| Unit name | Critical Issues in Strategy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MGRCM0005 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Lamb |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Leading strategic change in complex and uncertain environments requires a dynamic approach to strategic management. This unit will enable you to develop a critical understanding of complexity and variety of strategic practices in contemporary organisations. Understanding and managing such complexities are fundamental for successful contemporary leadership practices.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit contrasts the economics-influenced perspective of classical strategy by introducing process and practice perspectives in strategy and aims to develop a critical understanding of complexity and variety of strategic practices in contemporary organisations. The unit begins to connect perspectives that span strategy, change and leadership.
An overview of content
This unit introduces key concepts including sensemaking and cognition, organizational power and politics, strategy-as-practice-and-process (SAPP) and dealing with paradox. Rather than as a repertoire of models and tools, strategic management can also be understood as comprising of uncertain, negotiated, social and political practices that extends across organisational boundaries.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
As a result of this unit, students will gain an understanding of the key concepts and practices around organisational strategy; they will engage in reflective practice on their own role within strategy development and implementation.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the unit, students should be able to:
1. Describe the strategic practice and process that are enacted in organisations;
2. Evaluate critically, through engaging with different analytical lenses, how organisations and managers develop and execute strategy in practice;
3. Reflect on their own role and practice when developing or executing strategy in their organisations;
4. Analyse critical issues for strategic decision making within organisational contexts.
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of mini-lectures, group and plenary discussions, Question and Answer sessions, reflection exercises and case-study discussions.
This includes asynchronous structured learning (collaborative/peer to peer tasks, pre-recorded videos on Teams or similar, quizzes, multiple choice questions and exercises), synchronous virtual learning as well as in-person or hybrid sessions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Short individual written assignments, or equivalent, to demonstrate understanding of relevant academic literature, theories and models.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Group presentation of 15 minutes duration (30%) where each group receives a single mark
Individual 2,000 word case study analysis (70%)
The presentation and the case study analysis will each separately assess all the Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
When assessment does not go to plan
Where reassessment of the unit is needed it will usually take a similar format to the failed assessment(s). Where this is a group piece of work it will be undertaken individually and will include reflection on team working, if required. Where this is a presentation it will be pre- recorded individually and again, will include reflection on team working, if required.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MGRCM0005).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
