Module ASB-3109:
Strategic Management

Module Facts

Run by Bangor Business School

10 Credits or 5 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Azhdar Karami

Overall aims and purpose

The primary objective of this module is to provide students with a holistic understanding of the processes of strategic management.

• To introduce students to the concepts of strategic management in the context of a rapidly changing organisational environment. • To explore the key frameworks in strategic management, the external environment, internal environment, strategy formulation, implementation and control.

Course content

This module is an introduction to strategic management for final year students. The student will learn about the concepts of corporate strategy especially the tools for environmental analysis, auditing organisational capacity and implementing strategy. It is expected that students must have a background in Management, Business or a closely related subject area.

Introduction and overview Overview of the module, introducing strategy, the nature of strategy, strategic management, strategic management in different contexts

The strategic position: the environment External environment, the PESTEL framework, industries and sectors, opportunities and threats, SWOT analysis

The strategic position: organisational analysis Organisational analysis, strategic capability, critical success factors, competences, robustness, expectations and purposes, corporate governance, stakeholder expectations, the cultural context,

Strategic choice Corporate-level strategy, the corporate parent, the corporate rationale, the corporate portfolio, corporate diversity, business-level strategy, bases of competitive advantage, sustaining competitive advantage, competitive strategy

Strategic options Directions for strategy development, product/market development, diversification, methods of strategy development, internal development, mergers and acquisitions, joint developments, success criteria

Organisational structure and design and enabling success Structural types, processes, relationships and boundaries, strategic planning, strategic control,) managing the resources, integrating resources

Managing strategic change Strategic change, diagnosing the change situation, change management, levers for managing strategic change

Understanding strategy development Strategy development, the strategy lenses, strategy development process, implications for strategy development,

Course review

Assessment Criteria

threshold

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, operational issues and practice in management research. Some grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Pursue a sustained piece of independent work requiring subject-specific and transferable skills.

good

Demonstrate a critical and evaluative understanding and knowledge of theories, concepts, operational issues and practice in management and business research. Show appraising and evaluative insights, creativity and judgement in developing a sustained piece of work. Some evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills. Much of the relevant information and skills mostly accurately deployed. Adequate grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements

excellent

Demonstrate a critical and evaluative understanding and knowledge of theories, concepts, operational issues and practice in management research. Show appraising and evaluative insights, creativity and evidence based judgement as well as a capacity to innovative and challenge assumptions from an informed perspective across all components of the assessment. Adopt an autonomous approach to learning and continuing professional development across the whole module. Excellent integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives. Strong evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

Learning outcomes

  1. • An appreciation of the role of strategy in managing complexity and competition

  2. • An ability to place organisational processes in the context of strategic management

  3. • A holistic view of the organisation and its environment

  4. • An ability to systematically analyse an organisation’s strengths and weaknesses and the environmental opportunities and threats

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Assignment 40
Exam S2 2hrs 60

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

The module will be taught through a combination of lectures, case studies and seminars. Given the nature of strategic management, use will be made of case studies to allow students to examine the practical application of strategic management concepts and to analyse the strategic issues facing different types of organisations and industries in more depth. It is expected that students will undertake a case study assessment each week to understand the main concepts of strategic management.

 30
Tutorial

One 2-hour session per week which will consist of formal lectures, group discussions, the use of case studies and class presentations.

 3
 

Self-study

 67

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
  • Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
  • Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
  • Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

Resources

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: