Strategy and Leadership

Code

BUSI4472

School

Business

Level

4

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

This module offers a comprehensive exploration of key topics in strategy and leadership. It begins by examining the meaning, nature, and evolution of the field of strategy, encompassing both external and internal environmental analysis. Students delve into strategies for competitive advantage and firm growth, exploring the intricate relationship between strategy and organisation. The module also covers leadership, providing insights into its meaning, nature, and evolution. Leadership's role in strategic change and sustainable strategic management is explored, along with a focus on leadership within the context of public sector strategy. Through these modules, students gain a holistic understanding of the dynamic interplay between strategy and leadership in various organisational contexts.

Target Students

Available for MSc Management students and MSc Exchange students.

Classes

• One 1-hour workshop each week for 11 weeks
• One 1-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks

This module is taught through a combination of lectures and workshops, plus 11x 50-minute asynchronous lectures.

Assessment

• 100% Coursework: 5,000 words. Reassessment is individual coursework of 5,000 words.

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: This module develops a knowledge and understanding of:
•    The dynamics of the global economy and international business &/or an awareness of cultural, legal/regulatory, political, and economic differences across countries &/or an appreciation of management issues from a global perspective.
•    Markets - the development and operation of markets for resources, goods and services
•    Customers and stakeholders - customer expectations, service and orientation
•    People and strategic and operational HRM, meeting future organisational requirements, people development, HR systems
•    Business innovation – creativity, intrapreneurial – and entrepreneurial behaviour and enterprise development, and the management and exploitation of intellectual property  
•    The importance of sustainability issues, including an understanding of the challenges and opportunities arising from the activities of people and organisations on the economic, social and environmental conditions of the future.
•    Leadership and management of people within organisations – leadership, organisational behaviour and motivation
•    Strategic management - the development and implementation of appropriate strategies within a changing environment

Intellectual Skills: This module develops:
•    Being able to think critically and be creative: manage the creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise. This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately

Professional Practical Skills: This module develops:
•    The ability to conduct research and enquiry into business and management issues either individually or as part of a team through research design, the collection and analysis of qualitative data, synthesis and reporting
•    Effective performance within team environments and the ability to recognise and utilise individuals' contributions in group processes and to negotiate and persuade or influence others; team selection, delegation, development and management.  Leadership and performance management: selecting appropriate leadership style for different situations; setting objectives, motivating, monitoring performance, coaching and mentoring
•    The ability to recognise the need for and initiate change and to be able to manage change
•    The ability to recognise and address ethical dilemmas, corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues, applying ethical and organisational values to situations and choices

Transferable (key) Skills: This module develops:
•    Effective communication: networking, listening, oral and written communication of complex ideas and arguments, using a range of media, including the preparation of business reports
•    High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self-management; time management; conflict  resolution, displaying commercial acumen, the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and experience
•    Soft skills: understanding the needs of others and empathy towards them; sensitivity to diversity in people and in different situations

Conveners

• Dr Malay Desai