Module Content

his module addresses contemporary and emerging themes in business strategy  

What is Strategy?  

Mission and vision statements 

Stakeholders and their role in ethical decision-making 

Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility 

Tools of External analysis (PEST and Porter’s 5 Forces) 

Capability assessments (Resource audit and Value Chain analysis) 

Strategic implementation, including: 

• Marketing mix analysis 

• Balanced scorecard 

• Organisational structures 

• Porter’s Generic Strategies 

• Change management 

Performance appraisal 

Further, the module gives an insight into the sustainability challenges that businesses face, identifies the barriers to progress in corporate sustainability, and highlights the importance of the life cycle assessment as a tool for evaluating environmental impact. Moreover, the module discusses the importance of prompting and maintaining an ethical culture and how it can be achieved. 

Teaching Methods

The learning on this course will comprise 3 critical elements: 

• Weekly lecture to introduce concepts relevant to the syllabus 

• Weekly seminar following the lecture where a related question will be discussed (initially in groups) to ensure that students are clear how to apply the ideas introduced in the lecture 

• Students preparing an answer to the plan we create in the seminar and submitting that for marking 

Each week there will be extra questions and answer plans available on Blackboard but it is important that students prepare an answer to the question used in the seminar to ensure that they fully understand the topic. 

There will also be multiple choice tests on Blackboard each week to assist students preparing for that element of the Coursework Test. 

The assessment strategy is designed to allow students to gain proficiency in the fundamental technical and computational aspects of the subject. It is also designed meet the Accountancy Professional Bodies exemption criteria as well as test the width and depth of a student’s knowledge. 

During this module students will develop and enhance the graduate attributes of numeracy, problem-solving and planning. This will aid employability with the accounting profession and careers in general business management. 

Formative feedback on seminar and practice questions is provided to students on a weekly basis, with additional support available in the timetabled Technical Support Workshops.

Assessment Methods

This module is assessed through a coursework essay (50%) and an exam (50%).