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MN50584: Managing strategic partnerships

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: School of Management
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Group Assignment (CW 20%)
  • Individual Assignment (CW 80%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The main aims of this unit are:
(1) Offer participants an in-depth understanding of strategy in multibusiness corporations and of the different forms of strategic partnerships (mergers and acquisitions, corporate venture capital investments, strategic alliances, outsourcing and licensing).
(2) Enable participants to assess and select an appropriate strategic partnership form drawing on strategy theories and concepts.
(3) Provide participants with an understanding of the factors that contribute to the successful implementation of strategy through partnerships.

Learning Outcomes:
Having studied the unit, students will be able to:
(1) Understand the challenges in corporate growth, corporate strategy and partnerships.
(2) Formulate appropriate corporate development plans through partnerships drawing on strategy frameworks and tools.
(3) Appreciate the challenges in entering and managing strategic partnerships in particular contexts, with an emphasis on the high technology sectors and international corporate deals.

Skills:
Intellectual skills
* Understand the tradeoffs affecting corporate growth and the choice among different strategic partnerships.
* Capability to apply theory to the analysis and diagnosis of strategy problems and problems related to strategic resource gaps.
Practical skills
* Understand the challenges that managers face and be able to participate in or advise on corporate development decisions.
* Implement a plan for corporate development and deal with common problems that arise in the implementation process.
Transferable skills
* Capability to formulate and defend arguments in support of strategy policies, using theory and evidence.
* Develop skills to work in groups, and the capability to lead a debate, synthesize views and reach consensus.

Content:
This unit focuses on how firms employ strategic partnerships (formal arrangements among firms involving resource sharing and shared decision-making) to overcome internal resource constraints, access new technologies, exploit emerging opportunities, redesign firm boundaries, redefine the business and achieve profitable growth. The various forms of strategic partnerships covered include mergers and acquisitions, corporate venture capital investments, strategic alliances, outsourcing and licensing. More specifically, the course unit covers the following topics: Firm growth; Theories of horizontal and vertical firm boundaries; Historic and conceptual overview of M&As; Challenges in the pre-acquisition stage; Post-acquisition integration and organizational learning; Managing technology and cross-border acquisitions; Corporate venture capital investments; Entering and managing strategic alliances; Managing alliance networks; R&D partnerships and IP.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

MN50584 is Optional on the following programmes:

School of Management
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.