The aim of the module is to develop a deeper understanding among students of how strategy is conceived, developed and implemented in order to generate superior business performance. Internal and external sources of strategic advantage are explored and synthesised to generate an overall picture of effective business strategy. Leading theory is balanced alongside applied examples to create a rounded perspective of how superior business performance is arrived at in the contemporary business environment.

A. Knowledge and Understanding

• Display knowledge and understanding of the core strategic management concepts and of their application within contemporary business.

B. Intellectual Skills:

• Analyse key strategy issues and their implications for strategic management and the establishment of advantage.  Such issues include identification of positional advantage, understanding sources of core competence, strategy implementation, developing and managing learning, and knowledge, strategic alliances, and corporate governance.

C. Discipline Specific Skills:

• To debate the validity of theories based around competitive advantage and understand the implications of the internal and external views of the firm and to recognise the overlap possible across these two perspectives.
• To examine the trend of collaborative strategies such as strategic alliances and joint ventures as a growth strategy for organisations, exploring current approaches and key success factors.
• To assess the importance of mergers and acquisitions for companies in today’s dynamic environments and develop awareness of managing the acquisition and merger process.
• To understand the role of strategy innovation and renewal in maintaining an effective strategy.

D. Transferable Skills:

• To assess strategic management concepts and corporate strategies from the perspective of the key themes discussed in the module. Develop analytical skills from case study analysis.  Develop group working skills.
• To debate the validity of theories based around the pursuit of competitive advantage, and to discuss the significance of concerns about the sustainability and responsibility of businesses to their various stakeholders.
• To apply an understanding of Strategic Management theory to solve practical problems in an industrial context. 

The module will be delivered through a mix of large & small group face-to-face sessions, including, where relevant, supporting digital learning activities and/or recordings

The essay based assignment will allow students to apply some of the theory covered in the module.

The module addresses key areas of strategy. The external view reflects the position of an organisation in its industry. The internal view covers the internal resources and competencies of the organisation. Each of these two areas contributes to understanding the sources of advantage for an organisation. Mergers and acquisitions introduces the key area of strategy implementation. Corporate governance considers the responsibility of the organisation to its stakeholders and also considers issues of strategic control.