Unit information: Introducing Strategic Management in 2020/21

Unit name	Introducing Strategic Management
Unit code	EFIMM0114
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Wang
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Management - Business School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

Strategic management plays an essential role in the development, growth, and success of all organisations from entrepreneurial start-ups to global companies; Governmental agencies to charities; commercial or non-commercial enterprises. This unit introduces issues involved, and techniques applied in the enactment of contemporary strategic management. Upon completion of the unit students will enhance their capability, knowledge, and understanding of strategic thinking and practical activity in strategic management at the organisational, group, and individual levels. Using a mixture of case studies, exercises, readings, discussions, applied activities, and lectures, students experience the contribution of the principal generic managerial activities - planning, decision making, organising, leading, motivating, communicating and controlling – to strategic management. Inter alia the unit introduces alternative paradigms of strategic management, the assessment of strategic position, strategic development options and decisions, and strategic change and organisation. An in-depth appreciation of the overall directions of strategic development, which may be pursued in response to the contemporary, dynamic, international business environment, is developed. By the end of the module the place and the contribution of strategic management to the wider organisational perspective and performance, including links with other units being studied in parallel should be apparent.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed the unit, students will be able to:

ILO1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of selected concepts, theories and/or practices of strategy

ILO2. Use theoretical concepts, models, frameworks, tools and techniques which support processes of practical strategic management.

ILO3. Differentiate between alternative paradigms underpinning contemporary strategic management practice and theory

ILO4. Evaluate the appropriateness of differing concepts, frameworks, models, paradigms and theories of strategic management in differing operating contexts

ILO5. Discuss the implications of strategy decisions for individuals, organisations and/or wider society

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions including lectures, tutorials, drop-in sessions, discussion boards and other online learning opportunities.

Assessment Information

Summative: 3,000 word individual portfolio assignment (100%). Formative: draft portfolio, presentation/1-1 drop in clinic

Reading and References

Core Text:

Grant Robert (2019) Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 10^th ed., John Wiley & Sons

Supporting Text:

Hanson, D., Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2016). Strategic management: Competitiveness and globalisation. 6^th ed., Cengage AU.

Johnson et al (2017) Exploring Strategy, 11^th ed., Pearson Education Limited: UK, Harlow

Hill, Charles WL, Gareth R. Jones, and Melissa A. Schilling (2014). Strategic Management: Theory & Cases: An Integrated Approach. 12^th ed., Cengage Learning