COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Code: MGT 450

Strategic Management

Semester: Spring 2019

Introduction to
No of Credit Hours: 3 Pre-requisite(s): Management

Instructor Information

Instructor’s Name: Dr.Mohan Lal Agarwal

Office Location: FACULTY OFFICES
Phone Number: 055 6589767
E-mail Address: MOHAN.AGARWAL@MCM.AC.AE

Office Hours: Fridays

Section No.: 1

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SECTION 1: General Information
1.1 Course Description

This course examines the development and implementation of organizational strategy and
provides an overview of the strategic management process. Topics covered include
analyzing the internal and external environments, defining business goals and objectives,
strategic analysis and positioning, strategic decision making and creating sustainable
competitive advantage. The course will cover business and corporate level strategy.

The objective of this course is to provide students with the core concepts, frameworks and
techniques of strategic management. Students will learn to assess competitive dynamics and
to develop strategies to differentiate themselves from competitors and achieve sustainable
competitive advantage. Students will utilize management tools such as the balanced scored
and SWOT analysis in order to help make strategic decisions.

1.3. Course Learning Outcomes

After the completion of this course students shall be able to:

Knowledge

KN1: Understand the importance of the strategic management process and formulate and
implement strategic plans to achieve organizational objectives.

KN2: Differentiate between types of competitive advantage at the business level.

Skills
SK1: Measure an organization’s internal environment using management tools and assess
internal strengths and weaknesses.

Competency
Autonomy & Responsibility
AR1: Appraise the benefits and limitations of traditional organizational structures and
create an organizational direction that lead to an ethical and learning organization.

Role in Context
RC1: Formulate a firm’s external environment and contrast the general and competitive
environments.

Self Development
SD1: Evaluate the impact of corporate level strategies on the direction of an organization
and distinguish between different types of diversification.

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 Bachelor of Human Resource Management

Alignment with QF-Emirates CLOs with PLOs- Level 7 Descriptors

Strategic Management-MGT 450

Competence

Autono
Self-
my and Role in
Knowledge Skills Developme
Respons Context
nt
CLOs- ibility
MGT
450
KN-
KN-
KN-
KN-
KN-
KN-
KN-
KN-
KN-

AR-

AR-
AR-
RC-
RC-

SD-

SD-

SD-
SK-
SK-
SK-
SK-
SK-
SK-
SK-
SK-
7-1
7-2
7-3
7-4
7-5
7-6
7-7
7-8
7-9

7-1
7-2
7-3
7-4
7-5
7-6
7-7
7-8
7-1

7-2
7-2
7-1
7-2

7-1

7-2

7-3
KN1 X

KN2 X

SK1 X
AR1 X X
RC1 X
SD1 X

1.4. Attendance Requirements

Students are required to attend all classes and arrive on time. If a student is absent more
than 20% of the time in any class, he/she will receive an F in the course unless an acceptable
reason was submitted to student’s affairs. A student shall not be allowed in the classroom if
they more than 10 minuted late and will be considered absent.

1.5. Required Texts

Author Title Format Edition Publisher ISBN

Dess, Gregory, Strategic - 6th Edition, McGraw- -

Management: 2011 Hill
Text and Cases

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1.6. Additional Resources
Type of Resource Reference Location
Book 1. Thompson, Arthur, Crafting and Executing -
Strategy: Concepts and Readings, McGraw Hill, 19th
Edition, 2013
Book 2. Hitt, Michael A., Ireland, R. Duane, Strategic -
Management: Concept and Cases: Competitiveness
and Globalization, Cenage Learning, 10th Edition,
2012

1.7. Course Delivery Strategy

Class Discussion Students are encouraged to learn actively and cooperatively in teams.
Students in groups of four to five should undertake a group project.

Lectures Class sessions will involve lectures, video shows, case studies, discussions and
debates, and presentations of related topics and current issues related to course contents. In
addition, practitioners will be invited to share with the students their experience and
techniques.

Readings This is the responsibility of all students. Students should read the relevant
chapters of the textbook and materials before class. They should be prepared to raise
questions and arguments in class on related topics in the class schedule
SECTION 2: Assessment Strategy
2.1 Ongoing Coursework Assessment Tasks* (60%)

Assessment Assessment Assessment Week Weighting Link to

No. Type, Guidelines Learning
Description of Outcomes
Assessment
1 Test Multiple choice, 4 10 KN1

2 Midterm Exam short essays, cases 8 30 KN2

situations SK1

3 Project Wrtten Individual 12 20 Ar1

Report and RC1
presentation
Total 60
*On-going assessment should occur at least through three well-planned different intervals to adequately assess
students’ progress and take necessary measures for improvement.

