General Information
This subject provides an introduction to the main theories and frameworks used for understanding the strategic management process of organisations. The strategic management process is defined as the full set of commitments, decisions, and actions required for a firm to achieve competitive advantage. In order to successfully engage in these activities, managers must be able to effectively analyse the external environment in which the firm competes and identify key resources and capabilities that can be leveraged to create a competitive advantage. Further, it is critical to understand fundamental business-level strategies for deploying those resources, the role of corporate-level strategies in setting the activities and boundaries of the firm and strategies for competing internationally as well as the challenges associated with implementing such strategies. Today, as expectations regarding the role of business in society continue to shift, it is also crucial that managers be aware of salient objectives that extend beyond increasingly dated notions of maximising shareholder value. This subject introduces students to these and other, related, strategy activities and provides them with the tools necessary to analyse the relevant elements of the business environment and develop effective management strategies.
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Details
Academic unit: Bond Business School Subject code: GMBA70-209 Subject title: Strategic Management Subject level: Postgraduate Semester/Year: May 2023 Credit points: 5.000 -
Delivery & attendance
Timetable: https://bond.edu.au/timetable Delivery mode: Online Workload items: - Directed Online Activity: x6 (Total hours: 24) - Webinar
- Personal Study Hours: x6 (Total hours: 36) - Recommended study time & reviewing materials
Attendance and learning activities: Participation in all online sessions is expected. Students are expected to notify the instructor of any absences with as much advance notice as possible. -
Resources
Prescribed resources: Others
- Please check this subject textbook with BBT University on the BBT University Air Campus.
iLearn@Bond & Email: iLearn@Bond is the Learning Management System at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, class recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment, and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications.
Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student.
To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au
| Academic unit: | Bond Business School |
|---|---|
| Subject code: | GMBA70-209 |
| Subject title: | Strategic Management |
| Subject level: | Postgraduate |
| Semester/Year: | May 2023 |
| Credit points: | 5.000 |
| Timetable: | https://bond.edu.au/timetable |
|---|---|
| Delivery mode: | Online |
| Workload items: |
|
| Attendance and learning activities: | Participation in all online sessions is expected. Students are expected to notify the instructor of any absences with as much advance notice as possible. |
| Prescribed resources: | Others
|
|---|---|
| iLearn@Bond & Email: | iLearn@Bond is the Learning Management System at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, class recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment, and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications. Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student. To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au |
Enrolment requirements
| Requisites: |
Nil |
|---|---|
| Assumed knowledge: |
Assumed knowledge is the minimum level of knowledge of a subject area that students are assumed to have acquired through previous study. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they meet the assumed knowledge expectations of the subject. Students who do not possess this prior knowledge are strongly recommended against enrolling and do so at their own risk. No concessions will be made for students’ lack of prior knowledge.
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| Restrictions: |
Nil |
Assurance of learning
Assurance of Learning means that universities take responsibility for creating, monitoring and updating curriculum, teaching and assessment so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need for employability and/or further study.
At Bond University, we carefully develop subject and program outcomes to ensure that student learning in each subject contributes to the whole student experience. Students are encouraged to carefully read and consider subject and program outcomes as combined elements.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Program Learning Outcomes provide a broad and measurable set of standards that incorporate a range of knowledge and skills that will be achieved on completion of the program. If you are undertaking this subject as part of a degree program, you should refer to the relevant degree program outcomes and graduate attributes as they relate to this subject.
Subject Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject the learner will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental issues and challenges associated with developing an effective management strategy.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major strategic management theories and concepts concerning the processes of management strategy relevant to addressing those issues
- Demonstrate skills in applying frameworks and concepts to a range of business problems such that they are able to diagnose underlying causes and develop analysis-based strategic recommendations
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Assessment
The University acknowledges that Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) tools are an important facet of contemporary life. Their use in assessment is considered in line with students’ development of the skills and knowledge which demonstrate learning outcomes and underpin study and career success. Instructions on the use of Gen-AI are given for each assessment task; it is your responsibility to adhere to these instructions.
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Assessment details
Type Task % Timing* Outcomes assessed Discussion iLearn discussion board and webinar participation 30.00% Progressive 1,2,3 Case Analysis case reports x 2 30.00% In Consultation 1,2,3 Written Report Final Report 40.00% In Consultation 1,2,3 - * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
- C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.
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Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria
High Distinction 85-100 Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking. Distinction 75-84 Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas. Credit 65-74 Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above. Pass 50-64 Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment. Fail 0-49 Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines. Quality assurance
For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
| Type | Task | % | Timing* | Outcomes assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion | iLearn discussion board and webinar participation | 30.00% | Progressive | 1,2,3 |
| Case Analysis | case reports x 2 | 30.00% | In Consultation | 1,2,3 |
| Written Report | Final Report | 40.00% | In Consultation | 1,2,3 |
- * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
- C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.
