Overview
Contemporary businesses and organisations are fundamentally oriented towards growth, development and sustainable enterprise. Strategic management and change is key to the organisations competitive positioning in global context. As a capstone unit you will integrate previous functional and interpersonal knowledge and skills acquired in previous units of the MBA. You will examine strategic management processes in different kinds of organisations. You will analyse how organisations develop future strategies which are informed by internal and external pressures. By examining the challenges facing contemporary businesses, you will examine how strategic management is used to implement change in organisations. Workplace case studies will be used to demonstrate the extent to which strategy and change is managed effectively with positive outcomes.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: A minimum of 48 credit points from MBA units.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2018
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Optional Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Critically evaluate and discuss theoretical concepts and principles of strategic business management and change
- Research and apply the tools and techniques of business thought, analysis, and evaluation to support the formulation and implementation of strategy in different kinds of organisations
- Critically evaluate challenges facing contemporary businesses and strategies used to implement change
- Analyse the chosen strategy and change agenda to assess its effectiveness on business performance
- Examine the extent to which organisational strategy and change has impact on future business sustainability.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
This unit will use readings and material placed on the moodle unit site
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
q.alam@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Chapter
Familiarise yourself with the ENTIRE Moodle site and the documents relating to Module 1.
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit.
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
You will participate in a business simulation where you will join a team to manage a company.
To succeed, you will need to consider:
• Your company profile
• Your competitors’ profiles
• The industry
• The market
• Strategic choices
• Funding
You will be working in a management team of your fellow class mates and competing with other teams also made up of your class mates. You can edit your decisions as you go and you must choose a team leader who will sign-off the team’s decisions.
Group formation and introduction to the simulation
Module/Topic
External Environment Analysis, Industry Analysis, Competitive Dynamics & Competitive Advantage: Five Forces Model, Entry Costs, Exit Barriers - using Porter's five forces model effectively
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Analysis of company's initial situation and discussion on exiting strategies
Module/Topic
Internal Analysis of Businesses Using tools in strategic choice:
Business Resources, Capabilities & Stakeholder Analysis
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Identify the limitations and the resource constrains that you need to make decision using the simulation: First decision
Module/Topic
Competitive Strategies and Advantages of Each Strategy Approach: Resources, Operations, Marketing, Technology & Innovation
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each strategies useful to use in module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment one is due.
Decision making in the simulation: Second decision
Module/Topic
Strategy Options and Value Chains: Value Creation & Capture
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Decision making in the simulation: Third decision
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
International, Global & Multinational Strategies
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Decision making in the simulation: Fourth decision
Module/Topic
Diversification Strategies, Integration Strategies
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment two is due
Decision making in the simulation: Fifth decision
Strategic Direction Team Report Due: Week 7 Monday (27 Aug 2018) 11:59 am AEST
Module/Topic
External Growth Strategies: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Decision making in the simulation: Sixth decision
Module/Topic
Key features of corporate culture, strategic fit between culture and strategy, leadership and culture, leadersip and strategy
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Decision making in the simulation: Seventh decision
Module/Topic
Building organisational capability to execute strategies.
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Decision making in the simulation: Final decision
Module/Topic
Developing assessed presentation or first round of presentations (depending on student numbers)
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Work on assignment three.
Module/Topic
Assessed presentations
Chapter
The Moodle site contains key documents relating to each module, alongside recommendations for additional reading (independent study).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment three is due
Team Report - presentation to board of directors Due: Week 12 Monday (1 Oct 2018) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Practical and Written Assessment
Group assignment - Students are to SELF-SELECT into groups of 3-4.
Submission of assignment 1: Due in week 4
30% weighting of overall grade
1000 words maximum
Assessment format and description
Team Roles - The simulation program requires you to form teams and assign roles to team members. A role must be specified for each team member. This assessment is a short report assigning roles and providing role descriptions. This team is your firm and its employees. If you are doing this assignment individually you need to assume you are the firm and all the roles.
Your specified role involves interdependence within the team. As aspiring business managers your function after each simulation round is to reflect upon and critique decisions that your team has made. This first assessment will require you to negotiate and assign roles as a group and submit a document based on your process and choices. Your choice of role is to be specified from a selection elaborated in the unit assessment block.
it is important that you discuss, document and design tasks that include the following:
- meeting attendance
- levels of contribution per meeting/task
- decision making process and governance
- actions to be taken by whom
- standard of work completed by each member
- mission and vision of your firm and organisational hierarchy.
