Course coordinator
Associate Professor Henri Burgers
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Brisbane City
- Attendance mode
- Weekend
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course provides students with essential tools, frameworks, and processes that enhance the strategic management and resource allocation in organisations. The curriculum covers a broad spectrum, from the intricacies of strategic design to its adept execution at both business and corporate levels. Students will gain the ability to critically evaluate a company’s current strategy and leverage these insights for innovative strategy development. Armed with this knowledge, students will further enhance their capacity to analyse dynamic business environments and comprehend a firm’s resource foundation and capabilities. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking, understanding the myriad considerations that influence strategic decisions, and navigating complex social and political dynamics within an organisation to ensure effective strategy execution. Additionally, the course provides opportunity to reflect on areas for personal growth as future practising strategic managers.
MGTS7803 Strategy from Design to Practice provides the foundations to understand the key strategic decisions of an organisation and its implications for competitive advantage and firm performance. It is an applied course that reviews mainstream contemporary thinking and models in strategic management, using a combination of highly interactive seminars, teamwork, case discussions, and simulations. Course participants will work in teams to apply the ideas and tools discussed in class to a real organisation. Each team will present an analysis of their chosen organisation to the class and provide recommendations for its future strategy; the implementation of these recommendations will be articulated in a written report. Online case study simulations will also be run during a number of seminars for individual students to work through and discuss. This instance of the course is run over two weekends.
Sustainable Development Goals
UQ Business School is a proud supporter and Advanced Signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME). As part of the largest global collaboration between business schools and the UN, the school emphasises its role in empowering students to drive societal transformation through the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs highlight that a thriving economy relies on a healthy environment, aiming to balance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection for a sustainable future.
Course requirements
Restrictions
GCBA, GDipBA, MBA
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Associate Professor Henri Burgers
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full Name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
MGTS7803 aims to give students the skills and tools for doing strategic analysis, including the preparation of a strategic analysis for an organisation. To do so, the main theories and frameworks in strategic management will be presented, discussed, and applied to specific case studies. As a foundation course, MGTS7803 serves to develop in a holistic way an understanding of the key strategic issues facing many organisations, which will be further explored throughout your MBA across different disciplines and functional areas.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental strategy concepts and processes needed to navigate a dynamic business environment.
LO2.
Apply strategy principles to formulate strategy across different levels of an organisation.
LO3.
As a team, critically evaluate the impact of strategy on multiple stakeholders, to inform resource allocation to maximise value for an organisation over time.
LO4.
Design the implementation of a strategy to chart a firm's course over time.
LO5.
Propose solutions that address strategy implementation challenges.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | A1: Advisory report to develop strategic options | 30% |
4/04/2025 4:00 pm |
| Presentation |
A2: Selecting & Recommending Implementation of a Strategic Option
|
30% |
12/04/2025
During Class |
| Role play/ Simulation |
A3: Business Simulation Reflection
|
40% |
28/04/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
A1: Advisory report to develop strategic options
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
4/04/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
The task requires each student to develop three strategic options on a strategic issue faced by a real organisation. The development of strategic options is supported by strategic analyses.
The report demonstrates knowledge of strategy concepts and processes. The written report, maximum of 2,000 words (plus exhibits), provides advice on benefits and risks for each strategic option to be considered by the Executive Team.
AI STATEMENT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Please submit through Turnitin in the Blackboard Assessment section.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Please note that extension requests will be limited to a max of 5 days due to the intensive nature of this course.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
A2: Selecting & Recommending Implementation of a Strategic Option
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
12/04/2025
During Class
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed, Peer assessment factor.
Task description
In this activity your team, group size between 4 and 5 students, will evaluate the strategic options developed by your members in A1 and recommend one of them to the company. You are required to justify your selection of a strategic option in consideration of benefits and risks to the organisation and its stakeholders. The presentation will also include actionable recommendations on how the organisation can implement your proposed strategic option.
Peer Review: Group members are expected to contribute equally, fulfilling the tasks agreed on. If there are disagreements in relation to team members' contributions that cannot be resolved, students must bring the problem to the attention of the lecturer as early as possible. Students will undertake a peer evaluation, which can influence the marks of group members.
AI STATEMENT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Please Note: The presentation will be recorded for marking purposes per UQ Policy.
Submission guidelines
Please upload one copy per team of your presentation slides and appendices.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Extensions or deferrals are not available for this presentation due to the intensive nature of the course. An extension may be available for the submitted material only.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% Late Penalty applies to submitted material only. Late submissions are not accepted for in-class presentations. Failure to present at the scheduled time will result in a mark of zero for the presentation portion of this assessment.
A3: Business Simulation Reflection
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Role play/ Simulation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
28/04/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
The reflection report is based on your performance of a live business case (online simulation). You are tasked with the design and execution of a strategy implementation with a specific focus on how you need to change the organisation to successfully execute your strategic initiative. You will be assessed on your reflection in response to guiding reflective tasks, i.e., setting a strategy and objectives, reflections on your strategy execution and performance in relation to the objectives, and proposed changes to the strategy/objectives and/or execution. It offers an opportunity to translate your reflection to your own experience.
The document should have a maximum length of 2,000 words, but you have the option to attach figures, tables or slides that may be necessary to support your analysis.
AI STATEMENT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit to Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Seminar |
Day 1 - Friday - 21/03/2025 Session 1 - What is strategy and why is it important? Course Introduction & main concepts in strategy. Session 2 - Evaluating the internal environment. Employing strategic resources to create and sustain a competitive advantage. |
Seminar |
Day 2 - Saturday - 22/03/2025 Session 3 - Evaluating the external environment: Understanding how to position in your industry to create a competitive advantage. Session 4 - Crafting a business level strategy. Develop strategies that create and capture strategic value. |
|
Seminar |
Day 3 - Sunday - 23/03/2025 Session 5 - Designing a Growth Strategy. How to achieve growth through innovation and internationalisation Session 6 - Evaluating Strategic Options: Assessing the suitability, feasibility and desirability of strategic options for the organisation and stakeholders. |
|
Week 4 |
Seminar |
Day 4 - Saturday - 12/04/2025 Session 7 - Presentations. In class presentations of your strategic option and recommendations - see Assessment Details. Session 8 - Corporate Level Strategy. Creating value through effective corporate parenting |
Seminar |
Day 5 - Sunday - 13/04/2025 Session 9 - Managing Strategy Implementation & Change. Implementing strategy through models of strategic change and managing organisational politics Session 10 - Executing strategy. Making strategic decisions in live simulation to put a strategy into actions. |
Additional learning activity information
Sustainable Development Goals
This course integrates the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout course learning activities:
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.