UNIVERSITY OF ZIIMBABWE

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AND MANAGEMENT

ACADEMIC YEAR 2023 AUGUST- DECEMBER SEMESTER

COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE TITLE: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 1
COURSE CODE: BEM401
INSTRUCTOR: Dr T. Mpofu
PHONE NO.: 0771 118 822 / 0773 593 388
EMAIL: tonmpofu@gmail.com/suechirenje@gmail.com
CONSULTATION: Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday / Friday any time.
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
This module was developed in the light of new developments in the world of strategic
management. Strategic management forms the backbone of any given organization. The
course presents a comprehensive framework of various strategies, which can be adopted and
applied in a business context or environment. Strategic management gives an organization a
sense of purpose, vision and mission.

Assessment Method
The evaluation of students will be on continuous basis comprising of the following elements:

A Individual Assignment Weightage 20%

Internal Assessment

B Projects/ Assignments/ Quizzes/ Class Participation etc. Weightage 20%

(Internal Assessment)

C Mid-Semester examination Weightage 10%

(Internal Assessment)

D End –Semester Examination Weightage 50%

(Internal Assessment)

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COURSE COVERAGE
Schedule of lectures, tutorials and direct learning
Day Topic Content Duration
1 Introduction Introduction
Strategic Objectives
Management What is strategy
What is strategic Management
Institutionalizing Strategic Management within a
Business Organisation
The role of Board of Directors in Strategic
Management
Role of CEO
Role of managers in Strategic Management
Corporate Culture and strategy
The seven S model with strategic Management

2 Introduction
Mission, Objectives
Objectives Defining mission, goals and objectives
and strategies
The strategy Hierarchy, strategic component, tactical,
operational
Who formulates the strategic component?
How are strategies formulated
Process variables
The influence of founder and family
Stakeholder analysis
Contingencies and constraints
Allocating resources

3 Strategic Introduction
analysis of Objectives
the business Strategic analysis of the business environment
Environment Strategic managers
Shareholders and the board of directors
Resources of the organisation
Corporate objectives and corporate objectives
Analysis of external environment of a business,
customers, suppliers, government, special interest
groups. Media, labour unions, financial institutions,
competitors
Elements of the Indirect Action Environment, social,
political, economic, technological, green evolution,

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 international dimension of the business
Managing the total environment

4 Competition Introduction
Strategies Objectives
Competitive Analysis
Leaders and followers
Segment protection
Miles and Snows analysis, the defender, prospector,
the analyser, the reactor
Entrepreneurial competition strategies, establishing
outright market leadership, creative limitation,
flanking or segment attack
Porter’s Competition Strategies, cost leadership,
differentiation, focus

5 Strategy Introduction
Formulation Objectives
Strategy formulation
Strategies in an organisation, corporate, business
strategy
Functional operational levels strategy
The nature of strategic decisions
Corporate purpose
Strategic analysis
Strategic choice
Strategic implementation
Implementation of decisions and reviewing results
6 The strategic Introduction
balanced Objectives
scorecard The balanced scorecard
The balanced scorecard as a strategic management
system
Clarify and translate vision and strategy
Communicate and link strategic objectives and
measures
Plan, set targets and align strategic initiatives
Enhance strategic feedback and learning
Why does a business need a balanced scorecard?
Financial performance measures, customer
perspectives, internal business perspectives, internal
business- processes value chain perspective, learning
and growth perspective

7 Competitive Analysis of market competition, extent of industry

Analysis and rivalry, bargaining power of buyers, suppliers
strategic bargaining powers, threat of new entrance, threat of
benchmarking substitutes

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 The nature of competition
Competitor information, evaluating competitors,
potential competitor response
Strategic group analysis
Swot analysis,
Strategic benchmarking systems. Purpose of
benchmarking
Benchmarking process
Defining, planning and Implementation of the project
8 International Introduction
Strategy: Objectives
Thinking Thinking globally and internationally
globally and Global strategies
managing Managing locally, knowledge of the country and its
locally international context, knowledge of the country’s
language and communication patterns, culture,
patterns of influences and decision making process
Total commitment
International operations, home phase, international
phase
Organisational issues, decentralisation and
divisionalisation
International management, management style,
developing the international manager, polycentric
approach, geocentric approach

Reading Material
1. Cole G.A, (2018) Strategic Management, Ashford Colour Press
2. Johnson G. and Scholes K. (2015) Exploring Corporate Strategy, Prentice Hall
International.
3. Modern T. (2015) Business Strategy and Planning, McGraw Hill Book Company.
4. Norton D.P. and Kaplan S.R (2016) Translate Strategy into Action – The Balanced
Scorecard, Havard Business School Press, Boston Massachesettes.
5. Porter M.E. (1980) Competitive Strategy, The Free Press
6. Thompson, A., Strickland I A, Gamble Je (2013). Crafting and Executing Strategy: The
quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases. Mcgraw-hill/irwin, new York.
7. Read articles on strategic management from different journals and publishing houses
www.emeraldinsight.com,Organisation Studies Journal -SAGEPUB

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