Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2009-2010 (archived)

Module BUSS3181: STRATEGY AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Business) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

BUSS3181: STRATEGY AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Type Tied Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2009/10 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to N200
Tied to N420
Tied to NN43

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To encourage students to think critically and strategically about strategy, international business and business issues.
  • To enable students to become familiar with the different perspectives, key debates and concepts of strategy.
  • To enable students to explore the challenges of strategically managing complex, diverse and uncertain organizations within a global context.

Content

  • Definitions and nature of strate gy
  • Strategic management processes: the deliberate versus emergent strategy debate, implementation and control of strategy
  • The content and process tools of strategic analysis: assessing the external and internal organizational environments; strategic capabilities and sources of competitive advantage; positioning and resource based approaches to achieving competitive advantage; corporate strategic directions, methods, approaches and styles
  • Global context: perspectives and debates on globalization; strategic implications of globalization; typologies of organizational structures; paradoxical nature of integration-responsive strategic management

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • familiarity with the different perspectives, key debates and concepts of strategy
  • exploration of the nature of strategy
  • understanding of a range of theoretical frameworks for the analysis of strategy;
  • critical appreciation of the current debates in the field; providing an approach through topics, examples and case studies;
  • critical evaluation of the impact of globalization on organisation
Subject-specific Skills:
  • application of relevant theoretical tools and frameworks to assess the strategies and other organizational responses of a range of international businesses
  • critical understanding of the factors influencing the strategies of organizations
  • understanding of the practical relevance of the theoretical foundations presented
Key Skills:
  • problem-solving
  • global orientation to issues
  • critical evaluation

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

  • Teaching is by lectures and seminars. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminars, and private study. Formative assessment is by means of an essay plus a contribution to a group presentation. Summative assessment is by means of an assignment and a written examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 22 1 per week 1 hour 22
Seminars 8 4 in term 1, 4 in term 2 1 hour 8
Preparation and Reading 170
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
One written assignment 1500 words 100%
Component: Examinatino Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
One written examinations 1 hour 30 minutes 100%

Formative Assessment:

• One 1500 word essay plus contribution to group presentation.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University