This module aims to:

Provide students with the knowledge and skills required to critically select and apply a variety of strategic management models, theories and approaches to undertake strategic analysis;

Develop students’ ability to make strategic choices and recommendations based on insights from strategic analysis, which support sustainable competitive advantage, sustainability and resilience;

Provide students with the knowledge and skills required to critically select and apply models and theories of strategic change management to analyse different change contexts and develop change plans or recommendations.

(LO1) Students will be able to critically select and apply a variety of strategic management models, theories and approaches to undertake strategic analysis.

(LO2) Students will be able to make strategic choices and recommendations based on insights from strategic analysis which support sustainable competitive advantage.

(LO3) Students will be able to develop strategic insights and make recommendations which support organisational strategies for sustainability and resilience.

(LO4) Students will be able to critically select and apply models and theories of strategic change management to analyse different change contexts and develop change plans or recommendations.

(LRE1) A problem solver.
Students will be encouraged to think critically about theory and to challenge assumptions about strategic management and change management and about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered course of action.

(LRE2) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will have opportunities to develop their communication skills through group discussions and coursework where they communicate ideas and arguments based on their reading and inquiry.

(LRE3) Commercially aware.
Students will develop an understanding of the commercial and financial nature of organisations and will use this understanding to underpin strategic decision-making.

(LRE4) Ethically aware.
The teaching, learning, and assessment strategy ensures that all students are exposed to ideas of sustainable and responsible business practice.

(LRE5) Organised and able to work under pressure.
This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.

(LRE6) IT literate.
Students will have opportunities to demonstrate skills in the use of software applications including visual presentations and using the internet for information searches in the course of researching and presenting coursework.

The module will primarily be delivered through a series of e-lectures, delivered through a variety of methods, covering key topics, theories and case examples. These will be supported by individual online task such as, case studies, blogs, collaborative tasks and discussion boards, which will be used to develop and apply learning. These activities will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will also be directed to key academic and practitioner readings to further develop their learning.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 30 hours
Description: The asynchronous e-lectures and interactive class activity will equate to 5 hours per week over 6 weeks.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

One scheduled synchronous seminar of one hour will be delivered in week 1, with the remaining two synchronous seminar hours scheduled during weeks 2 to 6. The dates and times of the seminars will be confirmed at the start of the module (if t here are issues with time zones another session will be provided). Peer discussion and questions will be encouraged. These sessions will be recorded and moderated by the module instructor.

Scheduled Directed student hours: 3 hours
Description: The synchronous seminars will equate to 3 hours in total over 6 weeks.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Self-directed learning hours: 67 hours
Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, and independent research into strategy and change management theories and practices relevant to the module syllabus, aims and learning outcomes.

Market-based and resource-based strategy perspectives including: macro environment and industry and sector analysis, resources and capabilities, generic competitive strategies, sustainable competitive advantage.

Strategy in different contexts including: competition and collaboration, growth and diversification strategies, competing in global markets, disruptive and hypercompetitive strategies, deliberate and emergent strategy perspectives.

Strategic advantage through sustainability and resilience including: building resilience and risk management into organisational strategy, building sustainability into organisational strategy, stakeholder management and corporate social responsibility.

Change management including: change management models and perspectives, exploring the change context, managing cultural change and resistance to change.