2019/20 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5232M International Strategic Management

15 creditsClass Size: 230

Module manager: Ziko Konwar
Email: z.konwar@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module examines how companies formulate and implement strategic decisions in an international context.

Objectives

This module is designed to enable students to apply their learning across the programme in an integrative manner to the understanding of how companies design, implement and manage international strategies.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to critically evaluate:
- strategic choices available to organisations
- the nature of strategic problems and the role of the entire organisation in providing integrated solutions
- the influence of national and international markets on a firm's potential for competitive advantage

Skills outcomes
Transferable
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
- effectively identify problems and recommend an alternative course of action to deal with the complex conceptual problems faced by top managers
- communicate effectively in writing
- contribute to effective performance within a team environment
- conduct effective oral presentations
- exercise self-reflection and criticality to diversity in terms of people, cultures, business and management issues
- conduct and influence the decision making process

Subject Specific
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
- deliver social and environmental impacts by evaluating the potential of international business activities
- demonstrate critical analysis of ideas and evidence to recognise, interpret and account for the complexity of ethical business management conducted across national and sub-national boundaries

Syllabus

Indicative content:
THE STRATEGY PROCESS
- What is strategy? And does it matter?

STRATEGY ANALYSIS
- What are firms in business for? The issue of organisational purpose; Is the shareholder king?
- Market analysis; Generating insights from market research
- Are all industries equally attractive? Industry analysis, industry development and disruption
- Competing to succeed I: positioning and strategic choices
- Competing to succeed II: generating a sustainable competitive advantage

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND FIRM PERFORMANCE
- Generating growth for the future: limited vs. substantive growth strategies and their impact on firm performance
- Do diversification strategies and mergers and acquisitions enhance firm performance?
- Do internationalisation strategies enhance firm performance?
- Global challengers from emerging countries: challenges and opportunities

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Computer Simulated Practical Techniques	6	2.00	12.00
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Tutorial	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			113.00
Total Contact hours			37.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

- Preparation for tutorials (25 hours),
- preparation and participation in a group on-line simulation exercise (44 hours)
- and examination at the end of the module (44 hours).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students' progress will be monitored through class discussion of the case studies considered in the seminars, and through contribution to an online simulation exercise which runs in parallel to the module.

During the seminars students will be expected to apply the theoretical knowledge gained during lectures and their private study to answering case study questions.

Students will be provided with suggested responses to the case studies in written-form (on the VLE) after the end of seminars.

Students will also receive feedback on their performance during the on-line business simulation game.

This will be generated technically by the simulation software itself, and students will also be able to compare their relative standing against other student groups and the performance data reported by the software.

Students, however, will have the opportunity to discuss their performance on the business simulation with their module tutors to identify areas of problematic understanding and to better enable them to prepare for the summative assessment at the conclusion of the module.

The marks and feedback from the online simulation in conjunction with class and seminar discussions during the module will enable student to gauge progress during the course of the module prior to the final assessment at the conclusion of the module.

The summative assessment of the module takes the form of an individual assignment (100%) which is based on the group online business simulation task running over a period of six weeks.

Students shall receive written feedback on their final assignment. However, if they would like to discuss their grade further and deem it absolutely necessary, a one-to-one meeting can be scheduled through appointment.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	4,000 word assignment	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The coursework will be jointly assessed with LUBS5233M. International strategy will be the focus of the LUBS5232M assessment. A marking rubric will be provided. The resit for the module will be 100% by 2,000 word individual assignment.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 12/09/2019

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