SM9690 - Strategic Management

Key concepts and theories will be introduced in one-hour lectures and supported throughout with contemporary examples and case studies. Lectures will provide key explanations of theoretical issues. To support lecture materials, directed readings will be used to further illustrate how these theories and frameworks can be applied to organisations operating in business contexts. The use of documentary videos and current news stories will provide a contemporary dimension to the studies. All necessary materials will be available through the e-learning portal.

Seminars will be two-hour sessions and will involve discussing case studies in groups, critiquing alongside applying frameworks and concepts to explain the strategic actions and decisions that affect the performance and survival of businesses in today’s global and volatile competitive environment. Students will be required to undertake pre-seminar preparation before each seminar. Detailed seminar briefs with the explanation of the activities and preparation for each seminar will be available on the e-learning portal prior to each seminar session. Students will work individually as well as in groups, where appropriate, in order to foster collaboration, team building skills and to increase students’ intercultural awareness.

The module will require both directed and independent learning. Directed learning will include a range of activities including pre-seminars reading and research, and preparation for seminar activities. Guidance for these exercises will be provided in the teaching and learning plan, and specific instruction related to a particular task will be communicated to students via the e-learning portal. Additional independent learning will also be encouraged and will include reading newspapers, business journals and watching relevant documentaries to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.

Support will be provided to you by the module tutor and the teaching team delivering lectures/seminars. A team of academic staff are allocated seminars of about 20 students. These small-group seminars will provide a closer and more personal academic support. These seminar groups are typically based on study programme cohorts, so you will be taught here alongside fellow members from your particular degree.

This module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses teaching and learning plan, lecture materials, seminar briefs, and assessment details.

You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises of various academic textbooks, journal articles, business journals and relevant websites that showcase the application of knowledge acquired in the module.

The module assessment consists of a coursework assignment which will be distributed at the beginning of the teaching semester. The eLearning portal will be used to permanently host these tasks after release to ensure that you can access the information required at all times.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Demonstrate knowledge of the essential components of strategic management, strategy analysis, and strategy formulation (MLO1)
• Critically examine the position of the international and multinational dimensions of strategy within overall firm strategy (MLO2)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Demonstrate and develop the ability to apply the tools of strategy analysis and competitive advantage to international management and international business (MLO3)
• Critically appraise the appropriateness of strategic alternatives, domestic and international, at the corporate level (MLO4)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Develop an awareness of the complexity in formulating an international strategy geared toward competitive advantage. (MLO5)

The module assessment comprises one component of individual assessment (100%). This will be a case based assignment evaluating the strategy and competitive advantage of a global enterprise, which will require you to apply the tools of strategy analysis (3000 words maximum).
The assessment will address MLO1, MLO2 MLO3,MLO4 and MLO5.

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Strategy is the cornerstone of every business; it is undoubtedly the pathway to firm competitiveness, performance and success. However, strategy is becoming less straightforward, with shifts in firm boundaries, and increasing uncertainty and volatility in international competition. This module focuses on strategic management theories, tools and frameworks to develop an understanding of managerial decisions and actions that affect the performance and survival of businesses in today’s global and volatile competitive environment. In this module, the information, analyses, and organisational processes that strategists must use to guide the formulation and execution of internationally-orientated strategies are examined in order to develop an overall appreciation of the importance of strategy for businesses competing globally. These issues are examined through case-based scenarios to develop your skills of theory and framework application. The assessment involves a case-based assignment investigating the strategic conduct of a global company which will develop your research and critical thinking skills.