...Abbott Professor Jon Down March 26, 2004 Written Case Analysis McKinsey & Company: Managing Knowledge and Learning Evaluating Gupta’s Four-Pronged Plan Rajat Gupta has recently inherited a fast-growing consulting firm with a strong knowledge base and a competitive market position. In order to ensure the future success of McKinsey & Company, however, Gupta faces a number of challenges: he must provide outstanding services to an increasingly sophisticated clientele, offer his employees ongoing education and upwardly mobile career paths, continually enhance McKinsey’s reputation as a leader in the consulting field, and, perhaps most significantly, continue to leverage his company’s knowledge base across divisions while still maintaining the unity and cohesive corporate culture that have always been important to McKinsey. Gupta seems determined to pursue knowledge as the company’s key business driver. Accordingly, his four-pronged plan includes an emphasis on practice development and organizational learning, an annual program called the Practice Olympics, six special initiatives focused on emerging issues, and the expansion of McKinsey’s research institute. But can Gupta successfully tend to all of these initiatives at once without fragmenting the company? And are there critical business areas that he overlooks with this approach? Information Sharing and Corporate Unity vs. Cost-Effectiveness Despite its rapid growth, McKinsey & Company is attempting to maintain its “One Firm” policy...
Words: 1001 - Pages: 5
...Financial Analysis and Valuation FBE 529 Monday, Wednesday Class Instructor: Lloyd Levitin Time and Place: 3:30 – 4:50 P.M.; JKP 212 Office: Accounting 301E Office Hours: M, W: 2:15-3:15 P.M.; T: 5-6 P.M., and by appointment Office Phone (USC): 213-740-6524 Office Phone (Home): 310-858-0260 Email Address: levitin@marshall.usc.edu (preferred method of communication; please indicate on your email communication the class you are in and when it meets). Teaching Assistant: Brian Kaemingk (email: brian.e.k@gmail.com Course Website: On Blackboard http://blackboard.usc.edu COURSE OBJECTIVE Understanding what determines the value of a firm and how to estimate that value is a prerequisite for making rational business decisions. Entire industries (investment banking, securities analysis, and consulting) have grown prosperous providing valuation skills to investors and managers. The objective of this course is to give a general grounding in the valuation approaches used by successful practitioners. We cover discounted cash flow models, market multiple models, as well as specialized models used for M&A transactions and LBOs. We focus on valuation of businesses at the divisional and corporate levels. The course emphasizes practical and “real world” applications of valuation methodologies. The course is of interest to those contemplating careers in investment banking, security analysis, consulting...
Words: 2591 - Pages: 11
...Comparing the BCG Matrix with the McKinsey 7S model 1 Structure STRUCTURE ........................................................................................................................................ 2 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3 BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP (BCG) GROWTH MATRIX ................................................... 3 COMPOSITION AND FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................... 3 APPLICATION ....................................................................................................................................... 3 EXAMPLE APPLICATION: JUWI ............................................................................................................ 3 WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS OF THE BCG MATRIX ....................................................................... 4 THE MCKINSEY 7S MODEL ............................................................................................................ 5 COMPOSITION AND FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................... 5 APPLICATION ....................................................................................................................................... 7 EXAMPLE APPLICATION: JUWI ..............................................................
Words: 4013 - Pages: 17
...Key Learnings from OB-2 course (Submitted by Rajat Dhingra, Roll No 26, PGPM-PT April 2014 batch) An organisation consists of individuals and each person has an inherent need to understand it because much of each individual's time is spent working in or around an organisation. Organisation Behaviour plays an important role in the management of business. It is that field of study which finds out the impact that individuals, groups and structure have on behaviour within an organisation and it applies that knowledge to make organisations work more effectively. Organisations are open social systems and have complex structures. Companies use various structures such as- functional, divisional, matrix to achieve the flexibility that they require in terms of goals being met, faster decision making, adjust rapidly to the changing environment and reducing conflicts. There is no one size fits all approach and the structure is decided by various factors such as the environment, resources available, competitive position etc. We have also learnt about the role of business environment in influencing strategy of the company. To what extent strategy depends on the environment and how strategy shapes the structure. We have analysed the McKinsey 7s model which is a tool that analyzes firm’s organisational design by looking at 7 key internal elements: strategy, structure, systems, shared values, style, staff and skills, in order to identify if they are effectively aligned and allow organisation...
