Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook
This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Postgraduate Handbook 2012-2013 (archived)

Module BUSI55E15: STRATEGIC AWARENESS

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI55E15: STRATEGIC AWARENESS

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Tied 4 15 Available in 2012/2013 Durham

Tied To

  • N1KE12: Business and Management (HBOS) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2010-2011 for details)
  • N2KE12: Business and Management (Consortium) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2010-2011 for details)
  • N2KF12: Business and Management (Vertex) (see Postgraduate Handbook 2010-2011 for details)

Pre-requisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide students with the opportunity to study key topics relating to management strategy at an advanced level.

Content

  • definitions of strategy;
  • evolution of strategy, strategic thinking, development, implementation, management thinking;
  • corporate, business and operating strategy;
  • generic strategy approaches;
  • Port, Mintzberg, Ohmae, Kay, Quinn, BCG, Pascale, Tichy, Hamel and Prahalad (industry/market strategies through competency-based strategy approaches);
  • vision, mission, leadership;
  • strategic flexibility, structure, systems, culture and strategy;
  • situational analysis - PEEST, stakeholder analysis, the operating environment, markets and customer analysis;
  • competitive positioning;
  • capability and resource;
  • EFQM, Balanced Scorecard;
  • strategic planning and implementation;
  • strategy comparisons between industries;
  • building a customer centred organisation;
  • customer relationship management;
  • Business Performance Measurement;
  • the future of strategy;
  • strategic flexibility.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge
  • By the end of the module, students should:
  • Have developed a critical understanding of strategic concepts and approaches
  • Have a critical appreciation of the relationship between strategy and other business/management disciplines
  • Have a critical appreciation of the various elements of strategic awareness and analysis
Subject-specific Skills
  • By the end of the module, students should:
  • Be able to apply selected tools and techniques of strategic planning
Key Skills

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 lectures, seminars, facilitated discussion sessions and guided reading. Extensive use will be made of case studies and business simulations. All sessions have a high participation element, and an emphasis on action-learning.
  • Assessment of this module is by summative assignment, designed to: test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge; test conceptual understanding and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Lectures 3 daily 2 hours 6
Seminars 3 daily 3 hours 9 Yes
Practicals 3 daily 1 hour 3 Yes
Preparation & Reading 132
Total 150

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Assignment 100% Written assignment 3,000 words maximum 100%

Formative Assessment

Feedback on group and individual activities undertaken during contact hours. Feedback on learning set reflections and action points related to this module.


Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.