Strategy

A study of how public policy influences the private competitive environment of the firm. The course examines the major political institutions and actors — Congress, the president, interest groups, the media and administrative agencies — that shape U.S. public policy. Students analyze business political strategies and formulate several of their own.

The course examines the merger and acquisition process from the perspectives of buyers and sellers. Attention is paid to the internal (make) versus external (buy) growth opportunities and their value consequences. The course also analyzes the M&A transaction process through the study of cases. An additional focus will be in the interaction of strategic planning, value planning, financial strategies and investment decisions.

This course provides an overview of successful strategies managers use to navigate their companies in the international business environment governed by different laws and norms. By discussing case studies and examples of companies, students learn how global markets, local governments, and interorganizational networks shape the actions and organizational arrangements of multinational firms.

This course provides an overview of how firms engage different groups of stakeholders, ranging from customers and employees to local communities and non-governmental organizations. In contrast to the traditional focus on shareholders, the importance of stakeholder preferences in organizational renewal and long-term success is highlighted. Students in this class learn how value is created in the firm by successfully navigating critical social and political risks and through the engagement of the external stakeholders.

An overview of the economic and political environment of international trade, foreign investment and competitiveness, focusing on institutions that affect international commerce.

This course examines the broad subject of law as it relates to business and is designed to help the student develop “legal astuteness.” That is, the ability to communicate effectively with counsel and to work together with counsel to solve complex problems and/or to protect and leverage the firm’s resources. It is designed to be a guide to understanding how the law impacts daily management decisions and business strategies, to spotting legal issues before they become legal problems, and to using laws and legal tools to marshal resources and manage risk.

Companies with strong reputations gain competitive advantage. However, reputation is not a tangible attribute of a firm, but rather an intangible asset held in the minds of the firm's constituents. The goal of this course is to provide students with analytical tools to assess how an organization can build, damage, and repair its reputation.

This course focuses on examining various strategies that companies can adopt to achieve sustainable and profitable growth. The course will use a variety of real-life cases of companies and supplement them with relevant readings, lectures or other exercises, as necessary.

Using real cases across industries and visits of industry experts, Digital Transformation is designed to equip students to confidently conceive, lead and execute digital innovation and transformation initiatives and develop new business models for existing and insurgent organizations.

This course, led by Rice Business faculty, takes place in an international business setting and consists of a combination of lectures by local university faculty and business leaders and site visits to companies in the region. Students have the opportunity to meet with corporate executives, investors and scholars to discuss opportunities and challenges of doing business in the country. The objectives of the course are to further an appreciation of the opportunities and obstacles of doing business in different parts of the world, increase sensitivity to cross-cultural issues, and broaden perspectives on issues dealing with global business. Department permission required. Repeatable for credit.

The energy industry is global in nature. This course is designed to equip you and your organization with the skills, knowledge and sensitivity required to successfully manage foreign market entries in the energy industry. This course will cover the following issues: (1) how to mitigate political risk in the global environment, (2) how to choose foreign entry strategies, (3) how to manage partnerships with local firms, (4) how to manage relationships with local stakeholders, and (5) the environmental concerns in the global energy industry. The course is structured around cases and newspaper articles to highlight the relevance and applications of the course concepts. We will also have guest speakers from major energy companies join us and share their experiences and insights.