Module: Business Strategy & Story Framing

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Business Strategy & Story Framing
Module Code	MNA1026 (ITS: MT582)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module aims; (a) To provide students with a basic understanding of the principles and practice of business strategy development and management (b) To develop in students a capacity for strategic thinking and an understanding of the organisational and management issues involved in formulating and executing strategy. (c) To provide a framework for integrating the knowledge of the various business activities and functions developed elsewhere in the programme.

Learning Outcomes

1. Engage in Strategic Thinking for the development of Business Strategy;
2. Explore the concepts of Industry and Business Analysis and respective tools available to leaders;
3. Explore Strategy Execution.
4. Apply lessons learned from seminal readings to case study discussion
5. Identify seminal business strategy literature

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	Standard formal lecture
Assignment Completion	25	Written report
Independent Study	45	Pre and post lecture independent reading
Group work	25	Case Study Preparation
Group work	8	Presentation preparation
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20073	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Malcolm Brady	Module Teacher	John Loonam

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Individual written assignment	70%	n/a
Presentation	Group Presentation	20%	n/a
Performance evaluation	Individual participation in and contribution to class meetings and case study discussions	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Strategic Process & Analysis
The Concept of Strategy and the Strategic Management Process; Conducting Industry Analysis; Conducting Competitor Analysis

Strategic Choice
Strategic Choice and Competitive Advantage; Tailoring strategy to the environment: industry life cycle and position, geographical, and technological Choosing Business Level Strategies; Corporate Strategy: competitive advantage for multi-business companies

Strategic Implementation
The importance of structure and resources in implementing strategy; Managing the internal organisation to promote better strategy execution; The importance of culture, leadership, and governance in implementation

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Thompson et al.: 2022, Crafting and Executing Strategy, 23, McGraw Hill, 978126056574

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None