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INTRODUCTION
The Strategic Management module introduced in this programme will provide an in-
depth knowledge of the process for developing and enacting business plans to rea
ch a
long-term goal that takes into account the internal variables and external facto
rs in the
business environment. It encompasses an integrated, future oriented managerial
perspective that is outwardly focused, forward thinking and performance based. S
trategic
managers identify long-range targets, scan their operating environment, evaluate
their
organization structures and resources, match these to the challenges they face,
identify
stakeholders and build alliances, prioritize and plan actions and make adjustmen
ts to
fulfill performance objectives over time. This module will provide detailed expl
anation
on how the balancing of strategic management s outward, inward and forward looking
functions would be used to develop a vision and strategies to move forward. The
five key
facets of strategic management namely, goal setting, strategy analysis, strategy
formation,
strategy implementation, and strategy monitoring will be introduced in stages. T
hese are
the integral elements that, when applied together, would distinguish strategic
management from less comprehensive approaches, such as operational management or
long-term planning.
You will benefit from additional on-line learning resources including web based
course
materials and on-line discussion forums. Additional discussion topics relating t
o Strategic
Management will be initiated by the Module Leader which will be uploaded on the
Portal. You are expected to participate and engage in the discussions wherein yo
ur view
and opinions will be shared by students participating in the module. You will al
so have
the opportunity to discuss the assignment with the module leader to clarify doub
ts. I do
hope that you enjoy this module and find it worthwhile for your academic and
professional development.

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MODULE SPECIFICATION
Module Title: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
No. of Credits: 15
Credit Level: 6
Mandatory
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Module The module is concerned with how organisations plan, manage
Description
and implement their strategic direction. It emphasises on how
strategy is actually managed in the organisation. The key focus is
on the practice of strategy-in-action. For this reason, the approach
taken involves:

To help student learn the concepts and procedures applicable

to a strategic analysis of the firm;
To develop a critical evaluation of the up-to-date techniques of
strategic analysis and implementation;
To understand the problems involved in the positioning of the
firm through strategy and capability planning;
To appreciate the problem involved in real-time strategic
response through issue management;
To understand the courses and causes of resistance and the
ways to anticipate and manage it, and
To understand reasons for concern with management of
technology and the tools for strategic management of
technology.
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Learning Outcomes
On completing this module, students should be able to :
1.
Analyse the external and internal environmental factors that impact on the
strategy of an organisation
2.
Analyse and evaluate the strategic options available to an organisation
3.
Undertake a strategic initiative to assist an organisation to plan and review it
s
strategy
4.
Apply strategic management principles, concepts and techniques to an intergrated
case study of strategy-in-action
Indicative Content/ Areas of Study
There are six sessions in the module :
Sessions Content
Session 1
Introduction to Managing Strategy in Organisations.
A Strategic Direction
Session 2 The External Environment
Session 3 The Organisation s Capabilities
Session 4 Strategic Options
Session 5 Evaluation and Selection
Session 6
Implementing Strategy
Managing Strategic Change
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Teaching and Learning Strategy
1.
18 hours face to face lectures -tutorial by qualified facilitators will be provi
ded
for the module and further supported with another 18 hours online learning
facilitated by the Module Leader.
2.
Students will benefit from additional on-line learning resources including web
based course materials and on-line discussion forums.
3.
The Student Learning Portal will be manned by the Module Leader and used by
all Centre Facilitators and students.
4.
Additional discussion topics relating to the module will be initiated by the Mod
ule
Leader which will be uploaded on the WEC Learning Portal. Students are
expected to participate and engage in the discussions wherein their view and
opinions will be shared within the cohort of students on the module.
5.
Students will also have the opportunity to discuss the assignment question with
the module leader to clarify doubts to show better performance.
6.
Video conferences for the students and Centre Facilitators can also be arranged
on
requirement bases to give opportunity to listen to the Module Leader directly.
7.
This will help students to learn time/ self management and work independently to
mange their course related activities.
Lectures -Tutorials: 18 hours
Online Learning: 18 hours
Directed Learning: 114 hours

