MNM1STR-Strategy

Module Provider: International Business and Strategy
Number of credits: 15 [7.5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Marc Day
Email: marc.day@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module forms part of the PGDip Business Administration (Senior Leader Apprenticeship) programme and, as such, sets out to provide the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by senior leaders in today’s world, in relation to Strategy.  The module covers a range of areas relating to organisational strategy and is designed to meet the learning outcomes of Apprenticeship Standard A: Strategy as well. 

The module examines the concept of leadership, its purpose and effectiveness, before exploring organisational mission, culture, values and diversity.  The concept of strategy is examined, and organisational structures are discussed.  The concept of strategic thinking is central to the module, along with the importance of the organisation’s value proposition.

Students will learn about the organisation’s external and internal context, global and horizon scanning perspectives, technological and policy implications, and multiple stakeholder contexts. The learner will also gain insights into business modelling, as well as an understanding of how to use horizon scanning and conceptualisation to deliver high performance strategies.  

Global perspectives are also considered, through an examination of internationalisation and international management strategies.

Strategy is also considered from a market and customer perspective, giving the learner an appreciation of new market strategies, changing customer demands and trend analysis.  Learners gain insights into customer value propositions, to complement their understanding of organisational value propositions

In addition, the module covers the topics of governance and accountability, and the link to sustainability.  The learner therefore gains knowledge and understanding of how to deliver high performance strategies focusing not just on growth, but also on sustainable outcomes.

Aims:

The module is designed for practising managers and aims to provide the learner with: 

• Understanding of how to shape organisational mission, culture and values, as well as an appreciation of issues surrounding diversity.  


• Understanding of how to set strategic direction, and gain support for it from key stakeholders. 


• Knowledge and understanding of organisational structures.  


• Knowledge and understanding of strategic thinking.


• Insights into the importance of the organisation’s value proposition.


• Understanding of the organisation’s external and internal context.


• Insights into global and horizon scanning perspectives, as well as technological and policy implications.  


• Knowledge and understanding of multiple stakeholder contexts. 


• Insights into business modelling.


• Understanding of how to use horizon scanning and conceptualisation to deliver high performance strategies.  


• Knowledge and understanding of how to gain support from multiple key stakeholders.


• Knowledge and understanding of internationalisation and international management strategies, providing the learner with a global perspective, so important in today’s global world.  


• An appreciation of new market strategies, changing customer demands and trend analysis. 


• Insights into customer value propositions, to complement their understanding of value propositions discussed at an organisational level.


• Insights into governance and accountability, and the link to sustainability.  The learner therefore gains knowledge and understanding of how to deliver high performance strategies focusing not just on growth, but also on sustainable outcomes.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that programme members will be able to demonstrate their ability in the following areas:

To know and understand:

A1. How to shape organisational mission, culture and values

A2. Organisational structures 

A3. Business modelling

A4. Diversity

A5. Global and horizon scanning perspectives

A6: Governance and accountability

A7. Technological and policy implications

A8. New market strategies, changing customer demands and trend analysis

Skills:

A9. Use horizon scanning and conceptualisation to deliver high performance strategies focusing on growth/sustainable outcomes

A10. Set strategic direction and gain support for it from key stakeholders

Additional outcomes:

Skills

By the end of the module, it is expected that programme members may begin to demonstrate their ability to:

A11. Be able to undertake research and critically analyse and integrate complex information. 

Behaviours 

By the end of the module, having applied learning in the workplace, the learner may begin to develop the following behaviours:

B1: Work collaboratively enabling empowerment  and delegation. 

B2: Take personal accountability aligned to clear values.

B3: Curious and innovative – exploring areas of ambiguity and complexity and finding creative solutions

B4: Value difference and champion diversity.

B5: Seek continuous professional development opportunities for self and wider team.

Outline content:

Outline content for this module is as follows:

• The context of leadership


• Leadership purpose and effectiveness


• Organisational mission, culture, values and diversity


• Defining strategy


• The organisation’s external context


• Introducing resources and capabilities


• The strategic relevance of resources and capabilities


• Appraising the organisation’s value proposition 


• Multiple stakeholder contexts


• Engaging with stakeholders 


• Fundamentals of international business and internationalisation


• International management strategies


• The mature context


• The entrepreneurial context


• Understanding customer value


• Linking the strategic and personal approach to reputation management


• Reputation and responsibility in the context of corporate governance and leadership

Global context:

The module is taught with reference to global perspectives through the inclusion of content relating to the fundamentals of international business and internationalisation, in addition to international management strategies.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching and learning takes place through a blended learning approach. The teaching and learning methods comprise a combination of self-study via a range of online materials on the Canvas learning platform, face-to-face workshops with Academic Faculty and a Learning Coach, and facilitation of learning by a Learning Coach (face-to-face and online).  Programme members take an Action Learning approach, and each person forms part of an Action Learning set of approximately 6 - 8 learners thro ughout the Strategy module.

Materials on Canvas include content on-screen, videos, PowerPoint presentations, journal articles, book chapters, practice applications and reflection points. 

Summative assessment- Examinations:

N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One 5,000 word individual assignment, to be submitted as per the submission schedule for the cohort. 

Formative assessment methods:

Facilitated learning activities are undertaken to support formative evaluation of the learning. These activities are not assessed for the purposes of the final module evaluation.

This formative assessment takes the form of feedback on progress given to students at the Action Learning workshops or during other interactions with the Learning Coach as well as formative assessment of the individual assignment.

Formative assessment requirements for a decision of ‘Proceed’:

Evaluation of the work-based project leads to a decision of ‘Proceed’ or ‘Revise’.  In order to gain a ‘Proceed’ the learner must satisfactorily meet 50% of the learning outcomes for the module (listed above).  Any learning outcomes not achieved will be highlighted for the learner, so that it is clear that these learning outcomes should be addressed prior to reaching Gateway for the End Point Assessment (EPA).  Learners may revise their project as many times as necessary, as they progress through the programme.  However, only one resubmission will be evaluated and feedback provided by the Learning Coach (see reassessment arrangements, below).  

Formative reassessment arrangements:

The revised work-based project should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than 6 weeks after notification of the ‘revise’ decision.  This resubmission will be evaluated by the Learning Coach, feedback will be provided and an indication of whether the revised project has met the ‘Proceed’ criteria.  No further resubmissions will be evaluated by the Learning Coach.  The student will need to address any remaining gaps regarding achievement of learning outcomes prior to reaching Gateway for the L7 SLA End Point Assessment.  Students should discuss this with their Apprenticeship Tutor at their planned review meetings.

Penalties for late submission:

These are in accordance with the mode of study arrangements laid out in the programme specifications. 

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50% minimum

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment by 100% assignment, capped at 50%.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Expenses when attending workshops (in the case of a workshop taking place at Greenlands.)

Last updated: 30 March 2023