Description
In today’s global recession, strong management of firms and organizations are of the utmost importance. Economics of Strategy focuses on the key economic concepts students must master in order to develop a sound business strategy. The text also brings economic theory and strategic analysis to life in an engaging and uniquely modern way. Besanko, Dranove, Shanley, and Schaefer have collaborated for over 15 years to build an introductory business course that combines basic concepts from economic theory of the firm and industrial organization with ideas from modern strategy literature.
Ideal for undergraduate managerial economics and business strategy courses, Economics of Strategy offers real-world applications to make these courses more relevant. Armed with general principles, today’s students—tomorrow’s future managers—will be prepared to adjust their firms’ business strategies to the demands of the ever-changing environment.
Features
Comprehensive, contemporary approach to business strategy from an economics approach.
Supplies students with an economic lens for viewing the activities of firms and a logical framework for strategic analysis. Focuses on breadth and a higher level of analysis while offering illustrative and highly engaging real-world examples.
Discusses the Four "Big" Issues Businesses Face: boundaries of the firm, market and competitive analysis, position and dynamics, and internal organization.
Porter's Five Forces: Unique perspective on how to use this model of industry analysis as an organizational tool.
Discusses Economic Principles and Models without overemphasizing advanced math.
New to This Edition
Consolidated Chapters on Information and Value Creation have been added and expanded, delving into new topics including:
Firms informing consumers about their points of differentiation
How firms, markets, and certifiers disclose information about product attributes
Focuses on the success of "internet" businesses
Expanding on and Introducing Theoretical Ideas: Readers will find detailed treatment of the Property Rights Theory of the Firm, Business Groups, Dynamic Learning Models, Endogenous Sunk Costs, Rent Seeking Behavior, Disruptive Technologies, and other Topics.
New Real-World Examples drawn from around the world and cover business practice from the eighteenth century to the present day.
Table of Contents PART ONE: FIRM BOUNDARIES 1 The Power of Principles: An Historical Perspective 2 The Horizontal Boundaries of the Firm 3 The Vertical Boundaries of the Firm 4 Integration and Its Alternatives PART TWO: MARKET AND COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS 5 Competitors and Competition 6 Entry and Exit 7 Dynamics: Competing Across Time 8 Industry Analysis PART THREE: STRATEGIC POSITION AND DYNAMICS 9 Strategic Positioning for Competitive Advantage 10 Information and Value Creation 11 Sustaining Competitive Advantage PART FOUR: STRATEGIC POSITION AND DYNAMICS 12 Performance Measurement and Incentives 13 Strategy and Structure 14 Environment, Power, and Culture