CEM240: Strategic Management in Construction

Module code: CEM240

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Stuart Green, email: s.d.green@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Strategic management involves setting corporate objectives, analysing the competitive environment, assessing internal capabilities and evaluating alternative courses of action. The content aims to prepare current and future managers for leadership roles in the construction sector. Coverage includes strategic planning and leadership issues. There is a particular focus on strategy-as-practice and the importance of a guiding strategic narrative.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Analyse and debate a range of theoretical approaches to strategic management as applicable in the construction context,
2. Apply the key concepts of strategic management to a range of different scenarios,
3. Appreciate the attributes of effective strategic leadership;
4. Understand the relationship between strategy-making and the economics of the global market in design and construction services.

Module content

This module is designed to highlight the role of the strategist in construction organisations operating in both national and international markets. Coverage includes the following:

• Contested principles of strategy: strategy by design; strategic capabilities; strategy processes; strategy-as-practice. 
• Understanding strategy in construction: evolution of UK contracting firms; dynamic capabilities; emergent discourses of construction competitiveness; living up to the value agenda; corporate social responsibility.  
• Strategy as narrative; strategy as storytelling; historical narratives as strategic resources; strategy as identity work. 
• International contracting case studies: e.g. Italy, China, Japan, Malaysia, Turkey, USA. 
• Global drivers and issues; emerging markets; economic cycles. 
• Mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures; strategic alliances. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning methods will be a combination of formal lectures, case studies, group exercises and discussions, and private study. 

Study hours

At least 34 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies toall full time and flexible modularstudents on taught PGT programmes in SBE

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Active participation of students who have work experience is encouraged to share experiences and knowledge. In class there will be discussion of the course content as this is delivered, with appropriate groupwork.

Reassessment

Additional costs