Assessment criteria
| High Distinction | 85-100 | Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking. |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction | 75-84 | Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas. |
| Credit | 65-74 | Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above. |
| Pass | 50-64 | Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment. |
| Fail | 0-49 | Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines. |
Quality assurance
For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
Study Information
Submission procedures
Students must check the iLearn@Bond subject site for detailed assessment information and submission procedures.
Policy on late submission and extensions
A late penalty will be applied to all overdue assessment tasks unless an extension is granted by the subject coordinator. The standard penalty will be 10% of marks awarded to that assessment per day late with no assessment to be accepted seven days after the due date. Where a student is granted an extension, the penalty of 10% per day late starts from the new due date.
Academic Integrity
Bond University‘s Student Code of Conduct Policy , Student Charter, Academic Integrity Policy and our Graduate Attributes guide expectations regarding student behaviour, their rights and responsibilities. Information on these topics can be found on our Academic Integrity webpage recognising that academic integrity involves demonstrating the principles of integrity (honesty, fairness, trust, professionalism, courage, responsibility, and respect) in words and actions across all aspects of academic endeavour.
Staff are required to report suspected misconduct. This includes all types of plagiarism, cheating, collusion, fabrication or falsification of data/content or other misconduct relating to assessment such as the falsification of medical certificates for assessment extensions. The longer term personal, social and financial consequences of misconduct can be severe, so please ask for help if you are unsure.
If your work is subject to an inquiry, you will be given an opportunity to respond and appropriate support will be provided. Academic work under inquiry will not be marked until the process has concluded. Penalties for misconduct include a warning, reduced grade, a requirement to repeat the assessment, suspension or expulsion from the University.
Feedback on assessment
Feedback on assessment will be provided to students according to the requirements of the Assessment Procedure Schedule A - Assessment Communication Procedure.
Whilst in most cases feedback should be provided within two weeks of the assessment submission due date, the Procedure should be checked if the assessment is linked to others or if the subject is a non-standard (e.g., intensive) subject.
Accessibility and Inclusion Support
Support is available to students where a physical, mental or neurological condition exists that would impact the student’s capacity to complete studies, exams or assessment tasks. For effective support, special requirement needs should be arranged with the University in advance of or at the start of each semester, or, for acute conditions, as soon as practicable after the condition arises. Reasonable adjustments are not guaranteed where applications are submitted late in the semester (for example, when lodged just prior to critical assessment and examination dates).
As outlined in the Accessibility and Inclusion Policy, to qualify for support, students must meet certain criteria. Students are also required to meet with the Accessibility and Inclusion Advisor who will ensure that reasonable adjustments are afforded to qualifying students.
For more information and to apply online, visit BondAbility.
Additional subject information
As part of the requirements for Business School quality accreditation, the Bond Business School employs an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
Subject curriculum
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Introduction to Strategic Management
Explain what strategy is and why it is a critical managerial task for any business. Discuss central elements of strategy development and execution previewing the content covered over the semester.
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External Analysis
The environment outside the firm plays a critical role in shaping the effectiveness of current and future strategy. Introduce tools for understanding the external market (Five Forces) and non-market (PEST) environments.
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Internal Analysis
Introduce the role of firm resources and capabilities in supporting firm competitive advantage. Detailed exploration of what resources and capabilities are and why they are important.
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Business Strategy I
Discuss generic strategies of cost leadership and differentiation, going over detailed examples of elements of each. Introduce challenges to maintaining competitive advantage over time.
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Business Strategy II
Exploration of the influence of time and competitive dynamics on firm strategy. Discuss industry life-cycles, technology and how the importance of different capabilities changes over time.
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Strategy Implementation
Discuss role of organizational structure on implementing strategy. Highlight two archetypical types of structure (Functional and Divisional) and explore how different structures more or less appropriate to different combinations of strategy and competitive conditions.
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Corporate Strategy I
Explain vertical integration and introduce transaction costs economics lens for identifying which activities should be conducted inside versus outside the firm. Discuss alternatives to full integration.
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Corporate Strategy II
Explain horizontal integration and discuss advantages and disadvantages of related and unrelated diversification. Discuss the role of synergies to corporate diversification discuss challenges of managing integrated businesses.
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International Strategy
Introduce strategic challenges emerging when conducting business that crosses political boundaries. Discuss motivations and challenges of international business and introduce OLI framework for understanding when it is more or less appropriate to conduct business activities in foreign countries.
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Stakeholder Approach to Strategic Management
Discuss some limitations and potentially negative business consequences of strictly emphasizing the logic of shareholder value maximization. Explain the importance of recognizing and supporting contributions from multiple stakeholders to ensure the continuing success of the business. Introduce the stakeholder perspective for understanding how to identify and effectively consider the interests of multiple stakeholders.