Words: 841 - Pages: 4
... | |Ioannis Doukas (Ph.D Candidate) |Business School | |4a. Module Status: |4b. Module Credit Rating: |4c. Module Type: | |Dedicated |20 |Core Module (Compulsory Module) | |5. Programme Stage in which module is offered: | |Year 3, Semester A | |6. Total learning hours: | |200 (53 Contact hours + 147 Hours of Directed Study) | |7. Pre-requisites: | |None...
Words: 1400 - Pages: 6
...Number: 410.234.9422 milter@jhu.edu Office Hours Typically before class session or by appointment. Required Learning Materials This course is a series of thematic conversations about human values and your responsibilities as an emerging/aspiring business leader. There is no traditional textbook, but there is much reading. You are required to read The Moral Compass: Leadership for a Free World, a workbook by Lindsay Thompson available online as a PDF in Course Documents. You will find details about required learning materials in the Bibliography and Theme Briefs sections of the Syllabus. Course Description and Overview This course explores ethical leadership as a framework for enterprise value creation in a complex environment of competing economic and moral claims. Students examine the intrinsic ethical challenges of leadership and the concept of a moral compass as a foundation for responding effectively to the ethical challenges of corporate citizenship and value creation in a competitive global economy. (2 credits) Syllabus Table of Contents Page Topic 2 Bibliography & Learning Resources 6 Calendar, Seminar Structure, Theme Briefs, Content 42 Seminar Preparation Toolkit 48 Learning Objectives, Graded Assignments, Deliverables 59 General Academic Policies 61 Supplemental Readings on Learning Theory bibliography learning resources ------------------------------------------------- Bibliography of Required and Suggested Readings Required: ...
Words: 18169 - Pages: 73
...Jacobides (MGJ) Office: 2061(PP) /2055(MGJ) SH-DH (Management Dept. Suite) Tel: 898-1231 (PP) / 898-1224 (MGJ) Email: puranam@management.wharton.upenn.edu jacobides@management.wharton.upenn.edu Class Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00 to 1:30pm Office Hours: By appointment (PP) Course Overview This course focuses on strategic management and strategic decision making and examines issues central to the long-term and short-term competitive position of the company or division / business unit. Students are placed in the role of key decision-makers or their advisors and asked to solve problems related to the development or maintenance of the competitive advantage of the firm. We start the course by looking at strategy at the level of the business unit, which is the fundamental level for competitive analysis. The perspective taken is of a manager in a given unit with particular assets, capabilities and competitive challenges. We look at industry analysis, examine the sources of competitive advantage, and explore generic strategies: How can we analyze the competitive environment, and what are the basic options for business-unit level strategy? What are the bases of competitive advantage? What is the nature of the value chain? Following that, we look at how business units (but also entire corporations) build strengths, by analyzing the nature and value of business and corporate resources and capabilities. The next module of the course examines...
Words: 5591 - Pages: 23
...CHAPTER 6 Corporate-Level Strategies Learning Objectives CONTENTS After reading this chapter, you should be able to: Introduction 1. Understand corporate strategy and identify its components. Corporate Strategy 2. Evaluate and identify different approaches to corporate strategy development. The Portfolio Approach 3. Understand how organisations can create and sustain the multibusiness advantage. Corporate Strategy and Adding Value 4. Appreciate how different corporate strategies could add value to a corporation. 5. Appreciate the complexities of developing corporate strategy at the international level. The Core Competence Approach Creating and Sustaining the Multibusiness Advantage Corporate-Level Strategy in the International Perspective Summary Study Questions References and Further Readings 109 110 CHAPTER 6: Corporate-Level Strategies Opening Case The case study organisation is one of the largest international hotel chains operating in more than one hundred countries with its internationally recognised brands. However, the company does not have a culturally diverse workforce at the senior level. It usually recruits executives to the key decision-making positions either from the United Kingdom or the United States. In this respect, it is defined as Anglo-Saxon. Some people argue that the company should get the best from other nationalities involved in the development of an organisation’s strategy. Different...
