Master Strategy and Innovation

In business practice the importance of strategy has been identified as an innovative and challenging part of the profession. As a result, strategic management is increasingly regarded as a key factor in determining corporate success. The strategy process determines the ongoing development and change in the firm in terms of scope, business idea, resources, capabilities and core businesses and activities. These developments and changes have been closely linked to profits, costs saving, uniqueness and market share. With respect to this companies have to cope with e.g. the pressures of central co-ordination of activities and businesses, investment under uncertainty and the make-or-buy decision. Their aim is to maximize their competitive advantages and to strengthen their product portfolio. Companies have to develop multiple strategic capabilities that allow them to capitalize on the key advantages of national and international responsiveness, technological developments, scale economies and scope economies. Practitioners are looking for ideas and tools on how to manage their strategies, innovations and product portfolio more effectively, in other words, to create sustainable competitive advantages. There are a number of reasons that may account for this development. Some important reasons are:

The attempts by many companies to differentiate themselves on the basis of activities and business management.
The impact of globalization and information technology in terms of economies of scale and scope.
The adoption of major strategic initiatives and co-operations in discovering new ways to improve customer satisfaction, or opening new markets, or integrating new technology into existing businesses.
The dynamics of industries, in particular a focus on the role of the governments (e.g. anti-trust policy or subsidies) and entry and exit patterns of companies in the markets.
Independent small and medium-sized firms with a final product or innovation might find using multinational firms as intermediary agent in global marketing and manufacturing capacity more efficient than breaking into foreign markets directly.

Since strategic management explores a wide range of issues affecting the competitiveness of firms, the track Strategy and Innovation offers a unique focus on specific areas of strategic management, such as knowledge management, innovation management, mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and international business strategy.

The objectives of the track Strategy and Innovation are:

To provide a state-of-the-art master track in the strategy, innovation and international business area, focusing on network analysis, strategic behavior, make-or-buy decision, inter-firm cooperation, creating competitive advantages, changing industry structure due to major technological developments, globalization and government actions, company behavior in emerging economies and other (international) aspects of strategic and innovation management.
To diffuse knowledge about strategy, innovation and international business management by incorporating cross-functional, cross-industry and global perspectives.
To provide a high-quality (problem & project based learning) education program (with accreditation) for all students that provides excellent opportunities on the job market.
To maintain close ties with firms in order to ensure the relevance and applicability of course portfolio.

The Staff offers a unique bundle of various types of expertise. Coming from various backgrounds ranging from business economics, econometrics to sociology and other social sciences, the staff offers a comprehensive perspective on the teaching challenges presented by the (international) business, innovation and strategic management. Working together in close cooperation, this approach meets the demands of a teaching area, which is increasingly multidisciplinary in nature. Ranging from the focus on competitiveness and market performance to focus on the minute details of the company's strategy decision, both quantitative and qualitative, state-of-the-art methodology and materials are provided and applied. Finally, attention is paid to national as well as international issues that managers and other professionals are currently facing.

Click here for the courses that are the core of this track.

Contact

If you need more information or do you have questions, please contact the Master Track Strategy & Innovation coordinator Dr. M. van Wegberg, phone 0031-(0)43-3883654/3823 or e-mail: M.vanWegberg@maastrichtuniversity.nl