MGMT344-20S1 (C) Semester One 2020

Strategic Management

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2020
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2020
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 28 February 2020
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 29 May 2020

Description

The course introduces theory and techniques firms use to sustain long-term performance by aligning their activities with the strategic environment. It encourages integration of business disciplines to develop coherent solutions to firms' strategic challenges.

Relationship to Other Courses
This course forms part of the B.Com majors in Management, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and International Business. It seeks to draw upon and apply knowledge from the functional areas of management. It is complemented by MGMT345 Strategy Processes and Practices. It also prepares students for the M.Com course Advanced Strategic Management.

Workload
As a 15-point course, this course represents 150 hours of learning, of which the timetabled classes are but one component. Students will also need to complete the weekly course readings and quizzes and apply their learning in the group case project as well as in the final exam.

Learning Outcomes

  • The overarching learning goal for the course is the ability to apply strategic management knowledge and techniques to business problems. This includes the ability to:

  • Understand and apply the major business strategy frameworks;
  • Appreciate the role and importance of corporate governance;  
  • Analyse the internal and external strategic environment of a firm and articulate well-supported recommendations for action;
  • Discuss the merits of different types of corporate portfolio, the value of the corporate centre and issues in corporate acquisitions and alliance;
  • Appreciate the roles of different actors, processes and actions in strategy development;
  • Critically evaluate an organisation’s approach to strategic control;
  • Discuss the importance of innovation in organisations and the ways that firms can remain innovative;
  • Communicate logical and coherent written strategic analysis and solutions to a complex business case.

    B.Com Learning Goals
    1.1.1. Students can demonstrate an understanding of theory, concepts, models or reasoning from their selected subject major to a problem/issue/context.
    The course develops theoretical and applied knowledge in strategic management, and assesses this in the Strategy Project and final exam.

    2.1.1. Students can apply subject specific knowledge and tools to analyse, propose a solution to and/or address a given problem or issue. Innovative approaches and solutions are encouraged.
    In this course, students analyse a major business case, applying methods and materials from throughout the course to encapsulate and address the strategic issues facing the business.

    2.1.4. Students can write a report/essay on a problem/issue/situation/scenario that incorporates content at an appropriate level of detail, is logically structured, and is presented professionally using correct English, referencing and appropriate resources

    2.1.5. Students can work effectively in a team in order to reach a common goal.
    The Strategy Project involves working in a group work to produce a report for the focal business that uses course content to analyse the strategic situation and present reasoned recommendations.

      • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Prerequisites

(1) ACCT102; and (2) A further 45 points at 200-level or above

Restrictions

MGMT320

Timetable Note

Attendance in classes is expected. Lectures include examples and exercises not posted on Learn. Material from the lectures can be in the exam. Classes are not recorded.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Paul Knott

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Weekly Learn Quizzes 14% Weekly Learn Quizzes (2 March - 18 May)
Strategy Project 29 May 2020 36% Strategy Project (group mark)
Final Examination 50% Final Examination


Weekly Learn quizzes (14% weighting)
These quizzes are designed to help students prepare for the classes and to encourage class attendance. The quizzes will draw on material from assigned readings and/or cases. There will be a quiz relating to each class 2-23 March, 20 April, and 4-18 May. Each quiz will open on the Saturday before class and close at the end of the following Friday. There is no option for late submission of a quiz and no option to complete the quiz other than via the facility on Learn. Marks will be available for each quiz after submission closes.

Total marks will be based on the best seven quizzes from the eight available. This item of assessment is not available for Special Consideration.

Strategy Project (36% weighting)
This project involves students applying theory from the course to analyse and recommend on an assigned business, usually a publicly listed firm. Students undertake the project in groups of up to four. Marks are based on the following items:

Interim submissions 12%
Final report due 5pm Fri 29 May 24%
Declaration of individual contributions. Required before marks can be assigned to individuals.


Groups should aim to work on their interim submissions alongside the classes that cover the relevant topics. Dates and topics for the submissions are:

3pm Mon 16 March Macro strategic environment analysis
3pm Mon 23 March Industry competition analysis
3pm Mon 20 April Evaluation of business potential
3pm Mon 4 May Evaluation of current strategies

The requirements and assessment criteria are set out in a separate document posted on Learn.

Final examination (50% weighting)
This will be an online, open book exam during the Examination Period (8-20 June). It will be the equivalent of a two hour invigilated exam (as in previous years), but will be open on Learn for a four hour period to allow for technical and other issues. The exam format will be similar to the short answer component of the 2017-19 exams. There will be no multiple choice questions. Instead, the provided case text will be slightly longer than previously, and there will be eight short answer questions instead of five. Questions will involve interpretation of the provided case, with application of relevant theory and understanding from the course.

Although any material may be consulted in order to complete the exam, it is advisable to revise course content in advance in order to be sufficiently familiar with the material to be able to access and use it within the limited time available. Submitted answers will be subject to a strict word limit, and will go through the Turnitin system to check for originality (but as in other exams, referencing will not be required). Allowance will be made for students with an existing Learning Support Plan, and for students operating from a time zone that would make the regular time unsuitable.

An exam score of 45% or better is required to pass the course.

Grading
The course is graded using the standard University scale. Marks are not standardised. Grade cut-offs may be adjusted as part of the moderation process.

Holding of Student Work
For quality assurance purposes the School is required to hold on record a number of assessment pieces as examples of differing standards of work.  If you have any objections to the school holding your assessment for this purpose then email the course coordinator to ensure your assignment is not used for this purpose.

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Johnson, Gerry , Whittington, Richard, Scholes, Kevan; Exploring strategy ; Eleventh edition; Pearson, 2017.

Additional materials will be posted on learn.

Notes

Class Representative
A class representative may be asked to volunteer in the first few weeks of class. Any problems with the course can be raised with the class rep. Their email can be found at UCSA. The class representative will take up any issues raised by class members with the lecturer concerned as they occur.

Academic Policies and Guidelines
The course is governed by the University's General Course and Examination Regulations

Dishonest Practice
The University of Canterbury considers cheating and plagiarism to be serious acts of dishonesty.  All assessed work must be your own individual work unless specifically stated otherwise in the assessment guidelines. Material quoted from any other source must be clearly acknowledged. You must not copy the work of another person (student or published work) in any assessment including examinations, tests and assignments. Any person, who is found to have copied someone else's work, or to have allowed their work to be copied, will receive a fail grade for that piece of assessment and may face disciplinary action which may lead to a fine, community service or exclusion from the university.

IMPORTANT: Where there are concerns regarding the authorship of written course work, a student can be required to provide a formal, oral explanation of the content of their work.

Citations and referencing

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $822.00

International fee $3,688.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Management, Marketing and Tourism .

All MGMT344 Occurrences

  • MGMT344-20S1 (C) Semester One 2020
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