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Learning Outcome 1
The learner will: Understand the nature, scope and need for strategic business management
and planning in international profit and not-for-profit organisations.
1.1 Explain the scope, 1.1.1 Examine the nature and context of businesses working
nature and characteristics in a global environment.
of strategic business
management and planning 1.1.2 Consider the nature and scope of strategic decisions, in
in a global environment. terms of time frames and level of decision-making.
1.2 Critically analyse the 1.2.1 Identify and explain the forces driving the need for
need for strategic business strategic business management in a global environment,
management and planning including:
in a global environment. Reduction in barriers to trade and investment;
Market liberalisation;
Economic development and modernisation;
Integration of worldwide financial markets;
Emergence of economic trade blocs;
Advances in technology, and
Convergence of consumer lifestyles and preferences.
1.3 Appraise the 1.3.1 Consider the international dimensions of strategy and
international dimensions of the organisation, and discuss the increasing complexity of
strategic business international business strategy.
management and
planning. 1.3.2 Discuss the factors of increasing complexity of
international business strategy and planning, including the
impact on functional areas of the business:
Human resource management
Logistics
Marketing
Operations and structure
Marketing
1.4 Analyse the different 1.4.1 Explain the three levels of organisational strategy:
levels of organisational Corporate level strategy
strategy and their Business level strategy
relationship with tactical Functional level strategy
and operational decision-
making. 1.4.2 Discuss the need for corporate and business level
strategies to match appropriate functional level strategies.
1.5 Explain the distinction 1.5.1 Examine the nature of not for profit organisations such
between profit and not for as the public sector, government agencies, charities and
profit organisations in nationalised industries.
terms of strategic business
management and 1.5.2 Explain the concept of strategic planning in not for profit
planning. organisations and the different influences involved.
Learning Outcome 2
The learner will: Understand a range of classical and contemporary models, concepts and
tools in business strategy and planning.
2.1 Identify classical and 2.1.1 Explain the following concepts and models:
contemporary models, Logical incrementalism
concepts and tools in The learning organisation
business strategy and Transformational change
critically appraise the use Muddling through
of these concepts and Strategic drift
models in contemporary Intended strategy/realised strategy/imposed
organisations. strategy
Emergent strategy and deliberate strategy
2.2 Distinguish prescriptive 2.2.1 Consider the nature of the prescriptive theory as a
and emergent theories of systematic and deterministic process of strategic planning.
corporate strategy and
their relevance to 2.2.2 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a
organisations. prescriptive approach to strategic planning.
Learning Outcome 3
The learner will: Understand the processes by which organisations identify and develop their
goals and values.
3.1 Examine the 3.1.1 Explain the difference between a mission statement,
processes by which organisational goals, values and objectives.
organisations identify and
develop their goals and 3.1.2 Identify who the organisation is there to serve and the
values and mission. direction and purpose of the organisation.
3.2 Appraise the impact of 3.2.1 Explain the nature of stakeholder power and interest.
the conflicting needs,
power and influences of 3.2.2 Undertake a stakeholder mapping process (using the
stakeholders on an Mendelow stakeholder mapping matrix).
organisations goals.
3.2.3 Identify the challenges and opportunities presented by
stakeholder groups.
3.2.4 Discuss strategies for managing stakeholder conflict
(direction/education/communication/intervention/participation).
3.3 Examine the influence 3.3.1 Explain the corporate governance framework.
of corporate governance
and regulation. 3.3.2 Examine the importance of separating ownership from
management control.
Learning Outcome 4
The learner will: Understand the impact of political, economic, social, technological,
environmental and legal factors on an organisation.
4.1 Evaluate the impact 4.1.1 Distinguish the macro environment from the micro
and influence of the environment.
external environment on
an organisation and relate 4.1.2 Explain the environmental analysis process that takes
it to its strategy. place during strategy formulation and as part of a continuous
process of environmental scanning.
4.2 Critically appraise the 4.2.1 Explain the component factors of Political, Economic,
use of techniques such as Socio-cultural, Technological, Ecological/Environmental and
PEST, PESTEL, STEEP Legal (PESTEL)
and other derivatives.
4.2.2 Critically evaluate the practical use of these techniques in
the light of dynamic global business environments.