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 2.2 Final Coursework Assessment Tasks (40%)

Assessment
Assessment Type, Assessment Link to Learning
Week Weighting
No. Description of Guidelines Outcomes
Assessment
Multiple 16
choice, short
1 Final Exam 40 All
essays, cases
situations
Total 40

2.3 Grades Awarded

Marks Grade Credit Points Description
95% - 100% A 4.0 Excellent
90% - 94% A- 3.7 Excellent
85% - 89% B+ 3.3 Very good
80% - 84% B 3.0 Very good
75% - 79% B- 2.7 good
70% - 74% C+ 2.3 fair
60% - 69% C 2.0 Satisfactory
50% - 59% D 1.0 Unsatisfactory
0% - 49% F 0.0 Failure
I incomplete
W Withdrawn
P Pass

2.4 Plagiarism/ Collaboration Rule

Plagiarism is a serious offense that can lead to expulsion from the college if repetitive.
Students must be familiar with the Academic Integrity policy outlined in the student
handbook. All reports based assignments/ projects/ case studies etc.., will be accepted
through the plagiarism checking process/ Turnitin only. Faculty members are advised to
counsel and coach all such students whose assessment component exceed the acceptable
limit of plagiarism and may decide to conduct marks from the assessment item. Plagiarism
panelties are :

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Up to 20%- Acceptable limit.

21% to 30%- Resubmit with verbal warning

31% to 45% - Resubmit + Reduce the marks by 20% + written warning by HOD/ Academic
Dean.

61% and above- Refer to Disciplinary Committee

2.5 Late Assignment Penalties

Delay in submitting assignments and other assessment work without previous approval
from the instructor may result in a zero mark for that specific assessment component.
However, if the reason for not submitting that assessment component is a valid one in the
judgement of the faculty concerned, the student may be given another opportunity to submit
that coursework component.

2.6 Special Consideration – Ongoing Coursework Assessment

Special means that the submitted work will be re-considered or addiotional work may be
submitted. Special consideration for ongoing assessment is granted by the instructor for
serious illness or circumstances beyond the student’s control. Pressure of work , either from
employment or other subjects is not an acceptable reason for seeking extension. A written
application must be sumitted to the Chairperson of the Department no later tan 5 days from
the assessment date.

2.7 Special Consideration - Final Coursework Assessment

Students seeking special consideration for final coursework assessment must apply in
writing to the Chairperson of the Department no later than 5 days from the date for final
assessment. Evidence must be provided to support the application. The Chairperson of the
Department in consulation with Assistant Dean for Academic Affair will advise on the
outcome of the application within 5 days from the application date.

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Section 3: Semester Teaching Plan
Related
Week Topic reading
materials**
Unit 1: Introduction to Strategic Management Ch 1
Week 1 Defining strategic management P 4-33
Four key attributes of strategic management Handout # 1

Unit 1: Introduction to Strategic Management Ch 1

Strategic management process P 4-33
Week 2 Strategy analysis Handout # 1
Strategy formulation
Strategy implementation
Unit 1: Introduction to Strategic Management Ch 1
Ensuring coherence in strategic management P 4-33
Organizational vision Handout # 1
Week 3 Mission statements
Strategic objectives
Role of stakeholder management
model of industry competition
Unit 2: Analyzing the External Environment Ch 2
Creating the environmentally aware organization P 34-63
Scanning, monitoring and competitive Handout # 2
Week 4 intelligence
Scenario planning and creating a viable vision
SWOT analysis
Test
Unit 2: Analyzing the External Environment Ch 2
General environment vs. competitive environment P 34-63
Political and legal segment Handout # 2
Week 5
Technological segment
Global segment
Porter’s five force
Unit 3: Analyzing the Internal Environment Ch 3
Resource-based view of the firm P 64-103
Week 6
Types of firm resources Handout # 3
Resources and sustainable competitive advantage

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 Evaluating firm performance
Financial ratio analysis
The balanced scorecard
Conducting a value chain analysis
Unit 4: Business Level Strategy Units 1,2,3
Types of competitive advantage Ch 5
Low cost leadership P 138-171
Differentiation Handout # 4
Stages of industry life cycle
Week 7
Introduction stage
Growth stage
Maturity stage
Decline stage
Sustaining competitive advantage
Week 8
Midterm Exam
Unit 5: Corporate Level Strategy Ch 6
Creating value through diversification P 172-205
Related diversification Handout # 5
Economies of scope and revenue enhancement
Week 9 Market power
Unrelated diversification
Means to achieve diversification
Impact of managerial motives on value creation

Unit 6: International Strategy Ch 7

Creating value in global markets P 206-237
Factors affecting a nation’s competitiveness Handout # 6
Week 10
Demand conditions
Related and supporting industries
Firm strategy, structure and rivalry

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 Unit 6: International Strategy Ch 7
International expansion and risks P 206-237
Week 11 Achieving competitive advantage in global Handout # 6
markets
Entry modes of international expansion
Unit 7: Creating Effective Organizational Designs Ch 10
Traditional forms of organizational structure P 300-327
Week 12
Functional structure Handout # 7
Assignment
Unit 7: Creating Effective Organizational Designs Ch 10
Divisional structure P 300-327
Week 13
Matrix structure Handout # 7
Boundaryless organizational designs
Unit 8: Creating a Learning and Ethical Ch 11
Organization P 328-353
Setting an organizational direction Handout # 8
Week 14
Designing the organization
Developing a learning organization
Empowering employees
Unit 8: Creating a Learning and Ethical Ch 11
Organization P 328-353
Accumulating and sharing knowledge Handout # 8
Week 15
Gathering and integrating external
information
Creating an ethical organization
Week 16
Final Exam

*Reading material might include either Chapters of the required text or other resources available
through the college library or online

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