Exploring Strategic Management

RATIONALE 

This module consolidates the learning of various theories and models studied throughout the degree programme so far. Strategic management is an activity that involves developing a strategic direction to achieve competitive advantage. This requires the setting of agreed goals and the development of effective operations and functions to achieve those goals. This entails the successful collaboration of employees and other stakeholders together with optimum use of resources. Strategic management develops responses to an ever-changing business environment and monitors progress against agreed objectives by evaluating and investigating how existing businesses justify their decisions. The module scrutinizes changing internal and external business environments, global dynamics and the stakeholders that influence the development of goals. The module uses a variety of models and theories to explore and evaluate how effective management strategies may be planned, developed and implemented. The module provides students with a good grounding in the key challenges facing different types of organisations using case studies from a wide variety of industries and businesses. Students will develop and apply research and problem-solving skills to explore different potential approaches and solutions. This will help to prepare them for interviews by demonstrating an understanding of the strategic approach utilised by potential employers. 

AIMS 

Through the completion of this module students will: 

• Develop a critical understanding of the context of an organisation’s operations in terms of the internal and external environment. 
• Assess strategic choice on the basis of contextual analysis. 
• Critically evaluate current issues involved in strategic development and change.    

LEARNING OUTCOMES 

On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of organisational strategy, and apply this to different contexts,  
2. Critically assess a range of management models, theories and frameworks and their application in practice. 
3. Synthesise, analyse and evaluate current issues related to the development and implementation of organisational strategy.