BUSN 6081: Strategic Management
NOTE: For registration please contact Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics General Program Inquiries (Email: mba@tru.ca or Tel: 1-877-663-4087).
Students examine the role of senior management in developing and implementing corporate strategy in a global context. They learn to analyze the firm’s external and internal environment to identify and create competitive advantage as well as to formulate, implement and evaluate cross-functional decisions that directly affect the ability of an organization to achieve its stated objectives. Topics include an introduction to strategic management, measures of firm performance, analysis of the external environment, analysis of the internal environment, business-level strategy, corporate-level strategy, acquisition and restructuring strategies, international strategies, corporate governance, organizational structures and controls, strategic leadership, and corporate social responsibility and ethics.
Learning outcomes
- Explain the need for strategic planning in organizations.
- Analyze a firm's external environment and gather input for strategy development by identifying opportunities and threats.
- Analyze a firm's internal environment and identify firm's strengths and weaknesses.
- Develop effective business-level strategies.
- Describe competitive dynamics in an industry.
- Develop effective corporate-level strategies.
- Use acquisition and restructuring strategies for a firm's growth and competitive advantage.
- Develop effective international strategies.
- Explain the importance of corporate governance in implementing strategies effectively.
- Design effective organizational structures and controls for successful strategy implementation.
- Identify the functions of strategic leaders and top management teams.
- Discuss how entrepreneurial processes are important to a corporations' long-term sustainability.
Course topics
- Module 1: Strategic Management Inputs
- Module 2: Strategic Actions - Strategy Formulation
- Module 3: Strategic Actions - Strategy Implementation
Required text and materials
Online students are responsible for sourcing and ordering their own textbooks. Please see the list of required textbooks here: https://www.tru.ca/distance/courses/MBA_Textbook_List.pdf.
Please note that publishers may offer several package options that include additional resource material not required in your course. Students may purchase a package of their choice as long as it includes the correct author, title and edition listed for the course.
If students have any questions about obtaining the correct textbook, please contact OLMaterials@tru.ca. They will be happy to assist you.
Assessments
Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher on the overall course, and 50% on the Mandatory Final Exam.
| Discussion Forum | 12% |
| Assignment 1: Case Study #1: Sears Canada’s Pull out of Canadian Market | 8% |
| Assignment 2: Case Study #2 CRH Plc: Corporate-level Strategy Redefined | 12% |
| Assignment 3: Case Study #3: Blackberry: The Rise, the Fall and the Revamps | 8% |
| Group Project: Case Study #4: Strategic Management of Innovation at SAP | 20% |
| Mandatory Final Exam: Case Study #5: Carlsberg in Emerging Markets | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
