Outline

Overview

This unit examines how organisations can develop and reshape their strategies to enable growth in a context of changing technology, business models and market structures. Topics covered include positioning for growth through external analysis, building competitive advantage through internal analysis, growing through effective corporate strategy, dealing proactively with strategic risk and uncertainty, and building strategic agility through business model innovation. This unit provides students with an opportunity to gain practical experience in applying relevant concepts, techniques, and frameworks to real-world situations, in order to generate innovative strategic responses to dynamic market conditions.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Management Education
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	SMBA6002
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	David Oliver, david.oliver@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Case study 1 Case study	20%	Week 03	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Oral presentation	20%	Week 07	30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case study 2 Case study	30%	Week 08	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Organisational sustainability assessment Critical analysis	20%	Week 09	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation Participation	10%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Case study 1: The use of case studies in this unit of study is designed to improve your ability to make strategic decisions in real-life situations. In this first report, you will prepare a strategic analysis and recommendations for an organisational case study (to be announced). Preparing this report will involve diagnosing the nature of the strategic problem in the case, analysing relevant information, and making a recommendation supported by your analysis concerning what you consider to be the best means of addressing the situation. This case analysis will require you to judiciously and effectively apply strategy concepts and frameworks discussed during the first part of the unit of study. Additional details about this assignment will be provided during on the first day of class.
Case study 2: In this assignment you will prepare a professional strategic report related to a more complex strategic growth problem faced by an organisation (details on the company analysed will be announced early in the unit). The report will include recommendations supported by a short evaluation of alternatives and a concise analysis of relevant information. This report will allow you to draw on concepts from the unit of study in order to make and justify recommendations that are suitable, feasible and acceptable to key stakeholders of this organisation.
Organisational sustainability assessment: Students will be tasked with making more focused strategic recommendations supported by a concise analysis related to the sustainability of a large organisation. This will involve drawing on strategic sustainability concepts from the unit of study.
Presentation: Students will engage in a two-day strategy simulation that will allow them to put into practice many of the strategy concepts discussed throughout the unit of study. In the week following the simulation, the simulation team will present a critical evaluation and analysis of its performance in the simulation. The team presentation will involve outlining your strategic objectives, analysing key events, explaining any difference between your initial objectives and results achieved, and identifying key lessons learned.
Participation: The grade for participation includes attendance (in person or virtually, depending on teaching mode), punctuality and in-class contributions. Students are not expected to have all the right answers in every case, nor are they expected to dominate the discussion. Students are required to come to class prepared, be familiar with the cases and readings, and contribute regularly to class discussion.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to strategy	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 01	Strategy analysis for competitive advantage	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 02	Business-level strategy and rivalry	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 03	Corporate strategy and strategic leadership	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 03	Strategic agility and effective execution	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 04	Strategy sustainability and corporate social responsibility	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 04	Strategy and uncertainty, new business models	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 06	Strategy simulation	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 06	Strategy simulation	Block teaching (4 hr)
Week 07	Final student presentations and wrap-up	Block teaching (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings and attendance: Note that MBA classes held at the CBD Campus are not systematically recorded and 100% class attendance is expected for each unit of the MBA Program. If there are extenuating circumstances as to why you are not able to attend a particular class, please contact your unit coordinator as soon as possible, and also notify your group members (if the unit has a group work component). A unit requirement is 80% attendance, and those who drop below this level may not pass the unit.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. comprehend and apply a variety of tools and approaches related to strategy formulation and implementation
LO2. evaluate organisational strategies and propose solutions for strategic issues in a variety of business contexts and industries
LO3. critique and understand the limitations of strategy concepts
LO4. explore ways that ethical and socially responsible elements might be integrated into strategy formulation and implementation
LO5. effectively communicate about strategic issues.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Business School Policies

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

FMBA5005: Strategies for Growth

Intensive February - March, 2021 [Block mode] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect