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MAN-30048 - Module Specification
Keele Business School
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2021/22 Last Updated: 16 February 2022

MAN-30048 - Business Strategy
Coordinator: Moshood A Bello Room: N/A Tel: +44 1782 7 33424
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733094

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2021/22

Crafting business strategies remains the responsibility of the top management of every organisation. In today¿s ever-dynamic, complex, and highly competitive global business environment, every organisational member is also expected to contribute to the process of formulating and executing strategies. Business organisations, therefore, expect their graduate employees to possess critical strategic thinking, decision-making skill and a thorough understanding of the ever dynamic business environment.
This module uses a combination of theory, cases analyses, reflective practice and a virtual business Simulation game (BSSG) to provide students with opportunities to develop these critical employability skills. The business simulation game allows students to apply theory in practice by working in groups and learning from each other while having fun. The BSSG creates an environment that encourages group work and interactions between students weekly. At the same time, it fosters levels of competition between groups.

Aims
Strategy is commonly considered to be at the very pinnacle of management topics because well-founded strategies give purpose, focus and structure to all other business activities. By contrast, a weak strategy fails an organisation, staff, customers, and investors and threatens the suppliers, communities, and regions in which it conducts its business. Yet, there is no golden rule or theory for a successful business, institutional or industry strategy in today's rapidly evolving world of opportunities.
Given this challenge, the module offers finalists a carefully designed course in marrying theory and practice. As students gain a detailed understanding of strategy theory, they are encouraged to develop sophisticated critical analytical thinking, confidence and work-relevant transferable skills in this most important subject that integrates earlier business studies.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1
1
1,2
evaluate alternative competitive strategies and select a course of action: 1,2
evaluate the ethical and sustainability implications of strategic decisions: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures 10 hours
Tutorial 10 hours
Tutorial preparation 20 hours
Other private studies and assessments 110 hours


School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Project weighted 50%
Business Simulation Game
Students compete among themselves in groups in weekly (5-7 weeks) business simulation games to deepen their understanding of the module and provide them with opportunities to apply the theories, models, strategies in close to a real-life situation. Based on their share price or ranking, each group's performance in the competition will be translated into 25% of their final mark on the module. Each group then submit a 1,500-2000 word report or 15-20 minutes presentation on their activities in which they write down each round what decisions they have taken and what they think the outcomes will be. They reflect on the decisions made during each round and continue logging this throughout the simulation. This will account for 25% of the total module mark.

2: Reflective Diary weighted 50%
1000 word Individual Reflective Essay
Individual students provide a 1000-1500 word reflective essay on their role within the simulation. They will reflect on their areas of strength and areas for improvement, decisions that went well and decisions that did not go well, and how they would do this differently next time.

Please note that for the 2021/22 Academic Year all programmes will be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there will be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 16 February 2022