| CODE | EMA5101 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Competitive Strategy | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Businesses, enterprises, and indeed all organisations function and operate in increasingly competitive and dynamic environments. Often characterised by uncertainty, and disruptive technologies and industry convergence, such realities present both challenges as well as opportunities for organisations' prospects for competitiveness, sustained relevance and long-term survival - for which effective strategy is core, and dynamic capabilities fundamental. This study-unit presents strategy as the central fundamental basis for businesses' and organisations' enduring relevance, competitive advantage and growth. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to provide a sound understanding of the traditional fundamentals of strategy, and go deeper, discussing and applying contemporary approaches and best practice - dealing with strategic relevance in increasingly complex evolving competitive environments and shifting realities. Various tools and frameworks for evaluating as well as analysing strategic options and executing strategy will be actively explored and engaged. This study-unit aims to bring forward reflection, discussion and critical evaluation of approaches to strategising in different contexts - with a view to practical real-world application, and where relevant, consulting. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe and demonstrate the relevance of various theoretical perspectives of strategy in relation to different orgnisational settings and scenarios; - Recognise and discuss the the fundamentals and dynamics underlying competition and competitiveness; - Comprehend the need to scan the external environment within which different organisations operate; and be able to deploy strategic frameworks to perform such analyses; - Recognise basic aspects of strategic leadership in relation to strategic vision and direction; - Consider strategic options available to an organisation in context; and relate to critical success factors and key performance indicators as relevant; - Appreciate the strategic importance of adaptability and learning organisations in relation to competitive advantage; - Formulate an organisational strategy and recommendations for execution on the basis reasoned analyses and syntheses. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Comprehend strategy fundamentals and aspects of competitive advantage as they inform real-world business decisions and current affairs unfolding in the media and business press; - Evaluate and assess strategic prospects and competition implications for given cases or one's own organisation; - Decide on appropriate tools and frameworks best aligned with analysis and strategising for specific organisational contexts and circumstances; - Consolidate and identify fundamental threats and key challenges facing an organisation; - Consolidate and establish core organisational strengths, capabilities and resource requirements for strategic relevance and competitive advantage; - Recognise and relate fundamentals of strategic dynamic capability and adaptability for competitive advantage. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Whittington et al., 2023. 'Exploring Strategy (Text and Cases)'. Pearson. [core textbook] Supplementary: - Barney, Jay and Hesterly, William., [latest edition]. 'Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage'. Pearson - Grant, R., [latest edition]. 'Contemporary Strategy Analysis'. Wiley and Sons Supplementary readings / seminal journal articles / and current events in popular business press provided throughout and on VLE Suggested periodicals including digital portals: − Financial Times − The Economist − Harvard Business Review − Forbes − Inc. Magazine − Fast Company − CNBC Business Magazine − Bloomberg Suggested thematic academic journals: − Academy of Management Journal − Strategic Management Journal − Journal of International Business Studies − Journal of Management Studies − International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal − Journal of Business Venturing − Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal − Journal of Small Business Management |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Nathaniel P. Massa |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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