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.

Undergraduate Handbook 2012-2013 (archived)

Module BUSS3181: STRATEGY AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Department: Business School (Business) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

BUSS3181: STRATEGY AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Tied 3 20 Available in 2012/2013 None. Queen's Campus Stockton

Tied To

Pre-requisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations

  • 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 active contribution to all sessions within the seminar programme. Summative assessment is by means of an assignment and a written examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Lectures 22 1 per week 1 hour 22
Seminars 8 4 in term 1, 4 in term 2 1 hour 8 Yes
Preparation and Reading 170
Total 200

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Assignment 40% One written assignment 1500 words 100%
Examinatino 60% One written examinations 1 hour 30 minutes 100%

Formative Assessment

One 1500 word essay plus active contribution to all sessions within the seminar programme.


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.