Module BUSI42215: ORGANISING FOR STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE (DL)

Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Business)

BUSI42215: ORGANISING FOR STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE (DL)

Tied To

• N1D217: Business Administration (Finance) (Distance Learning) (For students entering before August 2007) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2011-2012 for details)
• N1D314: Business Administration (Distance Learning) (For students entering before August 2007) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2011-2012 for details)
• N1D317: Business Administration (Distance Learning) (For students entering before August 2007) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2011-2012 for details)

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To deepen student understanding of the strategic management of organisations. The module builds on prior material in that it adopts the point of view of the executive team and considers the entire firm as a single entity. Strategic analysis has its own theoretical principles, which will be reviewed and applied.

Content

• Organisational Design and Strategy
• Strategic Positions vs. Organisational Capabilities
• Capabilities for Exploitation and Exploration
• Leveraging Human Resources and Culture for Capabilities
• Organisational Culture in High-Tech Firms
• Position and Capabilities: Resource Partitioning Issues
• Position and Capabilities: Limits to Organisation, Identify and Status
• Position and Capabilities: Semi-Autonomous Subunits

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module, students will have:
• developed an advanced understanding of the nature of strategic action, based on current theory and research;
• developed a critical appreciation of the problems associated with change in organisations, in particular, inertia and the unintended outcomes of change efforts.

• By the end of the module, students will have:
• developed the advanced analytical and communication skills to critically analyse companies and industries with respect to their strategies and those of competitors.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module is delivered in discrete Units. These are designed to enable the learning outcomes to be achieved through a combination of specially written material, directed reading, reflection through self-assessed assignments and guidance for further reading. Module tutors provide feedback on formative work and are available for individual consultation as necessary (by email, telephone, post or fax).
• The written assignment will test students’ understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply and interpret what they have learned to the analysis of a particular issue in depth.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

None.