PgD in Business Management Student Handbook

6.7

Strategic Management
707 15 Version: Level: 1 7 Update: 0

Number: Credits:

Relationship with other modules Prerequisite Modules: Recommend Previous Study: Co-requisites: Prohibited Combinations: Post-requisite Modules: Suggested Learning Hours Lectures 12 Overview The aim of this module is to build on knowledge and understanding developed in earlier modules to enable students to develop the skills required in the analysis and decision making process involved in the formulation of a strategic direction of an organisation. The aims of this module are to enable students to: develop a critical understanding of the main areas of study in corporate strategy and characteristics of strategic decisions; appreciate, recognise and critically evaluate the practical issues and problems of implementing strategy in an organisational context; understand the significance and sources of competitive advantage; explore various approaches for the development of successful corporate strategy in an organisational context; appreciate the importance of issues in ethics and corporate social responsibility in a global business environment. Tutorial Seminar 24 Laboratory Private Study 114 Total 150 None None None None None

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PgD in Business Management Student Handbook

Learning Outcomes Knowledge and Understanding 1. Critically analyse what is meant by strategy and strategic management 2. Critically analyse an organisations internal and external environment, its resources and capabilities 3. Identify and critically evaluate the role of organisational stakeholders, structures and processes and how stakeholders expectations shape strategy 4. Appreciate the process of strategic analysis and sources of competitive advantage 5. Appreciate the process of strategy development, evaluation, selection and implementation 6. Appreciate the various strategic choices available to an organisation 7. Appreciate the role of business ethics and corporate social responsibility in formulating management strategy 1. Appreciate the importance of strategic management and the significance of becoming a strategic thinker, manager, planner 2. Critically appraise the nature of the external environment in which the organisation must position itself 3. Critically evaluate the sources of information, in formulating successful strategy 4. Develop critical awareness of various legal, cultural, social and ethical issues associated with developing and implementing a strategy aimed at sustaining competitive advantage whilst operating in a global environment 1. Ability to think strategically in an organisational context 2. Develop and implement a strategic plan for an organisation 1. Develop critical thinking skills

Intellectual Skills

Practical Skills Transferable Skills Syllabus Unit No 1 Title

Proportion 2/12

Content Introducing the concepts: why is strategic management important? Vocabulary of strategy The basics of strategy and strategic management The strategic management process Approaches to strategy formulation Deliberate and emergent strategies Strategic management in different contexts Evaluating the concept of strategic management, strategic thinking Understanding the competitive

Overview of Strategic Management

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PgD in Business Management Student Handbook

environment 2 Analysing Resources, Capabilities and Core Competencies 3/12 Assessing opportunities and threats : doing an external analysis Assessing strengths and weaknesses : doing an internal analysis Expectations and purposes Stakeholder analysis, expectations and organisational purpose Organisational vision, mission statements 3 The Foundations of Competitive Strategy 4/12 The need for a clear and understood foundation, generic or basic position Understanding sources of competitive advantage: the need to be able to establish a unique position Strategic choice: when to compete and when to cooperate 4 Strategy Formulation and Implementation 3/12 The strategy making process within an organisation Different steps in the formulation of strategy Role of strategic planning in strategy making Strategy evaluation, selection and implementation Causes of failure Monitoring strategic performance Strategic change Business ethics and corporate responsibility Assessment Type Coursework Assignment Global Examinations Supporting Materials Essential Textbook Johnson, Scholes and Whittington (2008), Exploring Corporate Strategy: text and cases, 8th Edition Prentice Hall, ISBN: 1405887338 Barney J. (2007) Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage, Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0131470949 Coutler M. (2008), Strategic Management in Action, 4th Edition Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0132277476 Cummings S. and Wilson D. (2003) Images of Strategy, Blackwell Publishing, ISBN: 0631226109 De Wit R, and Meyer R, (2004) Strategy: Process, Content, Page 40 of 44
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Weighting 70% 30%

Outcomes Assessed

Other Materials

PgD in Business Management Student Handbook

Context: an international perspective, 3rd Edition, South-Western College, ISBN: 0324282710 Finlay P. (2000), Strategic Management : an introduction to Business and Corporate Strategy, FT Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0201398273 Ghemawat P. (2007) Redefining Global Strategy,: Crossing Borders in a World Where Differences Still Matter, Harvard Business School Press, ISBN: 1591398665 Haberberg A, and Rieple A. (2001), The Strategic Management of Organisations, FT Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0130219711 Johnson and Scholes (2000), Exploring Public Sector Strategy, FT Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0273646877 Lynch R. (2006), Corporate Strategy, 4th Edition, FT Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0273701789 Mintzberg, Alstrand and Lampel (2001), Strategy Safari, FT Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0273656368 Mintzberg, Quinn and Ghoshal (2002), The Strategy Process, FT Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0131227904 Pettinger R. (2004), Contemporary Strategic Management, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN: 1403913277 Segal-Horn S. (2004), The Strategy Reader, 2nd Edition, Blackwell Business, ISBN: 1405126876 White C. (2004) Strategic Management, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN: 1403904006 Whittington R. (2000), What is Strategy and does it matter? Thomson Learning, ISBN 1861523777

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