Module: Strategy & Leadership

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Strategy & Leadership
Module Code	MT5131 (ITS) / MNA1018 (Banner)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
Module Co-ordinator	Sriteja Reddy Wudaru
Module Teachers	Declan Curran, Malcolm Brady, Sean Dempsey
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

This is one of the strategy modules in the strategy pathway on the MSc in Management. The aim of the module is to help the students to develop skills in business analysis and strategic thinking, deepen their understanding of the strategy process in its wider context and of how strategy and leadership are related, and to familiarise them with the thought-leadership literature in the strategy and leadership areas.

Learning Outcomes

1. Conduct a strategic analysis of a business, and identify and evaluate options for its future
2. Present, explain and defend their strategic analyses to their peers and make the case for their strategic recommendations
3. Distinguish between business-level and corporate-level strategy, and evaluate options for corporate development in the multi-business firm
4. Identify and explain the main challenges involved in the leadership of the strategy process, including the challenges involved in strategic renewal and strategy innovation
5. Identify, explain and critically evaluate the thought-leadership frameworks and concepts in the strategy/leadership literature

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Seminars	18	Seminar Series (Cases and Readings)
Group work	20	Case Analysis - Report and Presentation
Assignment Completion	32	Individual Project (Essay)
Independent Study	55	Preparing Readings and Cases for Class Discussion
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction
Introduction and overview of the main topics in the module

Strategy and Leadership
The difference between "leadership" and "management." The nature and uniqueness of the top leadership role. The role of leadership in the strategy process.

Strategy, Leadership and Stakeholder Priorities
The social responsibility of business. Establishing stakeholder priorities. How to think more strategically about the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) agenda.

The Strategy Toolkit - Tools for Analysis
The early strategy models (Product Life Cycle, Experience Curve, BCG Growth-Share Matrix etc. The positioning perspective. The core competency perspective (Resource-Based View). New perspectives on value innovation.

Industry and Competitive Analysis
Industry structural analysis (the five competitive forces). Strategic positioning and re-positioning.

Value Innovation and Business Ecosystem Strategy
Perspectives on value innovation ("disruptive innovation," "blue ocean strategy," "value co-creation"). Business and innovation ecosystem strategies. Strategies for emerging markets.

Corporate Strategy
The central challenge of corporate strategy and the distinction between "business" and "corporate" strategies. The positioning and core competency perspectives on corporate strategy and organisation.

Leading Strategic Renewal
The economic and organisational challenges involved in the leadership of strategic transformation and renewal.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Group project	Present the analysis of a preassigned case in the class in groups.	30%	n/a
Assignment	An individual literature-informed essay/analysis on a major module theme.	70%

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Joan Magretta: 2012, Understanding Michael Porter: The Essential Guide to Competition and Strategy, Harvard Business Review Press, Boston,
Brian Leavy and Peter McKiernan: 2009, Strategic Leadership: Governance and Renewal, Palgrave, London,

Other Resources

None