Total:
150 hours
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Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100%CourseWork
Course Work: 100% weighting
A management report of about 3000 words, based on the critical analysis and eval
uation
of a given case study or similar real organisational scenario. This assessment i
s designed
to assess students ability to apply theory/concept relating to Strategic Manageme
nt to a
practical organizational/industry situation.
Resources
1.
Course Materials provided by WEC.
2.
Michael A. Hitt, R. Duane Ireland, and Robert E. Hoskisson (2008), Strategic
Management:
3.
Competitiveness and Globalization, Concepts and Cases : South-Western College
Pub; 8 edition (January 18, 2008), ISBN-10: 0324655592 and ISBN-13: 978032465559
9
4.
Gregory Dess, G.T. (Tom) Lumpkin, and Alan Eisner (2007), Strategic
Management: Text and Cases McGraw-Hill/Irwin; 4 edition (October 31, 2007),
ISBN-10: 0073404985 and ISBN-13: 978-0073404981
5.
WEC Student Learning Portal
6.
UoD E -Library
Regulations: Conforms to the relevant UG regulatory framework at the University
of
Derby.
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MODULE PLAN

Time Period Content Remarks

Session 1
1. Introduction to Managing
Strategy in Organisations.
2. A Strategic Direction
Chapter 1 & 2 of WEC Study
Material
Session 2 The External Environment Chapter 3 of WEC Study Material
Session 3 The Organisation s Capabilities Chapter 4 of WEC Study Material
Session 4 Strategic Options Chapter 5 of WEC Study Material
Session 5 Evaluation and Selection Chapter 6 of WEC Study Material
Session 6
1. Implementing Strategy
2. Managing Strategic Change
Chapter 7 & 8 of WEC Study
Material
Notes
1. Module will be covered in 6 sessions of face to face lectures by the centre f
acilitator.
2. Each face to face lecture session will be of 3 hours duration.
3. Centres to ensure completion of face to face lecture sessions latest by week
10 of the cohort.
4. Additional facilitation can be arranged locally by the centre(s) on need to h
ave basis.
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COURSE WORK
Assignment
Due Date: 26th September, 2010
By 12.00 midnight (Singapore & Malaysia time)
An organization can have various strategic options. Making a choice from one of
these
options is the result of internal and external environmental analysis that shows
which
option provides the best strategic fit for the organization.
Select a firm in an industry in which you are interested and present critical in
ternal and
external environmental analysis by using Michael Porter s Value Chain and PEST
analysis tools. Critically evaluate at least THREE (3) strategic options availab
le to the
chosen organization and select any one option that provides the best strategic f
it for the
organization that must be linked with the discussion on the internal and externa
l
environmental analysis. With the help of sound arguments, justify why do you thi
nk is
this the best strategic option and how this can help the chosen organization to
strengthen
its position.
Important notes:
1.
Proper referencing is the most important thing you should concentrate on. Your g
rades
will be adversely affected if there is no/ poor referencing. You are strongly ad
vised to
carefully read the University of Derby Referencing Guide and ensure proper refer
encing
following the Harvard Referencing Style. List of references in an alphabetical o
rder must
be presented at the end of your assignment.
2.
You are strictly not allowed to use the general internet references e.g. www.goo
gle.com,
www.yahoo.com etc and Wikipedia. All references should be from the credible sour
ces
e.g. books, newspapers, articles, journals, magazines etc.
3.
Assignments are checked with the help of available anti plagiarism software. All
student
are advised to carefully read the University of Derby Plagiarism Policy availabl
e at
http://www.googlesyndicatedsearch.com/u/derbyuni?q=plagiarism&sa=Go&domains=de
rby.ac.uk&sitesearch=derby.ac.uk
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Quality Indicators
Satisfactory (D-, D, D+, C-)
1.
Demonstrate clear understanding with the assignment question and address all iss
ues
e.g. the Value Chain, PEST Analysis and Strategic Options
2.
Discussion on the organisation chosen for the assignment
3.
Adherence to the given word count limit
4.
Follow the proper format of the assignment that should include the following:
a.
Executive Summary
b.
Table of contents
c.
Introduction
d.
Company background
e.
Value Chain Analysis
f.
PEST Analysis
g.
Strategic options
h.
Best available strategic option
i.
Conclusion
j.
Careful and accurate referencing (Following the Harvard Referencing Style)
5.
Online submission of the completed course work on or before the given deadline
Good (C, C+, B-and B)
In addition to the requirements of Satisfactory :
1.
Carefully and logically organised assignment. Title page and table of contents c
lear and
accurate.
2.
Variety of appropriate sources appropriately analysed, applied and discussed.
3.
Critical evaluation of the strategic options available to the chosen organizatio
n
4.
Sound arguments to support the selection of best possible strategic option and h
ow this
can help the company to strengthen its position
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Distinction (B+, A-, A, A+)
In addition to the requirements of Good :
1.
Evidence of wider reading particularly referred material along with the accurate
referencing following Harvard Referencing Style
2.
Professional presentation of material resulting in clarity of message and inform
ation
3.
Clear linkage between the Environmental Analysis and the available Strategic Opt
ions
4.
Excellent clarity of expression with accurate grammar and spelling
5.
Clear presentation of the actual/ live data or information of the chosen organiz
ation
while doing the Value Chain and PEST Analysis rather than just a theoretical
description of the topic
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INSTRUCTIONS

