Unit Outline
MBE711
Strategy Lab
Accelerated Study Period 1, 2024
Theresa Simpkin
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Theresa Simpkin
Email: Terri.Simpkin@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Strategic management today is a complex process requiring advanced skills. International expansion, network advantage, and resource optimisation pervade every aspect of this critical management skill. Successful managers need up-to-date guidance in the creation and implementation of effective strategies and this unit is specifically designed to meet these requirements. The design, content, concepts and supportive readings all reflect current issues in strategic management.
In this unit, you will focus on the practice and concepts of strategic management through the introduction of appropriate theoretical models and frameworks. The central issue of the unit is the achievement of competitive advantage: internal and external drivers of competitive advantage, the link between strategy formulation and implementation, and the role of leadership, corporate governance and strategic entrepreneurship in this process. 
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Critically evaluate the practical application of foundational and contemporary strategic management theories, principles and processes.
2.
Analyse organisational strategies in a business.
3.
Communicate complex concepts and justify decision-making, in professional collaborative and written formats.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
BMA799
Alterations as a result of student feedback
To Be Determined
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Tutorial
Online Introductory session - Introductory 1-hr tutorial, Week 1
1
Once only
Independent Learning
Self-directed learning - Pre-recorded material 1 hour
1
Weekly
Tutorial
Online tutorial - Synchronous online tutorial
1
Weekly
Workshop
Immersive weekend learning activities - Two days as part of the four-day residential immersive weekend
14
Once only
Independent Learning
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics regularly hosts Masterclasses and Industry Engagement and Employability Events, which students are encouraged to attend. Registration and details will be available via the College of Business and Economics channel on the Uni App and/or via your Unit Coordinator. 
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Strategy Case Study Analysis
Week 8
50 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Strategic Planning
Week 13
50 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Strategy Case Study Analysis
Task Description:
A case study will be provided on MyLo. The case study will focus on digital strategies. You need to analyse the case study to:

1) Identify which digital strategies are used by the business
2) Analyse the level of digital change based on boldness and commitment criteria
3) Use the seven principles of digital strategies to map the business’s digital strategy
4) Recommend what the business should do to enhance its presence in the digital market.
References: Students must provide at least ten (10) references for this assessment. All references must be from credible sources such as journal articles, industry-related journals, and company documents.

As this is group work, the groups should not exceed 4 members. Please visit the marking rubric before attempting the assessment.

The details of the assessment will be posted on the MyLO website.

Task Length:
3000 words written report
Due Date:
Week 8
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Evaluate the application of foundational and contemporary strategic management theories and processes.
LO1
2
Critically analyse strategies employed by the business.
LO2
3
Effectively communicate complex analyses in written format.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Strategic Planning
Task Description:
Your task is to undertake a strategic planning exercise for your own organisation, or for an organisation you select for this assignment.

You are also required to conduct a detailed assessment of various components of the strategic management process, justifying which business strategy you believe will be the most appropriate for your chosen organisation.

This is a Group assessment. Groups should not exceed 4 members, preferably the same members from Assessment 1. Please read the marking rubric before attempting the assessment.

The details of the assessment will be posted on the MyLO website.

Task Length:
3000 written report
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
 
1
Analyse the organisation’s internal and external environment to recommend a strategic plan.
LO2
2
Evaluate the application foundational and contemporary strategic management theories and processes.
LO1
3
Communicate complex analyses in written format.
LO3
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
Hanson, D, Hitt, MA, Ireland, RD & Hoskisson, RE 2017, Strategic management: competitiveness and globalisation 6 edition, Cengage Learning, Melbourne.
 
Recommended reading materials
Barney, J & Hesterly, W 2015, Strategic management and competitive advantage, Pearson, New Jersey.
Chandler, A, Hagstrom, P & Solvell, O 2000, The dynamic firm, Oxford UP, USA.
De Rond, M 2006, Strategic alliances as social facts, Cambridge UP, Cambridge UK.
De Wit, B & Meyer,R 2016, Strategy: process, content, context, 6th edn, Thompson, London. Freedman, L 2013, Strategy: a history, Oxford UP, Oxford.
Grant, R, Butler, B, Orr, S & Murray, PA 2014, Contemporary strategic management: an Australasian perspective, Wiley, Milton, QLD.
Hendry, C, Arthur, M & Jones, A 1995, Strategy through people: adaptation and learning in the small-medium enterprise, Routledge, London.
Hubbard, G, Rice, J & Galvin, P, 2015, Strategic management: thinking, analysis, action, Pearson, Melbourne.
Joyce, P 2000, Effective strategic change in the public sector, Wiley, London.
Mintzberg, H & Quinn, B (eds.) 1998, Readings in the strategy process, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall, Sydney.
Peng, M 2014, Global strategy, Cengage, USA.
Porter, M 1990, Competitive advantage of nations, MacMillan, London.
Porter, M 2004, Competitive strategy, The Free Press, New York.
Reich, R 2008, Supercapitalism, Scribe, Melbourne.
Segal-Horn, S 1998, The strategy reader, Blackwell, Oxford.
 
Other required resources
In addition to the texts/software recommended above, you are also expected to be familiar with the key academic journals and business publications in the discipline from which useful insights may be derived. In particular, you are encouraged to review regularly the relevant papers that are published in:
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Review
Asia Pacific Journal of Management
California Management Review
Harvard Business Review
Journal of General Management
Long Range Planning
Sloan Management Review
Strategic Management Journal
Bloomberg
Financial Times
The Asian Wall Street Journal
The Australian Financial Review
The Economist