• University of Exeter Business School
• Module

Operational and Organisational Strategy

Module description

Explore the organisational history and culture in strategy implementation.  Reviewing the macro and micro organisational factors, strategic position and resources and capabilities to achieving high performing and sustained competitive advantage.  Evaluate, review and develop organisational strategy for implementation whilst acknowledging the challenges presented within the operating environment. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

The operational and organisational strategy module is designed to enable an understanding of how strategy is developed and implemented. The module will combine theory and practice utilising the fundamental models of strategic management in a constructive way to see how strategy impacts on different organisational area / departments. The module will contribute to the apprenticeship journey by identifying the practicalities and difficulties in putting a strategy in place thereby enhancing knowledge, skills and capabilities and develop their organisational leadership practice,

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Develop and implement organisational strategy and plans, including approaches to resources and supply chain management, workforce development, sustainability, taking and managing risk, monitoring and evaluation, and quality assurance (A1)
• 2. Examine and articulate own organisations strategy, purpose, values, ethics and governance of your organisation (G3, L2)
• 3. Identify service / organisational improvements and opportunities for innovation and growth using qualitative and quantitative analysis of information and data and benchmarking against others (E3)
• 4. Develop and deliver operational plans, being able to set targets and KPIs, manage resources and monitor and measure outcomes to establish operational effectiveness, efficiencies and excellence (A4)
• 5. Know how to support the implementation of organisational strategy and plans and how to manage change in the organisation(A3)
• 6. Deliver successful outcomes demonstrating the effective use of wide support from a range of sources and gain wide support to deliver successful outcomes.
• 7. Manage change in the organisation (A2)

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Produce reports that clearly present information and data, using a range of interpretation and analytical processes (A5)
• 9. Use different forms of communications (written, verbal, non-verbal, digital) and how to apply them. Communicate clearly, effectively and regularly using oral, written and digital channels and platforms (F1, F4)

Syllabus plan

Week 1 – introduction to the module, How to develop and implement organisational strategy and plans, including approaches to resources and supply chain management, workforce development, sustainability, taking and managing risk, monitoring and evaluation, and quality assurance

Week 2 – masterclass, discussion and exercises around the content of weeks 1-5

Week 3 – Examine and articulate own organisations strategy, purpose, values, ethics and governance of your organisation

Week 4 – Identify service / organisational improvements and opportunities for innovation and growth using qualitative and quantitative analysis of information and data and benchmarking against others

Week 5 – Develop and deliver operational plans, being able to set targets and KPIs, manage resources and monitor and measure outcomes to establish operational effectiveness, efficiencies and excellence

Week 6 – Know how to support the implementation of organisational strategy and plans and how to manage change in the organisation

Week 7 – masterclass, discussion and exercises around the content of weeks 6-9

Week 8 – Deliver successful outcomes demonstrating the effective use of wide support from a range of sources and gain wide support to deliver successful outcomes.

Week 9 – How to manage change in the organisation

Week 10 – assignment writing

Week 11 – assignment writing and submission

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Defer – as first time

Refer – capped at 40%

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Johnson, G. (2017). Fundamentals of Strategy (4th New edition). Coronet Books Inc.

Johnson, G., Whittington, R., Regner, P., Scholes, K., Angwin, D., & Regnér, P. (2017). Exploring Strategy Text Only. Pearson.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

CMI - Management Direct - an online management resource portal. Management Direct allows managers at any level to learn, research and think. It offers fast, 24-hour access to the latest digital content to help overcome hundreds of managerial challenges from absence to performance to change: 5 minute, 20 minute and extended briefings; Creative tools for problem solving; Hundreds of checklists and interactive scenarios to aid self-directed learning; Self-Assessments and automatic CPD recording/reporting; Document templates and best practice guides.

Key words search

Operational, Organisational, Strategy, CMDA