There are two elements to assessment in this module, an assignment and an end of module exam

Units of Assessment

Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)

 

Individual Assignment (1,000 words)

50

Exam (2 hours)

50

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Qualifying Condition(s) 

A weighted aggregated mark of 40% is required to pass the module.

The module provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of how business strategy can be formulated in the light of international environmental conditions. The module equips students with a framework for understanding business strategy as an interdisciplinary activity within the international context of competitive markets, leading to corporate decision-making.

 The aims of the module are:

1.         To enable students to understand theoretical approaches to the formulation, selection, implementation, and control of an international business strategy;

2.         To enable students to develop understanding of how to apply theoretical concepts of business strategy to international business contexts;

3.         To enable students to critically understand the methods, difficulties and limitations of formulating, implementing and controlling an international business strategy;

4.         To enable students to appreciate the importance and contribution of business strategy to organisational success.

On successful completion of this module the students will be able to:

 •          To identify and classify different business practices of strategy formulation, implementation and control into relevant theoretical frameworks;

•          Apply the relevant theoretical frameworks of strategy formulation, implementation and control in international business contexts;

•          Analyse the international strategy of a corporation drawing on sources of publicly available information;

•          Develop an understanding of a range of business problems that a corporation in an international industry may face;

•          Exercise judgement over a range of strategic solutions available in order to overcome such problems.

Concepts of Strategy

 Processes of Strategy

 Strategy and the External Environment

 Organisational Perspective on Strategy

 The Resource Based View of Strategy

 Strategic Decision Making and Strategic Choice

 International Business Strategy

 Culture and Strategy

 Strategy and Leadership

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to give students the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of the relevant theory and business practices and problems which are pertinent to the topics of strategy formulation, implementation and control.

 The teaching and learning methods are based around the delivery of lectures and seminars. Whilst the lectures are mainly designed to illustrate and explain theoretical concepts and models of business strategy, the seminars illuminate the theoretical concepts and models by reference to and explanation of a range of specific international case studies. Seminars are, therefore, designed to allow students to examine key strategic theories and concepts in an international context. The lecture precedes the seminar. Prior to attending the seminar, students are required to undertake the essential reading of the theory and relevant case study assigned in the relevant lecture which precedes the seminar.

Assessment Strategy: The assessment strategy is aimed at giving the students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of both the theory of strategy and its application. Thus, the assignment is built around students undertaking a critical review of a seminal work in the literature on strategy in which they will be expected to place the work into the wider field of strategy through consideration of which debates in strategy it contributes to and to identify the key assumptions and theoretical foundations on which the article is built. The exam examines both theoretical and practical understanding of strategy by requiring students to answer one question based on theory and one question on the application of theory to an international business strategy case study distributed in advance.

Essential Reading

 Johnson, G., Scholes, K., and Whittington, R., (2008).  Exploring Corporate Strategy (Text Only) (8th Edition) Prentice Hall.

  Recommended Reading

 Vernon-Wortzel, H., and Wortzel, L. H., (1997). Strategic Management in a Global Economy John Wiley & Sons Inc.

 Whittington, R., (2001). What is Strategy (and does it matter)? Thomson.

 Mintzberg, H., Lampel, J., Quinn, J.B., and Ghoshal, S., (2003). The Strategy Process: concepts, contexts, cases.  (4th edition).  Pearson Education.

 De Wit, B., and Meyer, and R., (2004). Strategy. Process, Content, Context. Thomson Learning.

  Mintzberg, H., Ahlstrand, B., and Lampel, J., (1998). Strategy Safari. The complete guide through the wilds of strategic management. FT Prentice Hall.

 Prahalad, C. H., and Hamel, G., (1994). Competing for the Future. Harvard Business Review Press.

Background Reading

 Hill, C. W. L., and Jones, G.R., (2001). Strategic Management Theory. (5th edition). Houghten-Mifflin.

Ackermann, F., and Eden C., (1998). Making Strategy: The Journey of Strategic Management, (1st edition). Sage Publications Ltd.

Hitt, M. A., , R. D., and Hoskisson, R. E., (2001). Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization. (4th edition).South-Western College Publishing.

Lynch, R., (2000). Corporate Strategy. (2nd edition). Prentice Hall.

Wheelan, T. J., and Hunger, J. D., (2002). Strategic Management and Business Policy (8th edition).  Prentice Hall.

Journals

Academy of Management Executive

Academy of Management Journal

British Journal of Management

California Management Review

European Journal of Management

Harvard Business Review

Journal of Management Studies

Long Range Planning

Management Decision

Sloan Management Review

Strategic Management Journal

Business Week