Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2023-2024 (archived)

Module BUSI42315: STRATEGY AND ORGANISATION

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI42315: STRATEGY AND ORGANISATION

Type Open Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Not available in 2023/24 Module Cap
Tied to N1K607
Tied to N1K307
Tied to N1K507
Tied to N1K807

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To deepen students' understanding of the strategic management of organisations
  • To build on prior material by adopting the point of view of the executive team and considering the entire firm as a single entity
  • To review and apply the theoretical principles of strategic analysis

Content

  • Organisational Design and Strategy;
  • Strategic Positions vs. Organisational Capabilities;
  • Capabilities for Exploitation and Exploration;
  • Leveraging Human Resources and Culture for Capabilities;
  • Organisational Culture in High-Tech Firms;
  • Position and Capabilities: Resource Partitioning Issues;
  • Position and Capabilities: Limits to Organisation, Identity and Status;
  • Position and Capabilities: Semi-Autonomous Subunits.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of this module, student should have:
  • developed an advanced understanding of the nature of strategic action, based on current theory and research;
  • developed a critical appreciation of the problems associated with change in organisations, in particular, interia and the unintended outcomes of change efforts.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of this module, student should have:
  • developed the advanced analytical and communication skills to critically analyse companies and industries with respect to their strategies and those of competitors.
Key Skills:
    Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy.

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

  • A combination of lectures, case studies and workshops is appropriate for conveying the specialist knowledge and advanced skills set out in the Learning Outcomes.
  • The summative assessment will test students' ability to apply the techniques they have learned to the analysis of a particular problem.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 9 2 hours 18
Seminars 4 1 hour 4
Preparation & Reading 128
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Assignment 2,500 words (maximum) 100%

Formative Assessment:

Feedback on seminar contributions


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