ST3S83 - Business Strategy 01 Aug 2021 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: ST3S83
Module Title: Business Strategy
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Business Management
Faculty Sub Group: Business Management
Module Leader: Rachael Rees-Jones
Module Team: Tammy Laugharne, Louise Hung, , Lisa Knight
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake: 2026
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Aug 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

• To provide students with a holistic (strategic) understanding of organisations and their interaction with their environments.
• To enhance students’ ability to critically analyse emerging themes in international business and to link theory with business practice.
• To explore the diverse environments that firms face globally, as well as the internationalised markets for products, services, labour, and information.
• To evaluate a number of issues related to international business management, including international trading, cross cultural management, innovation, risk and CSR.

Content Summary

The first element of the module develops a conceptual understanding of business strategy through its origins as an academic and management discipline. The module then concentrates on the tools, techniques and structure of organisation. This is achieved by auditing external and internal environments, and also includes a section focused on the first stages of organisational decision making.
A significant element of the module therefore examines key areas in implementing strategy; ie culture, stakeholders, functions; resources. Following from the analytical techniques a range of important themes impacting on strategic thinking are explored. Themes will include drivers of globalisation; the tension between knowledge management and knowledge environments; governance and corporate social responsibility; external strategic development.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Seminar 30
Independent Study 110
Directed Study 40
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 2
Groupwork 8
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Apply decision-making frameworks and mechanisms to explore critical areas of business strategy processes.
LO2 Critically evaluate a range of themes that impact on modern business strategy thinking in a dynamic environment.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Written Assignment (CW) Report (CW) 1 Analysis of an organisation’s internal and external environment 0 2000 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 1 Analysis and Critical Evaluation of an organisations strategic activities 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Report (CW) 1
Essay (CW) 1

Reading List

Johnson, G., Whittington, R., Scholes, K., Angwin, D. and Regner, P. Exploring Strategy: Text and Cases, Oxford: Pearson Education.
Henry, A. E. Understanding Strategic Management, Oxford: Pearson Education.
Lynch, R. Strategic Management, Oxford: Pearson Education.
Regular reading of the Business sections of newspapers/online news websites (for example - The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, BBC).

Johnson, G., Whittington, R., Scholes, K., Angwin, D. and Regner, P. (2017) Exploring Strategy: Text and Cases, Oxford: Pearson Education.
Henry, A. E. (2018) Understanding Strategic Management, Oxford: Pearson Education.
Lynch, R. (2018) Strategic Management, Oxford: Pearson Education.
Mellahi, K, Meyer, L, Narula, R, Surdu, I and Verbeke, A. (Editors) (2021) The Oxford Handbook of Intentional Business Strategy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Johnson, W. H. A. (2020) Developing an Effective Strategy in International Business. London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.
Regular reading of the Business sections of newspapers/online news websites (for example - The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, BBC or reputable international equivalents).