1.
The assignment MUST be submitted on-line on or before the due date.
2.
Assignment has to be submitted on or before 26th September 2010 before 12.00
midnight Malaysia & Singapore Time Zone.
3.
Assignments should be word processed.
4.
Your assignment should be organized under suitable headings. An analytical piece
of work
is required. The use of cut and paste approach will be penalized. It must be prese
nted in a
structured manner, with appropriate cover page, content page, abstract page, int
roduction,
body (with appropriate heading / sub-headings), conclusion, references and any r
equired
appendices.
5.
The assignments shall contain 3000 words (+/-10%), presented in text of font siz
e 12
with 1.5 line spacing.
6.
Your assignment shall reflect the depth and breadth of your original analyses in
a clear and
coherent manner. Due credit shall be given for excellent illustration of points
using
diagrammatic mode.
7.
Any reference to authors and other writers shall be quoted with due acknowledgem
ent in
your assignment report using the Harvard Referencing System or APA.
8.
The cover page should be attached with the assignment and uploaded through OCTAL
(WEC Learning Portal) on-line. Name of the student, The Programme, Module Title,
Assignment Title and number of words must be reflected on the cover sheet.
9.
All assignments must be adhered strictly to the deadlines specified by WEC. Fail
ure to
hand in the assignment for any reason and without prior approval of the Programm
e Leader
will result in the participant s work being penalized in accordance with the Acade
mic &
Assessment Regulations governing the conduct of the BA(Hons) in Business Managem
ent
programme as follows:
Five days late -the assessed mark will be reduced by five percentage points
Ten days late -the assessed mark will be reduced by ten percentage points
Over 10 days late -the module assessor can refuse to mark the piece of work and
will record
a zero mark.
10.
Unacknowledged use of work of others (plagiarism) is regarded as a dishonest pra
ctice and
will be dealt with severely as follows:
11.
In a case of suspected plagiarism it is the right and duty of the Board of Exami
ners to:
a.
Receive all information pertinent to the case in written form or verbal evidence
including the submitted work itself;
b.
Seek further advice where appropriate;
c.
Confirm or reject the accusation of plagiarism; determine its recommendation whe
re it
confirms the case according to the circumstances and severity of the case.
12. It may recommend that:
The case constitutes plagiarism and that the participant fails with or without t
he right
of resubmission;
a.
The submitted work fails. It will then be the responsibility of the Board of Exa
miners
to determine whether or not this failure in assessment can be compensated for in
the
light of the participant's overall performance or whether or not the participant
will be
required to retake part or all of the elements for progression towards or the co
nferment
of the award;
b.
The participant be penalized by a reduction in the mark for this assessment and/
or
classification of the award. The Board of Examiners shall then agree a mark and/
or
classification;
c.
The participant be issued with a formal reprimand in writing and a copy of this
lodged
in the participant s file.
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