School of Management, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
MN30048 Strategic analysis |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Honours |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: EX60ES40 |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take MN20034 or take MN20081 or take MN10070 and in taking this unit you cannot take MN10076 |
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Aims: An understanding of how strategists proactively shape the mission, objectives and strategies of their organisations within prevailing environmental and organisational constraints. Exposure to the theoretical insights and methodological approaches available to interpret and develop the competitive strategic position of the enterprise under complexity and uncertainty. Students are expected to contribute actively to class discussions and through careful preparation to become proficient at analysing specific situations using appropriate conceptual models allied to pragmatic, well-reasoned judgements with respect to the content of strategies and feasibility of implementation.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit, the student should be able to: * Make a competent assessment of the strategic situation surrounding a company * Understand how the resources of that company and the market pulls structure strategy * Generate appropriate strategic options * Assess those options in accordance with stakeholders' valuations * Create appropriate plans for strategic implementation. Skills: Intellectual Skills - System based understanding of complex strategic situations. Professional Practical Skills - Strategic planning and options description. Transferable/ Key Skills - Strategic assessment. Content: Topics include: the nature of corporate objectives and mission statements; analysing operating performance; the competitive market/industry environment; sources of rivalry; the value chain; assessing opportunities and threats; the development and application of core competences; strategies in growth, maturity and in declining sectors; managing ambiguity and complexity in the multi-firm (global) corporate environment. Case studies and readings are used to explore and interpret issues. |