Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2016-2017 (archived)

Module BUSS2241: Business Strategy

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

BUSS2241: Business Strategy

Type Tied Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2016/17 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to N407

Prerequisites

  • Business and Finance ECOS1241

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To provide students with an understanding of how businesses develop and implement strategy.

Content

  • Strategic analysis of a business’s current objectives, market position and direction
  • Strategic choice available to a business
  • How businesses choose between competing strategies
  • Implementation and monitoring of strategies and strategic performance

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • On completion of this module students should:
  • Be able to identify and analyse the consequences of a business’s current objectives, market position and direction
  • Have an awareness of the strategic choices available to a business
  • Have knowledge of appropriate methods of implementing strategies, and the ways in which management information can be used to measure and monitor strategic performance
Subject-specific Skills:
  • On completion of this module students should:
  • Be able to analyse, for a given situation, the external factors which may impact upon a business’s performance and position
  • Be able to evaluate the likely consequences of strategic choices and recommend strategies to meet the objectives of a business
  • Be able to develop a business plan to achieve a business’s strategic objectives, recommend an appropriate organisational structure and explain the process of effective change management.
Key Skills:
  • Be able to show critical thinking and creativity
  • Be able to communicate effectively through written materials and visual aids
  • Be able to apply strategic evaluation skills

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

  • Learning will be based on knowledge transfer from lectures, seminars and personal study; investigation of cases and real world organisations which will underpin the seminars will encourage students to develop awareness of cultural differences and apply these to the development of their skills in managing themselves and others in such contexts.
  • Seminar activities and discussions will provide the awareness of the main business strategies and choices in a comprehensive form.
  • The formative exam will provide feedback to students regarding their understanding of the main concepts and strategic decisions.
  • The summative examination tests students’ understanding of the main strategic concepts and choices through comprehensive and critical review and reflection on learning.
  • The summative assignment tests students’ ability to critically review strategic choices and decisions in a business context, their ability to think strategically and their ability to link this long-term mindset to short-term objectives and consequences. It will also test students’ understanding of different organisational structures and theories, and the challenges of operating strategically in different contexts.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 11 Held across a 10 day teaching block 2 hours 22
Seminars 4 Held across a 10 day teaching block 2 hours 8
Revision Webinar 1 Annual 1 hour 1
Preparation and Reading 169
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual assignment based on a strategic review and analysis 2,500 words (maximum) 100% Same
Component: Examination Component Weighting: 70%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 2 hours 30 mins 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

2 hours 30 mins mock exam


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