| 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 |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
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 the 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.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit is the only core management unit of the MSc Accounting, Finance and Management program. It serves a vital component of the program as it introduces the students to the management subject. This unit will provide students with a targeted focus on understanding strategic issues in organisations, learning tools for strategic analysis and equipping them to solve strategic problems. This unit provides an invaluable opportunity for students to acquire actionable, real-world knowledge that significantly enhances their strategic thinking capabilities.
An overview of content
This unit uses 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.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
By taking this unit, students will develop an in-depth appreciation of the overall directions of strategic development, which may be pursued in response to the contemporary, dynamic, international business environment. By the end of the unit, 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 to students.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit students will be able to:
ILO1. Recognize selected concepts, theories and/or practices of strategy.
ILO2. Explain theoretical concepts, models, frameworks, tools and techniques which support processes of practical strategic management.
ILO3. Compare alternative paradigms underpinning contemporary strategic management practice and theory.
ILO4. Assess the appropriateness of differing concepts, frameworks, models, paradigms and theories of strategic management in differing operating contexts.
Teaching will be conducted through ten hours of lectures and twenty hours of small group tutorials over ten weeks. There is a variety of teaching and learning activities to offer a rounded and stimulating experience. Students will also learn knowledge through case studies, simulations, LEGO games and group discussion. To gain full experience of the teaching and learning activities, students are required to do some preparation reading and activities before the sessions. All learning material will be available on the unit’s Blackboard page. Additional readings will also be provided on Blackboard to support students who wish to acquire deeper learning about strategic management.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative assessment within this unit will take many forms, including:
- Practice exercises - Informal presentations of ideas in progress, and - Peer and lecturer feedback online and in seminars in response to student discussion, questions and ongoing works (e.g., outlines of summative assessment)Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
This unit will be assessed by:
Assessment 1 (50%) - An individual 60 minutes test with multiple choice questions and short answer questions (ILO1, ILO2, ILO3).
Assessment 2 (50%) (all ILOs covered) – A group oral assessment lasts between 20 to 30 minutes. Students in a small group can choose a topic in strategy to research it. They should critically review the topic, understand the application of the theories/frameworks in the topic, and reflect on the theory and application. Then the seminar tutor will ask questions about this topic, including the theory, practice and implications. The advantage of this form of assessment is that students have the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge, understanding, skills and capabilities across three different, but related areas of strategic management (ILO1, ILO2, ILO3, ILO 4).
When assessment does not go to plan
The re-assessment components on this unit will remain the same weighting and formats as the original assessment. However, Assessment 2 will be assessed individually, and the oral assessment will be around 7 minutes.
If you do not achieve the pass mark overall in the unit, you will only re-sit the components you have not passed. Your marks from the components you have passed will be carried forward to be included in your overall unit mark.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EFIMM0114).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
