Strategic Management is an important subject. Importance is conferred on the discipline from its focus on the development and survival of organisations in both the private and public sectors. Strategy had long been studied and practiced outside of business schools in commercial, historical, philosophical and military contexts. It is considered to be both a capstone and a foundation subject for management thought and action, and draws on multiple theoretical inputs from institutional theory, marketing, sociology and most profoundly, economics and organisational behaviour. This module provides candidates from Manufacturing and Service Sectors (including healthcare) with an overview of the strategy process and of operations management from concept to deployment.

This module provides candidates from Manufacturing and Service Sectors (including healthcare) with an overview of the strategy process and of operations management from concept to deployment. The syllabus covers the basic framework and concepts of strategic management in different organisational and environmental contexts. Introduction to strategy, strategic management in practice, strategic analysis, resource competence and strategic capability, stakeholder expectations and organisational purposes, bases of strategic choices and options, strategy evaluation and selection, organisational structure and design, resource allocation and control and managing strategic change.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to: 1. Apply and critique the concepts, theories and techniques of strategic and operations management. 2. Evaluate, deploy and maintain effective strategic management and operations systems. 3. Contribute effectively to the strategy process and operations function from a direct line or staff position. 4. Work through the process from identifying the strategic objectives to implementation and deployment.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate through application that solving strategic problems as a process requires appreciation of powerful theory (assessed in the E-tvities and Written Report). 2. Demonstrate a reflexive and critical strategic mind-set (assessed in the Written Report)

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Delivery is a hybrid of traditional distance education and online learning together with a number of face-to-face / on-line tutorials. In addition, there are online discussions moderated by a subject matter expert on elements of each module to reinforce the learning and maximise the benefit of the programme for participants. Graduate Attributes: The module is designed to support self-directed learning using a combination of recorded lectures, academic readings and video tutorials. Using a series of case studies and real-world examples, Students receive authentic problem/project-based learning placing particular emphasis on the importance of independent research. The assessments in this module are designed to encourage Students to think about their discipline from multiple perspectives. There are a series of e-tivities where Students articulate their various case study analyses and discuss/defend these with other Students through the medium of a discussion forum. For the final report Students are challenged to perform a strategic assessment of an organisation in which they will research, analyse and present their findings in order to deliver viable recommendations for the future strategic direction of the organisation.