The course focuses on competitive strategy at the corporate and business unit level. Strategy development is highly complex and this course helps students develop skills that identify and properly address issues. The format of the class is designed for thought and practice on the part of each student. Key topics include: learning curve, relative market share, value chain; Porter's 5 Forces, BCG, GE, PIMS, EVA, and other such concepts; mission statement, competitive positioning, SWOT and other aspects of analyzing one's own organization; forecasting ' sources of information, trends, and analysis; critically analyzing situations and persuasively presenting solutions to various audiences; ethics and corporate responsibilities; and implementation strategies.