MO9708 - Strategic Thinking and Decision Making

You will experience a dynamic and flexible learning environment that caters to professionals across business, public, and third sectors. The delivery model blends intensive face-to-face workshops with live virtual sessions and self-paced online components, with pre-session materials providing essential background knowledge and post-session tutorials fostering reflective discussion through the lenses of advocacy, plurality, sustainability, inclusivity, and accountability.

Throughout the module, you’ll engage in expert-led lectures, collaborative group work, and practical case studies that examine real-world challenges—from sustainable business practices to innovative public policy and third sector initiatives. This multifaceted approach not only develops your analytical and practical skills but also encourages you to appreciate diverse perspectives and harness collective creativity in addressing complex issues.

A robust digital learning platform supports your studies by offering access to recorded sessions, interactive quizzes, and discussion forums for peer-to-peer exchange. Optional office hours and guided independent study sessions provide personalized support from experienced tutors, ensuring that every learning need is met.

Overall, this integrated approach reinforces theoretical insights into strategic thinking while building practical competencies essential for driving sustainable and ethical change across various sectors. It empowers you to become an effective leader capable of advocating for transformative practices in any organizational context.

In this module, you will benefit from a comprehensive and responsive academic support system designed to help you succeed across both private sector and public/third sector contexts. Your learning is guided by experienced module tutors and supported by dedicated programme leaders and academic mentors, ensuring that expert advice is always available. In addition to scheduled lectures, workshops, and group sessions, you will have access to drop-in sessions, virtual office hours, and interactive online forums via our digital learning platform—providing continuous, flexible support beyond the formal classroom setting.

The programme is structured to encourage both collaborative and independent study, with resources such as recorded lectures, curated reading materials, and peer discussion groups that help reinforce key concepts in responsible business. This multi-faceted approach ensures that whether you are tackling complex theoretical frameworks or developing practical strategies for sustainable change, you have a robust network of academic support to guide you every step of the way

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
ML01: Identify and understand the nature of strategic challenges facing organisations in the 21st century operating in a highly dynamic environment.
[PLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities:
MLO2: Develop research skills of identifying and evaluating industry and organisational data suitable for strategic analysis. [PLO 2, 5, 6]
MLO3: Develop the skills to critically evaluate and implement appropriate strategic frameworks in an organisational context operating within a domestic or international environment to support change processes. [PLO 1, 2, 3, 4]
ML04: Critically reflect on the value and application of leadership, business management and strategy execution models and frameworks to enhance your personal impact on individual, group and organisational effectiveness [PLO 1, 3, 4, 5]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO5: Critically evaluate how your own cultural and ethical values and associated behaviours may impact on your ability to think and work strategically and ethically in a global environment. [PLO 4, 5]

This module is assessed through a single written report based upon your own organization.

You will identify a strategic management challenge or opportunity; analyse this using the theories and frameworks studied, and develop a comprehensive strategy or action plan.

Formative feedback will be offered throughout the block teaching sessions and in the virtual sessions convened to support your learning and development.

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Organizations across the private, public and third sectors continue to face accelerating and complex dynamics, and which often require strategic response patterns. Sometimes, these strategic responses transcend national boundaries and encompass international dimensions. The purpose of this module is to develop the participant’s ability to apply and critically evaluate concepts, theories and techniques related to organisational strategy, operations and the implementation of strategic change.

This module is designed as a flexible vehicle within which organizational leaders can address the idiosyncratic and specific strategic challenges facing their organization through the lens of strategic management. It will allow you to explore the concepts of strategic management and engage in a process of critical analysis to evaluate opportunities, organizational readiness and the effectiveness of your current approach to strategizing in your organisation. You will learn approaches, models and processes to identify strategies to contribute to high performance within your organisation. You will also consider your role as change agent or change champion in fostering innovation.