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SUBJECT OUTLINE 21510 Introduction to Strategy Course area

UTS: Business

Delivery

Spring 2021; City

Credit points 6cp Requisite(s)

Completionof subject 26100 Integrating Business Perspectivesc Completion of subject 26100 Integrating Business Perspectives These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. There are also course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Result type

Grade and marks

Subject coordinator Dr Sumati Ahuja Email: [email protected]

Teaching staff Please see Canvas for more details on teaching staff for this subject.

Subject description This subject is designed to give students a broad overview of the complexity of developing and implementing strategy in a local, national and international business environment. Students are encouraged to explore the context of wicked problems, contemporary challenges, ethical dilemmas and sustainability issues in different business and organisational environments. Students gain an understanding of how changes in the business and organisational environment, business modelling, competitive intelligence and scenario analysis inform and affect strategic decision-making and managerial processes.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs) Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to: 1. Analyse the connections between and impacts on an organisation’s strategy and innovation processes of social, technological, economic and environmental changes 2. Plan for major business uncertainties using scenarios and scenario planning to design flexible strategic plans 3. Apply strategic management principles, analytical tools and concepts in the construction and/or critique of a strategic plan 4. Justify strategic recommendations and actions in a challenging business context

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes This subject builds on the students’ knowledge of the organisational and business environment. It provides an opportunity to further develop and deepen their understanding of contemporary issues and how they affect business and organisational strategy, decision-making and the ability to innovate. Students develop analytical thinking, critical thinking, and problem-based learning skills for addressing wicked problems and organisational and business issues in complex and dynamic business settings. This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: Business knowledge and concepts Critical thinking, creativity and analytical skills Attitudes and values This subject also contributes specifically to develop the following Program Learning Objectives of the Bachelor of Business: 1.2: Demonstrate inter-relationships between differing business and related disciplines 2.2: Apply critical and creative thinking to address issues in business 4.1: Critically analyse business decisions in terms of ethical practice and social responsibility 4.2: Critically analyse sustainability principles for various stakeholders in relation to business context This subject also contributes specifiacally to develop the following Program Learning Objective of the Bachelor of Management: 5.1: Apply technical and professional skills within specialised management practice

Teaching and learning strategies 28/07/2021 (Spring 2021)

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This subject will comprise of a 1.5-hour lecture and 1.5 hour tutorial session each week. Students will be required to undertake substantial directed readings prior to class. Content for this subject will be supported by the learning management system. Guest lecturers may be incorporated where relevant. Lectures: Students are expected to attend all lectures. While lecture notes will be posted on the UTS Learning Management System, the PowerPoint slides act as a reference point for teaching and learning, not as a substitute for attending the lectures. Much of the detail is provided only during the lecture. Tutorials: The prime objective of the tutorials is to encourage an overall understanding of the content and issues addressed in each week’s lecture. Students should come to tutorials prepared to actively participate in the learning process. This means having attended the weekly lecture. Directions for the tutorials and other exercises will be given the week prior if not stated in the subject guide. Readings and tutorial tasks must be completed. The tutorial activities form part of this subject’s assessment items (see section on Assessment Items). UTS Learning Management System: This subject will use the UTS Learning Management System, which can be found at: https://online.uts.edu.au/. Various resources will be made available through the learning management system including the subject guide, lecture notes, weekly readings, tutorial exercises, announcements and any supplementary resources. It is your responsibility as active learners to make sure that your UTS email is checked regularly - non-receipt of any message or announcement will not be accepted as an excuse for any shortcoming. Discussion Board: You are encouraged to use Discussion Board as a forum to discuss the lecture topics and other current issues pertaining to subject. This is also a site for enquiries about readings, assessments and other subject requirements. You are encouraged as peers to answer any questions posted on the Discussion Board that you feel confident in answering. The lecturer will clarify any answers provided by a student if required. Remember, if in doubt read your subject guide thoroughly before posting a question. Note: lecturers will not accept e-mails directly from students unless it is in relation to a confidential matter.

Content (topics) Competitive Business intelligence and competitive analyses Management strategy selection Entrepreneurial strategy and competitive dynamics Business planning Industry analysis Scenario planning Sustainable business development Workplaces of the future Business environments of the future Strategic innovation Socially responsible business

Program Week/Session

Dates

Description

1

2/8/2021

Course introduction and overview Introducing strategy: To prepare for this week's lecture, please read Chapter 1 of the recommended text book Notes: No Tutorials this week. Tutorials officially commence the second (next) week.

