Strategy and Business Planning

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 3
• Convenor: Dr Chunjia Han
• Assessment: a 1500-word individual report/essay (100%)

In this Foundation Year module we introduce you to organisational strategy and business planning from analysis of the environment through to implementation. We will identify how organisations develop successful strategies in the face of rapidly changing environments that pose threats and present opportunities. We will also explore the attributes, skills and capabilities required by successful strategic managers and the process involved in strategy and business planning.

Indicative syllabus

• The nature of strategy and business planning
• Strategic purpose: mission, vision, values
• Approaches to analysing business and wider macro environments
• Strategic capabilities: resources, capabilities and the value chain
• Business and corporate level strategies
• International strategy and innovation
• Strategic decision-making and implementation
• Strategic issues faced by public and not-for-profit organisations
• Preparing a business plan

By the end of this module, you will have a clear understanding and awareness of:

• the nature and process of strategic management
• the difficulties involved in developing and formulating effective business strategies and plans
• the integrated nature of the strategic management process: strategy formulation and implementation
• the key components of a creative business plan
• the terms used in strategy and business planning
• the skills needed by strategic managers in order to develop and implement business plans.