Strategy Analysis and Tools - BUSN6760

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Module delivery information

Location Term Level1 Credits (ECTS)2 Current Convenor3 2024 to 2025
Canterbury
Spring Term 5 15 (7.5) Vinh Chau checkmark-circle

Overview

The business press is awash with news of corporate scandals, market dominance and record-profits by corporate giants. How multinational corporations manage the entirety of their global business functions successfully and the ethical role and responsibilities of leaders in their positions are important questions for budding strategy students.

You'll learn how to use frameworks for analysing the strategic environment to inform effective strategy formulation and implementation. You'll become familiar with identifying strategic issues and developing strategic options to address them. Through a solid grounding of seminal readings and real-life case studies, you’ll develop an appreciation of strategy in different contexts and from different perspectives and understand the complexity of strategic decision-making.

Details

Contact hours

Total contact hours: 21
Private study hours: 129
Total study hours: 150

Method of assessment

Main assessment methods:
Group VLE Task 1 (10%)
Group VLE Task 2 (20%)
Examination, 3 hours (70%).

Reassessment method:
100% exam.

Indicative reading

Core text:
Witcher, B.J. & Chau, V.S. (2014), Strategic Management: Principles and Practice, 2nd edn. Andover: Cengage Learning
or
Thompson, A.A, Strickland, A.J., Gamble, J.E., Peteraf, M.A., Janes, A. and Sutton, C. (2013), Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage, London: McGraw-Hill Education

Lampel, J., Mintzberg, H., Quinn, J.B. and Ghoshal, S. (2014). The Strategy Process: Concepts, Contexts, Cases. 5th edn. London: Pearson Education

See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)

See the library reading list for this module (Medway)

Learning outcomes

The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
- read business press articles and interpret them from a strategic perspective
- use a range of well-established tools and frameworks to analyse and assess an organisation's strategy;
- evaluate critically the results of strategic analysis to identify and prioritise strategic issues facing an organisation;
- use the same analysis to propose and assess strategic options to address strategic issues;
- compare and critique different theoretical approaches to strategic management;
- appreciate the complexity of strategic decision making and the limitations of the analytical skills developed in this module in fully addressing that complexity

The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
- select, organise and synthesise complex information
- draw on concepts, theories and frameworks to construct complex arguments
- organise and present orally and in writing an analysis as a considered viewpoint
- discuss and debate ideas from an informed perspective thereby contributing to (organisational) decision-making
- propose solutions to problems based on analysis and discussion/debate

Notes

  1. Credit level 5. Intermediate level module usually taken in Stage 2 of an undergraduate degree.
  2. ECTS credits are recognised throughout the EU and allow you to transfer credit easily from one university to another.
  3. The named convenor is the convenor for the current academic session.
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