2

9/8/2021

Lecture 2: Analysing the external environment. To prepare for this weeks lecture please read Chapter 2 of the recommended text book Notes: Tutorials are run through Zoom Tutorial 1: Attendance requirement, preparations before tutorials and lectures, and details of assessment tasks. Students will form teams for purposes of assessment 1

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3

16/8/2021

Lecture 3: Industry and sector analysis. To prepare for this week's lecture, please read Chapter 3 of the recommended text book Notes: Tutorials are run through Zoom Tutorial 2: Students will work in teams. For an organization of your choice, carry out a PESTEL analysis and identify key opportunities and threats.

4

23/8/2021

Lecture 4: Resources and capability analysis. To prepare for this lecture, please read Chapter 4 of the recommended text book Notes: Tutorials are run through Zoom Tutorial 3: Discuss Porter's five forces.

5

30/8/2021

Lecture 5: Stakeholders and governance. To prepare for this weeks lecture please read Chapter 5 of the recommended text book. Notes: Tutorials are run through Zoom Tutorial 4: Discuss your choice of framework and industry/sector for Assessement 1.

6

6/9/2021

Lecture 6: Business Strategy and models. To prepare for this lecture please read chapter 7 of the recommended text book Assessment 1 is Due today @ 11.59pm Notes: Tutorial 5: Students should focus on completing and submitting assignment 1

7

13/9/2021

Lecture 7: Corporate Strategy. To prepare for this weeks lecture please read chapter 8 of the recommended text book Notes:

Tutorial 6: Choose your sector and framework for assignment 2 and discuss the appropriateness of your choice

20/9/2021

STUVAC No lectures or tutorials this week

8

27/9/2021

Lecture 8: Mergers, acquisitions and alliances. In preparation for this weeks lecture please read chapter 11 of your recommended text. Notes:

Tutorial 7: Students should discuss their progress on assignment task 2. 9

4/10/2021

Public holiday No lectures or tutorials today

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10

11/10/2021

Lecture 10: Reflective writing Assignment 2 is due today by 11.59pm Notes: Tutorial 8: Students should work on finalising and submitting assignment 2

11

18/10/2021

Lecture 11: Strategy development process. Please read chapter 13 of your recommneded text Assignment 3 is due next week Notes: Tutorial 9: Write a brief reflection. Get immediate feedback using Acawriter

12

25/10/2021

Lecture 12: The practice of strategy. Please read chapter 16 of your recommended text. Assignment 3 is due today 11.59pm Notes: No tutorials today. Students should focus on finalising and submitting assignment 3

NOTE - To comply with advice from NSW Health, the planned delivery of this subject for Spring 2021 has been adjusted. All activities in this subject planed for campus in the first 4 weeks of the Spring 2021 Session will be online. This is a temporary change. After restrictions are eased activities will return to the timetabled format. Please log into Canvas and monitor your UTS email for the latest advice concerning subject delivery and assessment information. Management Discipline Group Compulsory Attendance Policy This subject enforces a compulsory attendance requirement. This includes active online attendance where face to face classes are suspended. Students who miss more than three tutorials without approved consent from the Subject Coordinator will be deemed as not meeting the compulsory attendance requirement in this subject. The Management Department attendance policy is in accordance with the University policy on attendance and/or participation requirements as detailed in the UTS Student Rules Section 3.8 (see http://www.gsu.uts.edu.au/rules/student/index.html). NOTE: International students should be aware of the responsibilities for class attendance imposed on you by the conditions of your student visa. For more information see: http://www.uts.edu.au/future-students/international/essential-information/being-international-student-australia/your#-a-nameattend-a-attend-classes

Additional information Due to COVID-19, the delivery of this subject will involve pre-recorded lectures with a focus on key concepts of every chapter, comprehensive lecture slides will be available on UTS Canvas on a weekly basis. The tutorials will be conducted live through Zoom. Tutorials are conducted every week and are 1.5 hours in duration. You have enrolled into a specific tutorial. You must attend the tutorial in which you have enrolled. The tutorials are interactive and are designed to engage students in the learning process through topic discussions and debates, case study analysis, and/or group learning activities. Students are strongly urged to check UTS Canvas for weekly updates and lecture details. Not attending all the lectures puts you at a significant disadvantage in this course. Each week in your tutorial you will be covering content relating to the previous week's lecture. Students must read the assigned text chapter(s), any other readings (e.g. journal articles), and/or watch assigned video content during each teaching week and should allow one and a half hours study time for this purpose.If you click on the relevant teaching week on UTS Canvas, you will find detailed information about what you need to read or watch for the forthcoming tutorial. For example, in preparation for your tutorial in Week 1, you will need to click on 'Week 1' to access the material that you need to read/watch. Students are expected to activelyparticipate in tutorial activities and take responsibility for their learning. Each week, please ensure that you have read and watched the assigned weekly readings/videos before you attend the tutorial so that you are able to participate in the discussion and activities.