Words: 5817 - Pages: 24
...McKinsey Global Institute June 2011 Big data: The next frontier for innovation, competition, and productivity The McKinsey Global Institute The McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), established in 1990, is McKinsey & Company’s business and economics research arm. MGI’s mission is to help leaders in the commercial, public, and social sectors develop a deeper understanding of the evolution of the global economy and to provide a fact base that contributes to decision making on critical management and policy issues. MGI research combines two disciplines: economics and management. Economists often have limited access to the practical problems facing senior managers, while senior managers often lack the time and incentive to look beyond their own industry to the larger issues of the global economy. By integrating these perspectives, MGI is able to gain insights into the microeconomic underpinnings of the long-term macroeconomic trends affecting business strategy and policy making. For nearly two decades, MGI has utilized this “micro-to-macro” approach in research covering more than 20 countries and 30 industry sectors. MGI’s current research agenda focuses on three broad areas: productivity, competitiveness, and growth; the evolution of global financial markets; and the economic impact of technology. Recent research has examined a program of reform to bolster growth and renewal in Europe and the United States through accelerated productivity growth; Africa’s economic potential;...
Words: 60035 - Pages: 241
...McKinsey Global Institute June 2011 Big data: The next frontier for innovation, competition, and productivity The McKinsey Global Institute The McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), established in 1990, is McKinsey & Company’s business and economics research arm. MGI’s mission is to help leaders in the commercial, public, and social sectors develop a deeper understanding of the evolution of the global economy and to provide a fact base that contributes to decision making on critical management and policy issues. MGI research combines two disciplines: economics and management. Economists often have limited access to the practical problems facing senior managers, while senior managers often lack the time and incentive to look beyond their own industry to the larger issues of the global economy. By integrating these perspectives, MGI is able to gain insights into the microeconomic underpinnings of the long-term macroeconomic trends affecting business strategy and policy making. For nearly two decades, MGI has utilized this “micro-to-macro” approach in research covering more than 20 countries and 30 industry sectors. MGI’s current research agenda focuses on three broad areas: productivity, competitiveness, and growth; the evolution of global financial markets; and the economic impact of technology. Recent research has examined a program of reform to bolster growth and renewal in Europe and the United States through accelerated productivity growth; Africa’s economic potential;...
Words: 60035 - Pages: 241
...development, the supply of labour, political developments in society and other factors relevant for how organizations manage their business. 1 2013 Fall semester To a large extend strategic work is about understanding these factors and reinterpreting them so that they become assets rather than restrictions. Business strategy and marketing management concepts and techniques are studied. The course serves as an opportunity to develop skills for environmental and market analysis, understanding of the major business and marketing strategy issues, formulating business and marketing strategies and tactics. Course aim Students are going to discover knowledge and apply skills enabling them to help organizations to meet and manage significant threats and challenges. Students will learn how to analyse environment and company’s resources, generate strategic alternatives and to select the most appropriate alternative for particular circumstances. Students will learn and apply provide students the fundamental knowledge of strategic and marketing...
