BS2232 – BUSINESS POLICY 


Module Number: BS2232 

Module Title: Business Policy 

Number of Aston Credits: 10 

Total Number of ECTS Credits: 5 
(European Credit Transfer) 

Staff Member Responsible for the Module: 

Dr. Carola Wolf 

Economics & Strategy Group 

Office 
South Wing, Room SW918 
Email: c.wolf@aston.ac.uk 


Prerequisite(s) for the Module: 

None 

Module Learning Outcomes: 

This course is designed as a general introduction to Business Policy and 
Strategic Management. The overall objective of this module is to understand the 
role of strategic management for organizations and its relation to other 
management topics such as corporate governance, sustainability, human 
resource management and leadership as well as organizational design. 
Students will be introduced to key concepts and theories of strategic 
management. We will discuss challenges that organizations are facing with 
regards to the formulation and implementation of strategies. 

Key learning outcomes: 

. 
To gain an overview of key concepts and theories of strategic 
management. 


. 
To understand strategic management in the context of related topics 
including corporate governance, corporate responsibility, organizational 
design and leadership. 

. 
To understand how organizations formulate and implement strategies. 
. 
To recognize the influence of globalization and sustainability on strategic 
management. 
. 
To apply and evaluate relevant theories and tools in the context of case 
studies. 
. 
To begin developing strategic decision making skills through case study 
analysis in tutorials. 

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Module Content: 

Week 1: Introduction to Business Policy and Strategic Management 
Week 2: Strategic Decision Making Processes 
Week 3: Issues of Corporate Governance 
Week 4: Organizational Purpose and Responsibility 
Week 5: Corporate, Business and Functional Strategies 
Week 6: External Analysis 
Week 7: Internal Analysis 
Week 8: Strategy Formulation and Strategic Choices 
Week 9: Strategy Implementation: Structural Context 
Week 10: Strategy Implementation: Staffing & Leadership 
Week 11: Course Revision 

International Dimensions: 

The material taught in the module is designed to be applicable to business 
enterprises in any capitalist or mixed economy system. 

The cases and examples discussed in class draw on a broad range of 
organizations from diverse industries and geographical backgrounds. 

Corporate Connections: 

Lectures employ real industry and corporate situations to illustrate key strategic 
management tools. In classes students are encouraged to apply such concepts 
to real firm and industry mini case studies. Students are also encouraged to 
approach the formal class test in the same manner. 

Links with research: 

The topic of Business Policy is reflected within research in organisations as 
opposed to ‘on’ firms. Especially within the area of practice approaches to 

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BS2232 – BUSINESS POLICY 


organising and strategising, organisational life is investigated and will further be 
explored. The lecturer is drawing on her own research on strategy processes and 
practices. 

Method of Learning and Teaching: 

Eleven lectures of 1.5 hours (weeks 1-11) and three one-hour tutorials (weeks 311). 


The lectures aim to provide a basic theoretical foundation, which is applied to 
cases in the tutorials. Tutorials deal with case studies where the various models 
are applied to real cases. Through the practical application of the various tools, 
models and frameworks, their logical integration is explored and use of the 
generic strategic management frameworks is practised. 

Tutorials are organized in a rotating system. Each tutorial group will have three 
tutorials in total. The tutorials serve to discuss case studies which have been 
prepared by students individually prior to the tutorial as part of the directed 

learning activities. 
Contact hours (lecture & tutorials) 19.5 hours 
Directed learning 66 hours 
Private study and reading 12.5 hours 
Examination 2 hours 
Total 100 hours 
Essential Readings: 

The following textbook will be used as core reading for this course: 
“Strategic Management and Business Policy: Toward Global Sustainability 
(International Version)” by Thomas L. Wheelen and J. David Hunger, 13th edition, 
Pearson 


Assessment and Feedback: 

The assessment is via a two-hour closed book examination (100%). It assumes 
knowledge of all lectures, the main recommended readings and cases (including 
the discussions in the tutorials). 

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