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It is expected that students regularly check UTS Canvas for important announcements, supplementary course documents, course tips, and assignment details. You should also make a habit of reading through the posts on the discussion board. When people ask questions, responses sometimes include tips, hints, and suggestions regarding various aspects of the course. Even if you have not got a question, knowing what is happening on the Discussion Board Forums puts you in an advantageous position in this course.

Field trips This subject has NO field trips

Assessment Assignments are prescribed in the subject outline and elaborated on in assignment briefs available via UTS Canvas. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the assignment requirements for the subject. Assignments must be submitted by the due date given in the subject outline. Requests for extensions must be made in writing at least three days before the due date and will only be granted in cases of illness, misadventure, or other circumstances beyond the student's control. The Management Discipline Group has the following policy regarding the late submission of assessments WITHOUT an approved extension: Late assignments submitted without an extension will accrue a penalty of 10% per day, based on the total value of the assignment. For example, if an assignment is worth 40%, the late penalty will result in a deduction of 4 marks per day the assignment is late. Marks will be deducted as full points off the awarded mark. Late penalties are applied up to a maximum of five (5) days after the due date (i.e. the maximum late penalty is 50%). Assignments submitted more than 5 days late will receive a mark of zero (0).

Assessment task 1: Report (Group) Objective(s): This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 3 and 4 Weight:

30%

Task:

This assessment task is comprised of one team report. Further details are available from UTS Canvas

Length:

Assessment 1: 1500 (+-10%) words. This excludes, executive summary, references and appendices

Due:

11.59pm Monday 6 September 2021 One team member will need to submit on behalf of the team an electronic copy to Turnitin on UTS Canvas by 11:59pm on the due date. Late penalties at the rate of 10% of the total value of the assignment per day will be deducted for later submissions

Further Detailed marking criteria will be made available on UTS Canvas information:

Assessment task 2: Business Report (Individual) Objective(s): This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This addresses program learning objectives(s): .1 and .2 Weight:

30%

Task:

This assessment task requires you to write a Business Report to explain Amazon’s strategy in your chosen sector. Further details available from UTS Canvas

Length:

1500 (+-10%) words excluding Executive Summary, reference and any supporting Appendices

Due:

11.59pm Monday 11 October 2021 The report will be submitted online through turnitin

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Further information:

Detailed marking criteria for Assessment 2 will be available on UTS Canvas

Assessment task 3: Reflection (Individual) Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3

Weight:

40%

Task:

Reflection. Further details are available on Canvas

Length:

1000 words (+/-10%). Excluding executive summary and references

Due:

Due 25/10/2021 11.59 pm.

Further information:

Detailed marking criteria will be made available on UTS Canvas

Use of plagiarism detection software Where specified, students MUST submit assignment via the Turnitin plagiarism detection software and keep an electronic copy of their individual and group assignments and provide these to the subject coordinator and/or tutor if requested. Turnitin reports will be referred to by the subject coordinator and the tutor if a student's piece of work appears to be plagiarised or not properly referenced.

Moderation of marks Marks may be moderated which can involve adjustments downwards and upwards to ensure a consistent level of assesment across the tutors assessing of assignments.

Minimum requirements Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.

Required texts The prescribed textbook for this subject is: Whittington, R., Regner, P., Angwin, D., Johnson, G., and Scholes, K. (2020). Exploring strategy : text and cases (Twelfth edition). Pearson. This subject assumes that students will have a comprehensive understanding of the contents of the UTS Business School Writing Guide.

Recommended texts Lafley, A. G. & Martin, R. L. (2013). Playing to win : how strategy really works. Harvard Business Review Press. Rumelt, R. P. (2011). Good strategy, bad strategy : the difference and why it matters (1st ed.). Crown Business.

Academic liaison officer Dr Robert Czernkowski, Accounting Discipline Group, telephone 9514 3736 Dr Mario Fiorini, Economics Discipline Group, telephone 9514 3339 Dr Otto Konstandatos, Finance Discipline Group, telephone 9514 7758 Dr Kyuseop Kwak, Marketing Discipline Group, telephone 9514 3150 Associate Professor Nico Schulenkorf, Management Discipline Group, telephone 9514 5368 Any arrangements should be negotiated within the first six weeks of session.

Support Student Services Unit/Counselling: Student Services provides a range of free and confidential professional services to support different aspects of your life and learning at UTS. These services include counselling for personal and learning problems or issues. If you are experiencing difficulties with your overall study program, for whatever reason, telephone +61 2 9514 1177 (City campus). The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service:The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for managing your studies alongside your health condition. If you are unsure whether you need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early and we can provide advice on how our service can assist you. Make an appointment with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or [email protected]. 28/07/2021 (Spring 2021)

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The Financial Assistance Service can assist you with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514...