The assignment marking criteria and rubric can be found in Moodle.
Word document via Moodle.
Marks and Feedback will be available in Moodle within 10 business days (excluding university vacation).
The assessment criteria for this task comprise:
- Role definition
- Role responsibilities and minimum expectations for each role
- Contingencies (time management, work flow, and commitment to outcomes)
- Written communication and referencing standards
The criteria are applied in accordance with the University's assessment grading requirements, which necessarily include the award of a numerical grade within a range of values specific to the categories of: FAIL, PASS, CREDIT, DISTINCTION, & HIGH DISTINCTION.
See Moodle for more detailed assessment rubric. Late submission and academic misconduct penalties apply as per the university regulations.
As Masters students you are required to engage in research as per the Australia Quality Framework (AQF) guidelines. Two specific requirements need to be considered. Students need to demonstrate “a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice, and demonstrate "knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning”.
Each unit in your course has a number of required weekly readings in terms of academic texts, journals and business publications that represent the appropriate body of knowledge and recent developments referred to by the AQF. In order to demonstrate the ability to engage in appropriate research, students should read and utilise these texts and journals and publications, and as Masters students, indicate a willingness to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies that demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research.
Students should insure that they understand the specific research that is required for each assessment piece and recognise that if they meet this minimum requirement, you will receive the minimum grade for demonstrated research.
Your attention is drawn to the University’s
stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN
THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE.
- Critically evaluate and discuss theoretical concepts and principles of strategic business management and change
- Critically evaluate challenges facing contemporary businesses and strategies used to implement change
- Examine the extent to which organisational strategy and change has impact on future business sustainability.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
2 Written Assessment
Group assignment - you are still working in the same group as for assignment 1.
Submission of assignment 2: Due in week 7
30% weighting of overall grade
1500 words maximum (excluding preliminaries, references, appendices and tables/diagrams)
This assessment relates to identifying and justifying your strategy for your firm moving forward.
Developing a strategy for your firm is a key part of success in the simulation environment and in real-life business operations. Your strategy will serve as your firm’s “roadmap” throughout the simulation. A strategy consists of an integrated set of choices.
Most strategic plans focus on one or two such elements, often leaving large gaps in the overall strategy. Ensure you look at your strategy as a whole. You are required to consider the following elements in your assignment 2 in an environmental scan and analysis of your firm using the tools discussed in the unit. You need to complete the following:
- analyse your simulation firm
- use at least TWO of analytical tools to further analyse the environment
- identify and summarise the gaps in the firm
- build objectives for your firm and all functional areas
- formulate a strategy for all functional areas and business level strategy
- offer options and then decide on a recommendation for the future.
Be specific and offer your contingencies.
Week 7 Monday (27 Aug 2018) 11:59 am AEST
Word document via Moodle
Week 9 Monday (10 Sept 2018)
Marks and Feedback will be available in Moodle within 10 business days (excluding university vacation).
The assessment criteria for this item comprise of:
- Internal and external enviroment analysis with the help of relevant tools
- Application of themes and theories related to and including the use of literature to justify strategic direction and choice
- Application and justification of relevant strategic choice and direction for the future
- Evaluation of constraints and limits to strategy
- Calibre of argument and critical insight to defend or justify the decision
- The use of between 12-16 quality academic references (Academic texts, journals, etc.)
- A professionally written business report using APA referencing style
The criteria are applied in accordance with the university's assessment grading requirements which necessarily include the award of a numerical grade within a range of values specific to the categories of: FAIL, PASS, CREDIT, DISTINCTION, & HIGH DISTINCTION.
See Moodle for more detailed assessment rubric. Late submission and academic misconduct penalties apply as per the university regulations.
As Masters students you are required to engage in research as per the Australia Quality Framework (AQF) guidelines. Two specific requirements need to be considered. Students need to demonstrate “a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice, and demonstrate "knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning”.