Words: 3923 - Pages: 16
...Capabilities Classifying Capabilities The Architecture of Capability l Appraising Resources and Capabilities Establishing Competitive Advantage Sustaining Competitive Advantage Appropriating the Returns to Competitive Advantage l Putting Resource and Capability Capabilities in Strategy Formulation Basing Strategy on Resources and Capabilities Resources and Capabilities as Sources of Profit l The Resources of the Firm Tangible Resources Intangible Resources Human Resources Analysis to Work: A Practical Guide Step 1 Identify the Key Resources and Capabilities 123 CSAC05 1/13/07 9:21 Page 124 124 PART II THE TOOLS OF STRATEGY ANALYSIS Step 2 Appraising Resources and Capabilities Step 3 Developing Strategy Implications l Developing Resources and Capabilities The Relationship between Resources and Capabilities Replicating Capabilities Developing New Capabilities Approaches to Capability Development l Summary l Self-Study Questions l Appendix: Knowledge Management and the Knowledge-based View of the Firm l Notes Introduction and Objectives In Chapter 1, I noted that the focus of strategy thinking has been shifted from the...
Words: 20499 - Pages: 82
...EBJ 16.4 3rd 10/1/05 11:43 am Page 133 133 EUROPEAN BUSINESS JOURNAL The modern roots of strategic management Susan Segal-Horn The term ‘strategy’ is one of the most over-used, and poorly understood, terms in modern business and organisational life. The purpose of this article is to help practising managers understand better what strategy is about, how it has developed in the second half of the twentieth century from much earlier influences and the key contributions made by business schools, academics and consultants to the modern managerial practice of strategy. Strategic management has moved from a rational top-down planning approach, to strategic decision-making as a wider process involving all internal organisational stakeholders to ensure strategies are likely to be effectively implemented in practice. The recent rise of the resource-based approach to strategy helps us understand how two organisations with similar resources may nevertheless develop quite different levels of capability and performance. This article should help managers appreciate why no source of competitive advantage is likely to be sustainable over the longer-term. Introduction Susan Segal-Horn, Professor of International Strategy, Open University Business School This article is based on a revised version of the Introduction to S. Segal-Horn (ed.) The Strategy Reader (2004) 2nd edition, published by Blackwell Publishers, Oxford. Address for correspondence:...
Words: 6013 - Pages: 25
...coordinator Dr Noemi Sinkovics (NS) The University of Manchester, Manchester Business School, Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PB, UK 2 Course unit Objectives This course has three interrelated and equally important objectives: i. ii. iii. 3 Introduce key multinational management concepts, and illustrate their applications. Understand multinational mentalities and develop strategic and critical thinking in relation to multinational management. Understand the management challenges associated with developing strategies and handling the operations of firms whose activities stretch across national boundaries. Learning Outcomes On successful completion of the course unit, students are expected to: i. ii. Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical and managerial fields of multinational management. Understand how multinational firms are managing in competitive environments, what are on-going tensions between the competitive and co-operative approaches to strategy and competitiveness faced by the multinational firms and the changing role of headquarters and subsidiaries in the development of multinational corporations. Have a critical appreciation of conceptual explanations for multinational activities of firms, and apply this to real business activities. iii. BMAN70012-201415-MM-syllabus-v20150209 //...
Words: 3318 - Pages: 14
...McKinsey Global Institute May 2013 Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy The McKinsey Global Institute The McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), the business and economics research arm of McKinsey & Company, was established in 1990 to develop a deeper understanding of the evolving global economy. Our goal is to provide leaders in the commercial, public, and social sectors with the facts and insights on which to base management and policy decisions. MGI research combines the disciplines of economics and management, employing the analytical tools of economics with the insights of business leaders. Our “micro-to-macro” methodology examines microeconomic industry trends to better understand the broad macroeconomic forces affecting business strategy and public policy. MGI’s in-depth reports have covered more than 20 countries and 30 industries. Current research focuses on four themes: productivity and growth, the evolution of global financial markets, the economic impact of technology and innovation, and urbanization. Recent reports have assessed job creation, resource productivity, cities of the future, and the impact of the Internet. MGI is led by McKinsey & Company directors Richard Dobbs and James Manyika. Yougang Chen, Michael Chui, Susan Lund, and Jaana Remes serve as MGI principals. Project teams are led by a group of senior fellows and include consultants from McKinsey’s offices around the world. These teams draw...
Words: 80396 - Pages: 322
