In past years, management studies have provided a number of models to help clarify and focus the strategic direction of businesses. Different models have suggested different approaches ranging from Michael Porter's Five Forces and Strategic Positioning models to Henry Mintzberg's notion of "crafting" strategy to the Resource Based View of the firm and the distillation of core competencies.

The rise of the Internet, the growth of technological tools and the birth of E-Commerce have drastically changed the environment in which an organization operates. Likewise, management models must be reconsidered and evolve to be successful in this new environment.

This module reviews the classic notions of business strategy and critically assesses their relevance in the "wired world". In addition, we will consider Internet-based, or "pure-play" companies in an attempt to investigate a strategy for existing bricks and mortar enterprises who wish to leverage the Internet to provide more value for shareholders and customers as a hybrid "clicks and mortar" organization.