Business Unit Strategies

with special reference to Blue Ocean Strategy

Business Unit Strategies

with special reference to Blue Ocean Strategy


  • Organizational capabilities are the most important competitive differentiator today and for the future.
  • Traditionally Porter developed the fundamentals of BU Strategy Positioning. In last few years a new basis of BU Strategy has become very popular namely Blue Ocean Strategy.
  • This programme equips participants with knowledge and skillsets in understanding the core of business unit strategies.


Strategy: An Overview
  • What is Strategy?
  • Difference between BU Strategy and Corporate Strategy
  • Framework for strategic management

Porter’s generic BU strategies
  • Cost Leadership as BU strategy: Sources of cost advantage
  • Differentiation as BU strategy: Sources of differentiation
  • Can a company follow both strategies for a business unit?

Sumantra Ghoshal on BU strategies
  • A video discussion

Blue Ocean Strategy
  • Difference between red ocean and blue ocean
  • Steps in Blue Ocean Strategy explained with reference to Cirqu Du Soleil case: drawing as–is strategy canvas, six path framework to identify blue ocean market, ERRC Matrix, drawing to–be strategy canvas
  • Not all BO cases require new purchase criteria – Formula 1 hotels case
  • Tata Nano video case - Strategy Canvas, ERRC matrix, Reasons for Nano’s failure

An encyclopedia! Facts, figures, logic, strategic thinking, business acumen, one could endorse Mr. Fakih on many more such skills which attract a lot of people to him for problem resolution discussions. He has great insights, and sure enough, if you listen intently you will succeed.

Sanjukta Ray
Change & Resource Management
Thyssenkrupp Materials IT Services

    Employees involved in the Business Unit Strategy, or in any support functions, as they would be able to see their role in making a successful BU strategy


  • 6 hours
  • 1 day (in-class)
  • 2 sessions of 3 hours (online)
  • S. M. Fakih retired from a large multinational company in India from the role of strategy development.
  • Experience in product management, logistics and SAP implementation
  • Instrumental in providing management training to employees of Aditya Birla group of companies, Raymonds and M&M to mention a few
  • Visiting faculty at various management institutes in the areas of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Financial Management, Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategy Management