Module BUSI41Q15: Strategy (DL)

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI41Q15: Strategy (DL)

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

Content

• Concepts of strategy.
• Strategic purpose.
• Environmental and industry analysis.
• Analysing resources and capabilities.
• Sustainable Competitive Advantage — including sources of advantage (cost and differentiation) and sustainability.
• Corporate strategy — including vertical, horizontal and international scope, methods of development and managing synergy.
• Corporate culture and strategy.
• Strategic management processes.
• Managing strategic change.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module students should:
• Have a critical appreciation of the contribution strategy can make to successful performance;
• Be able to recognise the multiple roles that strategic management plays within organisations;
• Be able to identify structural features of an industry that influence competition and profitability, but also critically analyse competition in order to identify opportunities for competitive advantage within an industry;
• Have a critical appreciation of the role of resources and capabilities as a basis for competitive advantage;
• Be able to distinguish and analyse the primary types of competitive advantage;
• Be able to understand the challenges of managing complex, multi-business organisations, including the relative merits of linking businesses and the alternative approaches available to the corporate centre;
• Have a critical appreciation of the challenge of managing strategic change.

• By the end of this module students should:
• Be able to apply a range of relevant strategic analysis tools to assess complex business cases;
• Be able to evaluate differing strategic options.

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

• The learning outcomes will be met through a combination of learning material, self assessed exercises and a formative assignment on key topical issues, together with guided reading.
• On the DL MA Programme each module is delivered in discrete Units which are equivalent to a lecture session. A DL Unit normally consists of specially written material, directed reading, reflection through self-assessed assignments and guidance for further reading.
• Each student is allocated a Tutor for each Module. The Tutor is tasked with providing feedback on formative work and is available for individual consultation as necessary. Tutoring is normally provided at a distance and may be conducted by email, telephone, post or fax.
• The DL Programme also offers annual residential seminars which provide the opportunity for DL students to interface with members of Faculty, meet Tutors and to interact with other students.
• The assessment of the module, by written examination, is designed to:
• test the aquisition and articulation of knowledge;
• test conceptual understanding and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Written assignment of 1,500 words (maximum)