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BUSI47015: ORGANISING FOR STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE (PT/EXECUTIVE)

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Not available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Management and Marketing

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To deepen student understanding of the strategic management of organisations. The module builds on prior material in that it adopts the point of view of the executive team and considers the entire firm as a single entity. Strategic analysis has its own theoretical principles, which will be reviewed and applied.

Content

  • Organisational Design and Strategy.
  • Strategic Positions vs. Organisational Capabilities.
  • Capabilities for Exploitation and Exploration.
  • Leveraging Human Resources and Culture for Capabilities.
  • Organisational Culture in High-Tech Firms.
  • Position and Capabilities: Resource Partitioning Issues.
  • Position and Capabilities: Limits to Organisation, Identify and Status.
  • Position and Capabilities: Semi-Autonomous Subunits.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Upon successful completion of the module, the students will have:
  • developed an advanced understanding of the nature of strategic action, based on current theory and research;
  • developed a critical appreciation of the problems associated with change in organisations, in particular, inertia and the unintended outcomes of change efforts.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Upon successful completion of the module, the students will have:
  • developed the advanced analytical and communication skills to critically analyse companies and industries with respect to their strategies and those of competitors.

Key Skills:

  • Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion, supported by guided reading. The written assignment will test students' understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply and interpret what they have learned to the analysis of a particular issue in depth.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Workshops (a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion)28Yes
Preparation and Reading122 
Total150 

Summative Assessment

Component: Written AssignmentComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written Assignment4,000 words maximum100 

Formative Assessment

None.

More information

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