Business Strategy

Subject BUSA90027 (2015)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2015.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

July, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start 29-Jun-2015
Teaching Period 06-Jul-2015 to 10-Sep-2015
Assessment Period End 18-Sep-2015
Last date to Self-Enrol 30-Jun-2015
Census Date 17-Jul-2015
Last date to Withdraw without fail 21-Aug-2015

September, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start 17-Aug-2015
Teaching Period 10-Sep-2015 to 11-Oct-2015
Assessment Period End 11-Oct-2015
Last date to Self-Enrol 21-Aug-2015
Census Date 11-Sep-2015
Last date to Withdraw without fail 25-Sep-2015


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 30 hours
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites:

Admission into the Master of Business Administration.

Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

Program Services

programservices@mbs.edu

Subject Overview:

Businesses operate in a competitive environment. Although some business may not have competitors when they are first established, if they are successful competitors will come. Hence, it is necessary for a business to understand how it can achieve success and sustain that success in the competitive arena. This course is designed to provide the tools, concepts, and frameworks to both formulate and to execute a sustainable competitive advantage. The focus is not how to be better than your competitors but rather how to be unique or different than your competitors. This perspective allows for multiple “winners” in an industry each targeting a different set of customers as opposed to direct, head-to-head competition that is usually destructive to both competitors.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Identify the opportunities for a business to achieve competitive advantage
  • Use tools and concepts to formulate sustainable strategy
  • Clearly identify and execute the steps required to launch and sustain a strategy
  • Analyse a business strategy and determine why it is successful or unsuccessful
Assessment:
  • Class participation and discussion (15%)
    • Throughout subject
  • Quiz (15%)
    • 1 hour
    • Midway through the subject
  • Syndicate Project (30%)
    • Report (equivalent of 750 word assessment)
    • Presentation (equivalent of 750 word assessment)
    • Midway through the subject
  • Final Exam (40%)
    • Hurdle requirement
    • 90 minutes
    • End of subject
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Related Course(s): Master of Business Administration

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