Cohort-based, Paced and Online with eText. Delivered via Brightspace.
Credits:
3
Area of study:
Business
Prerequisites:
Although there are no prerequisites for this course, all students are expected to have completed the one-week MBA Orientation course (MBAO-599) that familiarizes them with the AU MBA online learning environment, academic conduct, library resources, case studies, and other useful information to help them be successful in the program. The MBA Orientation course also allows students to practice interacting with each other and an academic coach.
What is strategy? How does it relate to firm success? What role does industry play in impacting a company’s success (performance)? What role do a company’s internal resources play in improving firm success?
These are just some of the questions discussed and debated in STMT 500. This course covers fundamental concepts and principles in strategy. It reflects current academic thinking and management practices. The course challenges students to enhance their strategy and strategic management thinking and how it relates to an organization’s future, competitive advantage, external environment, and internal resources. Strategic thinking and management are essential leadership skills for middle and senior executives.
Outline
This course is divided into eight lessons.
Lesson 1 - The Concept of Strategy
Lesson 2 - Goals, Values, and Performance
Lesson 3 - Industry and Competitive Analysis
Lesson 4 - Analyzing Resources and Capabilities
Lesson 5 - Organization Structure and Management Systems
Lesson 6 - The Sources and Dimensions of Competitive Advantage - Part 1: Cost Advantage
Lesson 7 - The Sources and Dimensions of Competitive Advantage - Part 2: Differentiation Advantage
Lesson 8 - The Sources and Dimensions of Competitive Advantage – Wrap Up
Objectives
Strategy analysis assists us in identifying and understanding issues and managing complexity. By the end of this course, students should be able to:
Appraise organizational resources and conduct an industry analysis using strategy frameworks
Evaluate the concepts and techniques critical to identifying and exploiting sources of profit
Discuss and debate ideas on strategy formulation and implementation
Apply concepts and techniques to case analysis and group discussions
Relate course learnings (concepts, tools, and techniques) on strategy analysis to work settings
Develop respect for and an understanding of the value of a Code of Conduct towards effective group work and communication
Develop MBA core competencies
Evaluation
Grades are based on an individual assignment, a group case study, a group debate, and participation in the discussion application. The individual assignment will also assess academic writing and referencing.
Activity
Weight
Participation in Discussions and Weekly Nuggets
50%
Individual Case Study
25%
Group Case Study
25%
Total
100%
Component marks for this course are translated into letter grades per the Graduate Grading Policy.
Materials
Grant, R. M. (2022). Contemporary strategy analysis (11th ed.). Wiley. (eText)
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.