MNM3SBP: Strategic Business Proposal

Module code: MNM3SBP

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 15

Level: Postgraduate Masters Stage 3

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Anne Dibley, email: anne.dibley@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module forms part of the PGDip Business Administration/Managing Future Leaders/Leadership (Senior Leader Apprenticeship) programme and, as such, sets out to provide knowledge, skills and behaviours required by senior leaders in today’s world. The SLA programme provides learners with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to put together an effective strategic business proposal.  At the end of the SLA programme, the learner must decide upon a title and scope for the strategic business proposal, which is signed off by the End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).  The strategic business proposal forms part of the end point assessment for the SLA, as well as comprising a 15-credit module for the Postgraduate Diploma.  

The aim is for learners to produce a strategic business proposal which is a relevant and defined piece of work that has a real business benefit, and is also relevant to the learner’s role in their organisation.  The proposal does not have to be fully implemented, but it must be a comprehensive strategic business proposal which will enable full implementation at an appropriate time for the organisation.  Board or senior leader sign off for implementation should be secured by the learner.  

The strategic business proposal is designed to demonstrate the application of knowledge, skills and behaviours as they would occur in occupational practice.  Producing a strategic business proposal reflects normal practice in the workplace for a senior leader. 

It is a significant and relevant piece of work that thoroughly tests both higher and lower order knowledge, skills and behaviours. 

The strategic business proposal should have a real business benefit. 

Module learning outcomes

Assessable learning outcomes: 

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

S2 (A10) Set strategic direction and gain support for it from key stakeholders. 

S3 (A11) Undertake research and critically analyse and integrate complex information. 

S11 (D9) Use financial data to allocate resources. 

S13 (E1, E2) Use personal presence and ‘storytelling’ to articulate and translate vision into operational strategies, demonstrating clarity in thinking. 

S19 (G6) Manage relationships across multiple and diverse stakeholders. 

S20 (G8, G9) Lead within their area of control/authority, influencing both upwards and outwards, negotiating and using advocacy skills to build reputation and effective collaboration. 

B3 Be curious and innovative – exploring areas of ambiguity and complexity and finding creative solutions. 

Additional learning outcomes: know and understand: 

K3 (A8) New market strategies, changing customer demands and trend analysis 

K5 (B4) Systems thinking, knowledge/data management, research methodologies and programme management. 

K8 (D1) Financial strategies, for example, scenarios, modelling and identifying trends. 

K8 (D2) (For example) application of economic theory to decision-making. 

K8 (D3) (For example) how to evaluate financial and non-financial information. 

K9 (D4) Financial governance and legal requirements. 

K9 (D5) Procurement strategies. 

K12 (G1) Influencing and negotiating strategies both upwards and outwards. 

K14 (G4) Working with board and other company leadership structures. 

K15 (G5) Brand and reputation management. 

K16 (G6K) Working with corporate leadership structures, for example, the markets it operates in, roles and responsibilities, who its stakeholders are and what they require from the organisation and the sustainability agenda. 

Module content

Across the SLA programme, content is provided to enable the achievement of the required knowledge, skills and behaviours specified above. 

Structure

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).   

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

The contact hours are shown for one semester in the table below for illustrative purposes only. The actual timing will vary depending on your cohort start date. 

Study hours

At least 0 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

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month 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; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

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.

The apprentice receives feedback from their employer to ensure that the strategic business proposal has a real business application. 

Reassessment

Additional costs