Units

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Sample subject outline - 6 Week Teaching Period - 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

In a complex society where change is occurring with increasing frequency, strategy has never had greater significance, nor has it been more challenging. The range of local, national and international issues confronting business is both complex and diverse. The need for a strategic framework for overall direction, decision-making, and alignment with the environment is essential. Successful enterprises, no matter the sector they operate in, reflect a strategic thinking, and orientation. That there is no one right strategy is explored in context of the differences within industries and organisations, as is the alignment of organisational competencies and capabilities with the external environment, the vision, and the intent of organisational purpose.

Aims

The mission of the MBA and associated programs is to provide world class graduate business education and a stimulating learning experience to current and future business leaders and managers. This unit is designed to provide individuals with knowledge and understanding of the nature of strategy, its role and purpose within the business setting. The unit has been designed to provide an introductory overview of key concepts involved in the study and practice of strategic management and to introduce a range of strategic management models and tools of practical value to managers.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Postgraduate)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AoL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools.

Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)

1.1 Well-researched knowledge and critical understanding applied to issues at the forefront of a specialised discipline area
1.2 Ability to select and use effectively a range of tools and technologies to locate and/or generate information appropriate to the disciplinary context

Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)

2.1 Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and judgement to generate appropriate solutions to problems in the disciplinary context

Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)

3.1 Ability to create and present professional documents and/or reports using high levels of analysis/synthesis/evaluation for a range of contexts and audiences
3.2 Ability to orally communicate and justify ideas and information, at a professional level, for a variety of contexts and audiences, including peers and discipline specialists

Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)

4.1 Operate effectively and with flexibility to achieve common goals in collaborative settings, using a range of skills, including leadership, negotiation, reflection, proactivity and support for team members

Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)

5.1 Apply knowledge of the ethical, social and cultural dimensions relevant to business situations, including appropriate standards or codes of practice, to provide courses of action

Unit Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Apply theoretical frameworks to understand strategic thinking and management. KS1.1 (MBA 1)

2. Analyse a business situation to identify the range of inputs to successful strategy development. KS1.1 (MBA 1)

3. Critically analyse the practical application of strategic concepts. CTA2.1 (MBA 4), PC3.1 (MBA3)

4. Apply effective decision making in the development and implementation of strategy. KS1.1 (MBA 8),
TW 4.1 (MBA6)

The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Content

The unit contents are:

Introduction to Business Strategy

Strategic Analysis of the External Environment

Business Strategies: Directions and Development

Internal Analysis: Analysis of Strategic Capabilities

Corporate Strategy

Enacting Strategy

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit adopts a blended learning approach and as such, includes a variety of teaching and learning approaches

Three hour face-to-face class sessions are supplemented by a textbook and a range of online materials that are designed to support and extend learning prior to, during and after class sessions. Online materials are available in the unit Blackboard site. Given the importance of the unit Blackboard site to the teaching and learning strategy used in this unit, a computer or tablet device with internet access is strongly recommended for all students.

The principal purpose of the lectures and readings is to build upon key concepts that were introduced through the Preparation for Class activities and readings. Class sessions will be divided between lectures and problem solving individually and in small groups. The purpose of the case study work, experiential learning tasks and all assessment tasks is to help the student develop their understanding of the concepts and enable them to be applied within a range of business contexts.

There is an expectation that the student will participate in class sessions, to take advantage of the opportunity to discuss important issues with their instructor and their peers in an informal environment. These sessions also provide students with an opportunity to hone important generic skills that are in high demand in the business.

It is expected that students have completed all Preparation for Class activities and readings identified in the unit Blackboard site prior to coming to class to be able to maximise the learning opportunities of the class sessions.

A variety of learning activities designed to engage students in their learning will be incorporated into the lectures/workshops. Such learning activities may include short lectures, class discussions, debates, role plays, group work, guest speakers, student presentations, simulations, case study analysis, videos, readings, wikis, media/current events reports, web searches, etc.

There is a commitment to critical inquiry and intellectual debate in regard to the material covered. Students are encouraged to relate the theories and research discussed to situations known to them and will be encouraged to share their experiences relating to the topics explored in this unit with the class to enrich the overall learning experience of all students.

Expanding the awareness of Australian management policies and practices into intercultural and international perspectives is fostered within this unit. Typically, students enrolling in this unit have extremely varied backgrounds. There is diversity of professional background and socio-cultural background. Students are reminded that this is to their advantage and they have much to learn from one another. To this end, students are strongly encouraged to be sensitive to cultural, gender-related and international issues.

Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation

Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary

Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation

Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: In-class write-ups
Description: In-Class exercise write-up
Description: This first piece of assessment is designed to introduce you to the use of a number of strategy tools over the course of four modules prior to (or parallel with) your own individual report. During module 1 you will be allocated a group and a case organisation that you will "analyse" in four separate exercises conducted during class. Every week you will carry out an exercise in class that you will then write up and submit.
Length/Duration: 4 x 500 words submissions
Formative/Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4 and AOL goals: KS 1.1, CTA 2.1
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: End of modules 1-4

Assessment name: Case Study Analysis
Description: Individual Assignment
Description:You will be required to submit a case study analysis for the topics discussed in class for weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4. The case study will be assigned by your lecturer in week 1. The assignment questions and detailed criteria for marking assignments are available on the Blackboard site under the Assessment link.
Length:2500 words
Formative/Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4 and AOL goals: KS 1.1, CTA 2.1, PC 3.1
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Module 6

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed Text

Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittington, R. (2011) (9th Ed.). Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text & Cases. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education.

Recommended Reading

Students should consult recent general texts in Strategic Management to reinforce principles learned and to obtain alternative perspectives. Possible texts include:

Barney, Jay B. and Hesterley, W. (2008). Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage Concepts, 2nd Ed., Pearson Edication, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Hanson, D., Dowling, P., Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D., and Hoskisson, R.E. (2008), Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalisation, 3rd edn, Pacific Rim, Thomson, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Hill, C. W. L. Jones, G. R., Galvin, P. and Haidar, A. (2007), Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach, 2nd Australian edn., John Wiley & Sons Australia, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.

Mintzberg, H. and Quinn, J.B. (2003), The Strategy Process Concepts, Contexts, Cases. 4th edn, Pearson Education, Harlow, UK.

Thompson, A. A., Strickland, A. J. II and Gamble, J. E. (2007), Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage, 15th ed., McGrw-Hill Irwin, Boston, MA.

Wheelen, T. L. and Hunger, J. D. (2008), Strategic management and business policy, 11th edn. Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

References

1. Students should consult the more specific literature on strategic management, strategic human resource management and corporate/government policy including the journal literature. The more important journals include:
- Academy of Management Journal/Review
- Administrative Science Quarterly
- Harvard Business Review
- Human Resource Management
- Journal of Business Research
- Journal of Business Strategy
- Journal of Economic Perspectives
- Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organisation
- Journal of Law and Economics
- Journal of Management Issues
- Long Range Planning
- Organisational Dynamics
- Organization Science
- Organization Studies
- Organisational Dynamics
- Sloan Management Review
- Strategic Management Journal

2. Additional important references in strategic management are listed on the GSN200 Blackboard site. This list is divided into seven sections:
- Introduction to Strategic Implementation
- Strategy Implementation: Economic Governance Possibilities
- Strategy Implementation: Structural Determinants
- Barriers to Implementation
- Change Types and Decision Making
- Vertical and Horizontal Integration
- Diversion
- Global Strategies and Multinationals

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the >Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 08-Jan-2013