In an ever-changing world, organisations must make strategic choices based on solid analyses and decision-making processes. This module adopts an innovative teaching approach to illustrate how strategic management theories and models can be applied in different contexts and how they inform decision-making. You will develop a skill set founded on strategic management theory that will allow you to become an active actor in the strategy process that organisations deploy to ensure their long-term success.
The module is relevant to anyone interested in understanding how organisations can be managed strategically and sustainably. You will be exposed to the key theoretical frameworks that inform the understanding and practice of strategy, with particular attention paid to competitive and corporate strategy domains. You will apply strategic management models to real cases from different contexts and critically assess their implications for organisations and stakeholders at large.
You'll hear from managers and consultants and learn from their experiences in a wide range of examples and cases from several industries at national and international levels. The selection of cases ranges from traditional production companies to innovative businesses. You will also benefit from the experience of an international module team who has designed the module for practical application and use of strategic models and frameworks. A key feature of your learning will be a collaborative role play activity in the final phase of the module, where you will work as a consultant in a small team with other students to offer advice to a company and prepare a professional presentation.
Block 1
You’ll be introduced to key concepts in strategy and strategic management. There is much debate on what strategy is, and you’ll learn different definitions and develop a clear understanding of what comprises strategic choices for organisations. You’ll also explore the core concepts of vision, mission, values, and goals. As strategic management is strongly connected with performance, you’ll learn how to evaluate a firm’s performance in financial and non-financial terms. There is also a section on corporate social responsibility to enhance your appreciation of performance indicators beyond financial performance. While engaging with the module content and its activities, you’ll develop your study, professional and employability skills, such as building convincing arguments, engaging in critical thinking and writing professional documents.
Block 2
You’ll examine how changes in the broader external environment surrounding organisations and the characteristics of their internal environment can influence strategy. The analysis of the external environment considers how external forces and competition in industry influence organisations and their strategic choices. The analysis of the internal environment looks at how resources and capabilities shape the strategies of organisations. You'll gain an understanding of how to use and apply strategic management tools to carry out such analyses, engage with relevant module activities and interactive case studies based on real case organisations from a range of sectors.
Block 3
In this block, attention turns to examining business and competitive strategies and how they influence how organisations conduct their business. The key considerations will be developing your understanding of the types of competitive advantage, focusing on cost leadership and differentiation. Special attention is given to explaining how companies adopt different business models and types, and how they can create value. You’ll be engaged in defining the value proposition of a new business as part of a role play to understand how several dimensions are interconnected.
Block 4
You’ll look at strategy at a corporate level, where strategic decision-making takes place. Some of the most important considerations here will touch on vertical integration, diversification and internationalisation (drivers, location, speed, and outcomes). You'll learn how organisations grow and expand following different strategies such as new greenfield operations, mergers and acquisitions, alliances and joint ventures. You'll also learn about emerging markets and how multinationals can operate in those increasingly important areas by leveraging their political capabilities.
Block 5
You’ll identify and assess the challenges and barriers in implementing strategies as you learn how to put a strategy into practice by aligning its formulation and implementation. Core elements that influence implementation will be examined, including organisational structure, management systems, organisational culture and people management. In this final part, you’ll join a small group of other learners for a collaborative activity that feeds into your individual reflection for the end-of-module assessment.
The focus on developing academic and professional skills closely reflects the Quality Assurance Agency's benchmark statement expectations for business studies and clearly expresses the module's intention to enhance the employability of its students. Although it has a significant theoretical component, the module's emphasis on the practical application of strategic models supports employability across a range of sectors
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
B302 is a compulsory module in our:
B302 is an option module in our:
Strategic management starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2029.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
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There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
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