Each unit in your course has a number of required weekly readings in terms of academic texts, journals and business publications that represent the appropriate body of knowledge and recent developments referred to by the AQF. In order to demonstrate the ability to engage in appropriate research, students should read and utilise these texts and journals and publications, and as Masters students, indicate a willingness to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies that demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research.
Students should insure that they understand the specific research that is required for each assessment piece and recognise that if they meet this minimum requirement, you will receive the minimum grade for demonstrated research.
Your attention is drawn to the University’s
stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN
THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE.
- Critically evaluate and discuss theoretical concepts and principles of strategic business management and change
- Research and apply the tools and techniques of business thought, analysis, and evaluation to support the formulation and implementation of strategy in different kinds of organisations
- Analyse the chosen strategy and change agenda to assess its effectiveness on business performance
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
3 Presentation and Written Assessment
Group assignment - you are still working in the same group as for assessments 1 and 2.
Submission of assignment 3: Due in week 12
40% weighting of overall grade
Report: 2000 words maximum (excluding preliminaries, references, appendices, tables and diagrams)
Presentation: 15 slides maximum (excluding title slide and references); 13-15 minutes per group
This assessment comprises a presentation to the board of directors, as well as a concise written report.
The strategic presentation and report are required to cover the entire simulation: A key aspect of each business management decision is evaluation. Marks are awarded based on your team’s ability to discuss, assess, and critique the management decisions you have taken each week.
Success with this assessment is contingent upon team members interacting at peer-to-peer level, and applying concepts and theories and principal sources to demonstrate applied strategic thinking from both theoretical and practical perspectives. You must be prepared to defend your decision based on your best assessment of the circumstances.
Further details and guidance are available in Moodle.
On-campus students will present in-class at the end of the term. Depending on student numbers, presentations will take place in week 12 or in weeks 11 and 12. A printed copy of the slides needs to be provided to class facilitator prior to the presentation. Subsequently, slides and written report need to be submitted via Moodle.
Distance students will also submit their slides and written report via Moodle. You can either choose to do a live presentation to the unit co-ordinator (e.g. using video conferencing software) or you can choose to record your presentation (with talking head - voiceover is not enough) and submit it as a video file or YouTube link alongside your slides and report.
Week 12 Monday (1 Oct 2018) 11:59 pm AEST
On-campus students will present in class in week 12 or weeks 11 and 12; a printed copy of the slides must be provided to the tutor. Electronic submission of slides and report via Moodle. Distance students will submit slides and report via Moodle - presentations will be live via videoconferencing or recorded and submitted online.
Exam Week Monday (15 Oct 2018)
Marks and Feedback will be available in Moodle on Certification Date.
The assessment criteria for this item comprise:
- Interpretation and analysis of problem specific to all rounds
- Critique of content; use of literature
- Application of relevant strategy ethical standard, concepts, and frameworks
- Evaluation of constraints and limits to strategy
- Calibre of argument and critical insight to defend or justify the decision
- The use of between 12-16 quality academic references (Academic texts, journals, etc.)
- A professionally prepared and delivered presentation and a written business report using APA referencing style
The criteria are applied in accordance with the university's assessment grading requirements which necessarily include the award of a numerical grade within a range of values specific to the categories of: FAIL, PASS, CREDIT, DISTINCTION, & HIGH DISTINCTION.
See Moodle for more detailed assessment rubric. Late submission and academic misconduct penalties apply as per the university regulations.
As Masters students you are required to engage in research as per the Australia Quality Framework (AQF) guidelines. Two specific requirements need to be considered. Students need to demonstrate “a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice, and demonstrate "knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning”.
Each unit in your course has a number of required weekly readings in terms of academic texts, journals and business publications that represent the appropriate body of knowledge and recent developments referred to by the AQF. In order to demonstrate the ability to engage in appropriate research, students should read and utilise these texts and journals and publications, and as Masters students, indicate a willingness to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies that demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research.
Students should insure that they understand the specific research that is required for each assessment piece and recognise that if they meet this minimum requirement, you will receive the minimum grade for demonstrated research.
Your attention is drawn to the University’s stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE.
- Critically evaluate challenges facing contemporary businesses and strategies used to implement change
- Examine the extent to which organisational strategy and change has impact on future business sustainability.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
