module specification

By the end of this final-year core module “Business Strategy”, you will have the ability to:

- Develop your knowledge and understanding to critically apply a range of practical strategic management tools for analysis, choice-making and implementation across public, private and not-for-profit organisations of all sizes across all sectors internationally;
- Translate your analysis of contemporary organisations and contexts into persuasive, creative and realistic proposals for an international organisation’s future strategic direction
- Apply structured insight into the realities of an international organisation’s internal and external context in order to develop implementation plans which help maximise achievement of their strategic objectives; and
- Enhance your employability by developing transferable skills such as research, analysis,
evaluation, decision-making, team-work, presenting, and influencing others, across different cultures

Strategy is a crucial subject, concerned with the development, success and failure of all
kinds of organisations, from multinational corporations (MNCs) to entrepreneurial start-ups, from international charities to global agencies, and many others. Accordingly, strategy constitutes a key element of all professional business and management qualifications:

- It equips aspiring managers and leaders with the knowledge, skills and techniques required to critically analyse contemporary organisations within changing environments nationally and globally; and
- to formulate, evaluate and defend realistic and creative proposals for future
strategic direction; and
- to plan for the effective implementation of the strategy selected.

NOTE: the deadlines for completion of the formative Seminar Task, plus the final summative Assignment, are deliberately early, in order to allow students to focus on their final projects and exams

In addition, this Module has been designed following University guidelines and policies on:

- Artificial Intelligence:
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/your-studies/student-administration/guidance-on-the-use-of-artificial-intelligence/#

- Education for Social Justice Framework (ESJF):
https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/about/centre-for-equity-and-inclusion/a-fair-outcomes-approach-to-teaching-and-learning/the-degree-awarding-gap/education-for-social-justice-framework/

Sustainability:
https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/about/sustainability/

No prerequisites 
Available for Study Abroad? YES
 

The syllabus is structured around the following three themes / areas, which all blend theory, practice, examples, and student learning activities:

Theme 1: Introduction to Business Strategy and its Influences (LO1), where students will cover the background of business strategy
Theme 2: Strategic Analysis and Decision-making (LO2), where students will cover the key aspects of business strategy in practice
Theme 3: The Implementation of Business Strategic Change (LO3), where students will cover the dynamic aspects of business strategy in practice

The scheduled teaching activity is delivered through weekly lectures and seminars, including the exploration and advice as to how individuals can maximise their own learning.

A formative assignment is also used early in the course to support and develop student learning.

Concepts of action and experiential learning are revisited, and students reminded to focus particularly on the opportunities the classroom sessions provide to engage in, and reflect upon, their aspirations as soon-to-be graduates. The weekly teaching activities consist of an inclusive combination of theoretical input, reports on independent reading, action-centred and problem-based tasks, supported by digital resources, plus student-led discussions and peer evaluation.

Theoretical input will focus on the explanation of key international strategic tools and outlining the stages in the formulation of strategic decisions and the effective implementation of change.

Case studies are used throughout the Module as a key learning vehicle, allowing students to test their theoretical understanding and decision-making skills through application to case-study scenarios.

Blended learning combines intensive interaction with regular signposting via WebLearn to topical digital webinars, podcasts, e-journals and just-published press articles for students’ self-study.

Preparation for, and participation in, weekly exercises provide further opportunity for formative feedback and reflective learning.

Classes will be student-centred, and will contain tasks, exercises, close readings (of digital textbook chapters, academic articles, company websites, journalism / media articles),discussions, presentations, activities, videos, feed-back, and feed-forward, designed around preparing students for the assignment.

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

LO1. Apply the major theories of business strategy to the analysis of international organisations

LO2. Formulate and evaluate a range of business options to address strategic issues in a particular international organisation, using appropriate frameworks and
concepts, and justify selection of a particular strategic course of action

LO3. Identify and solve the main issues and risks confronting an international organisation when implementing business strategic change to the creation of context-specific recommendations for the effective delivery of strategic change, referring to sustainability, digital technologies, AI, and Big Data, where appropriate

Link to online Library Reading List: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/0B81A0F7-E11D-32F0-8404-DA9A533D6245.html?lang=en-GB&login=1

Core:
Menzies, J et al (2024) Artificial Intelligence for International Business, Thunderbird International Business Review, Vol 66, Issue 2, pp. 185-200
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/tie.22370

Whittington, R, et al (2023) Exploring Strategy: Texts and Cases, 13th Edition,
Pearson, available FREE as an e:book via the Library website, at: https://www.vlebooks.com/Product/Index/3171338?page=0&startBookmarkId=-1
This ‘core’ textbook is essential reading for all students, and forms the basis of the
Module

Additional:
Grant, R (2023) Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 11th Edition, Wiley /
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/library/

Lynch, R et al (2024) Strategic Management, 10th Edition, Pearson /
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/library/

Mintzberg, H et al (2009) Strategy Safari, 2nd Edition, FT Prentice Hall, available
FREE as an e:book via the Library, at: https://www.vlebooks.com/Product/Index/2135080?page=0&startBookmarkId=-1

Academic Journals:
Harvard Business Review, available FREE as an e:book via the Library website, at:
https://research.ebsco.com/c/d5khri/search/publication-results?id=32090&limiters=FT1%3AY&q=harvard%20business%20review

Journal of Strategy and Management, at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/1755-425X

Journal of Business Strategy, at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/0275-6668

Online resources, including social media:
McKinsey & Company (Insight Reports and podcasts): https://www.mckinsey.com

Boston Consulting Group (Insight Reports and podcasts): https://www.bcg.com

Bain & Company (Insight Reports and podcasts): http://www.bain.com

TED Talks: https://www.ted.com/talks

Guardian newspaper, Business news, at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/business

BBC Business news, at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business

The Economist, at: https://www.economist.com/