CHUKA UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

BCOM 403: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
COURSE OUTLINE
Course Lecturer: L.K.Kathuni; 0725761708
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Course Purpose
This course is intended to provide the student with an exposition to the concept of strategy,
the process of strategy formulation and strategy implementation. At the end of the course,
students will thoroughly understand and appreciate the process and value of strategic
management. A key requirement of the course will be application of strategic management to
organizations in Kenya.

Expected Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. To define and explain the nature and purpose of strategic management and business
policy.
2. Developing skills for identifying and choosing alternatives
3. To evaluate the strategic management process
4. To explain the importance of business policies and challenges involved in implementation
5. To analyze the emerging issues in strategic management

Course Description
Introduction to strategic management. Nature, scope, levels, benefits and limitations of
strategic management. Strategic hierarchy. Environmental analysis. Strategy formulation.
Strategy implementation. Strategy evaluation and control. Strategic change management.
Emerging issues in strategic management.

COURSE CONTENT

Introduction
1. Overview, definition and nature of strategic management
2. The Concept of Strategy

Environmental Scanning
1. Internal Environment
2. External Environment
3. Methods of Environmental Scanning

Strategy Formulation
1. Strategic Direction: Vision, Mission, Values
2. Strategic Analysis: External and Internal analysis
3. Formulating Objectives
4. Strategic Choice

Strategy Implementation
1. Institutionalizing Strategy
2. Operationalizing Strategy
3. Resources in Strategy
4. Role of management in strategy implementation
5. Matching organization structure to strategy
Strategy Evaluation and Control
1. Components of strategic control
2. Process of strategic control
3. Key players of strategic control process
Contemporary Issues in Strategic Management

Teaching methodology
The course will be taught using lectures, group discussions class presentations and case studies

Course evaluation
Continuous Assessment Tests 30%
End of Semester exam 70%
Pass Mark 40%

Recommended Text
1. Pierce, J.A. & Robinson, R.B. (2007); Strategic Management: Formulation,
Implementation and Control. McGraw-Hill, 10th edition.
2. Johnson G, Scholes K. & Whittington R. (2005). Exploring Corporate Strategy, FT-
Prentice Hall, 7th edition.
3. Ansoff H I. & McDonnel E. Implanting Strategic Management, Prentice Hall,
Europe, 2nd edition, 1990.
4. Porter, M. Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analysing Industries and
Competitors. The Free Press, 1980.
5. Ansoff, H.I. The Concept of Corporate Strategy. Penguin Books, 1987.
6. Business Journals and Related Material
 Strategic Management Journals
 Harvard Business Review
 Nairobi Journal of Management
 Business Columns of Local Dailies