University of Lille, France.