PE6000 - Strategy

Each module session follows a similar structure of Learn, Explore Further and Apply. All learning materials and resources are accessible via our virtual learning environment.

You will learn through taught online workshops, tutor guidance and feedback, and independent directed and self-directed learning. Where relevant, you will also learn from your experience of professional practice, through reflecting on your experiences and applying your knowledge from the module to practices in the workplace. The workshops will introduce you to theories and concepts and allow you to discuss with the tutors and your peers (via the discussion board and Blackboard Collaborate) how these relate to your own work-based experiences and practice. Where relevant, the workplace can also provide an opportunity for you to put your own knowledge and skills into practice.

Your learning is supported by a Teaching and Learning Plan, offering guidance on reading to prepare for workshops and help with the completion of the assessment. Within this plan there are also suggested learning activities, which guide you in your independent learning. These activities allow you to reflect and evaluate your knowledge and skills and in this area.

You will also be given work-based assignments and projects which will support your learning by providing an experientially based opportunity to apply your learning and evaluate your own practice in this area.

A range of approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

During the first week of this module, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module

During this module your module tutor will provide academic support including:
• Delivering on—line materials
• Providing guidance in relation to assignments
• Development of key resources, made available through the VLE
• Assessing assignments and assess or review any other agreed summative or formative outputs as appropriate

You will be supported by a team of academic experts and will have the opportunity to receive feedback on on-going work giving you the opportunity to respond directly.

Where appropriate, students may also be directed to engage with Study Skills +, or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support.

The Library is open 24 hours a day and E-Learning Portal houses all your module documents including your timetable. These services can be accessed on a range of devices

The module will also have an e-reading list which directs learners to specific reading for each session. This includes direct access to repositories, journal articles and other academic sources. You will also be provided with access to a significant set academic research sources via the Northumbria University library portal.

You will also have opportunities to receive formative feedback from your tutor in response to opinions you express and issues you raise during workshop sessions and face-to-face or online tutorials. These formative feedback sessions are formally scheduled at key points throughout the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

• Knowledge & Understanding:

MLO1: You will demonstrate your understanding of the internal resources and capabilities and external competitive/collaborative environment as a basis for how modern organisations can enhance their performance.

MLO2: You will demonstrate a critical appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits to knowledge related to responsible strategy.

• Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

MLO3: You will engage with a range of methods, tools and practices in order to apply knowledge to complex problems and identify appropriate and sustainable strategic solutions.

• Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

MLO4: Develop an understanding of ethical and cultural issues impacting on approaches to strategy for individuals and organisations in a diverse society.

• Formative assessment
Formative assessment of knowledge and understanding, intellectual/professional skills and attributes and professional value attributes will be carried out on a continuous basis within the workshops. This will take place through presentations and by individual and group work, assignment discussion and reflection together with theory/practice related discussions.

• Summative assessment
The final assessment will be a single piece of work divided into two components, both submitted together at the end of the module:

1. You are required to write a 2000 word report identifying a set of strategic recommendations to improve the competitive advantage of a chosen organisation. You should outline the rationale and justification for your recommendations, drawing on appropriate strategic positioning models and frameworks to highlight the key factors influencing your decisions (e.g. PESTLE Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, BCG Matrix, Ansoff’s Matrix, Core Competencies, Value Chain Analysis, Stakeholder Analysis, Red Ocean Strategy Vs. Blue Ocean Strategy, The Strategy Clock and Carroll’s CSR Pyramid). (constitutes 80% of your overall mark)
2. A personal strategy learning log of 1000 words. (constitutes 20% of your overall mark)
You will include the following:
i) Demonstrate your understanding of a range of contrasting theory and research about approaches to strategy management practice and solutions.
ii) Analyse how your own organisation engages with strategy management techniques and methods.
iii) Analyse the ethical and cultural issues impacting on the organisation’s strategy.
iv) Evaluate the use and effectiveness of the organisations strategy.
v) Outline a range of appropriate recommendations for improving your organisations strategic positioning.
This assessment will assess MLO1- ML05.

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This module aims to develop your knowledge of business strategy as well as your skills and confidence to enable you to engage with, and contribute to, the implementation of an organisation's strategic decisions. In addition, it aims to develop your methodological and synthesis skills in order to conduct an assessment of the business environment and an evaluation of strategic choices in accordance with corporate social responsibility and sustainability agenda expectations.

It is also designed to develop your capacity and confidence as an independent learner through your engagement with the module learning activities and sources of support and materials you will have access to from the module team and wider sources available from the university.