4.3 Identify the sensitivities 4.3.1 Examine the components of environmental change,
of the organisation to including environmental complexity and environmental
environmental change and uncertainty.
appropriate prioritisation of
search mechanisms. 4.3.2 Explain how high environmental uncertainty affects
business strategy.
4.4 Appraise determinants 4.4.1 Examine why certain countries have so many successful
of national advantage international businesses and why these firms sustain superior
using suitable techniques performance in a global environment.
such as Porters Diamond.
4.4.2 Examine the four components of Porters Diamond in
order to explain the competitive advantage of nations.
Learning Outcome 5
The learner will: Understand the key forces that represent both opportunities and threats to
organisations whether for profit or not for profit.
5.1 Evaluate the purpose 5.1.1 Explain the component factors of a SWOT analysis.
and attributes of SWOT
analysis. 5.1.2 Identify the internal and external influences of a SWOT
analysis, in particular the influence of PEST analysis.
5.2 Appraise techniques to 5.2.1 Examine the concepts of competition and competitive
identify the sources of advantage.
competition to
organisations, such as 5.2.2 Explain the concept of competitive advantage using
Porters Five Forces Porters Generic Strategies.
analysis.
5.2.3 Explain the sources of competition in an industry, in
particular using Porters Five Forces model.
5.2.5 Explain how the Industry Life Cycle may affect the nature
of competition within an industry.
5.3 Critically evaluate the 5.3.1 Discuss the nature of changing competitive environments
turbulence of and the impact upon competitive advantage.
environmental change and
the impact on strategic 5.3.2 Critically examine the impact of changes in the macro-
dynamics. environment such as new technologies, globalisation and
deregulation.
Learning Outcome 6
The learner will: Understand the strategy process for an organisation to achieve competitive
advantage.
6.1 Identify the capabilities 6.1.1 Consider the concept of strategic capability.
that allow organisations to
achieve competitive 6.1.2 Explain the concept of critical success factors.
advantage.
6.1.3 Explain the following terms relating to strategic capability:
Threshold resources
Unique resources
Available resources
Threshold competences
Core competences
6.2 Critically analyse 6.2.1 Explain the use of the value chain in assisting
means by which an organisations in identifying those products and services which
organisation positions itself add value to the business/customer.
to outperform its
competitors. 6.2.2 Discuss the use of a value system in creating best value
products and services.
6.3 Identify and evaluate 6.3.1 Explain the Product Life Cycle.
appropriate strategies for
emerging, maturing and 6.3.2 Critically evaluate the application of Porters generic
declining competitive strategies within the three competitive positions, including
positions. discussion of:
Cost leadership based strategies;
Differentiation based strategies, and
Focus based strategies.
7.1 Analyse global influences 7.1.1 Consider the dimensions of a global economic
and impact on environment, including factors such as:
internationalisation of Changing patterns of global trade, economic
strategic business development and modernisation;
management and planning. Development of regional economic groupings;
International impact on currencies and interest rates;
Impact of the influences of economic bodies such as
EU and G8, and
Convergence of buyer life styles and preferences.
7.3 Critically evaluate the 7.3.1 Discuss the effect of globalisation on strategic
effect of these future management and planning.
challenges on strategic
business management and 7.3.2 Discuss the effect on strategic business management of
planning. the globalisation of business, including discussion of:
Impact of global competition and the need to
reassess competitive strategies;
Organisation and structure of businesses;
Changing managerial roles in global organisations;
Impact on growth opportunities and development
strategies;
Impact on core competences and critical success
factors, and
Impact on the organisations value chain.
7.4 Appreciate the impact of 7.4.1 Explain the need for innovation in reaction to the
the increasingly competitive changing global environment.
global environment and the
need for innovation, 7.4.2 Examine the difference between intrapreneurship and
intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship.
entrepreneurship in
organisations. 7.4.3 Examine how these alternative approaches may help
organisations to compete globally.
Assessment:
Assessment method: written examination (unless otherwise stated).
Written examinations are of three hours duration.
All learning outcomes will be assessed.
Recommended Reading:
Please refer to the Tuition Resources section of the Members Area of the ABE website
(www.abeuk.com) for the recommended reading for this subject.