Outline

Overview

Growth remains central to the concerns of CEOs and investors alike. Yet the increasing incidence of disruptive change has created a new world in which competitive advantage is much more transient than in past decades, making consistent growth harder to achieve. In this new world strategic agility has become the cornerstone of business sustainability. This unit examines how organisations can reshape their business models in response to changes in technology and market structure and explores the circumstances in which opportunities exist to actively shape the environment through proactive business model innovation. The unit provides practical experience at applying relevant concepts, techniques, and frameworks to real-world situations in order to generate innovative strategic responses to dynamic market conditions.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	SMBA6002
Academic unit	Management Education
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	SMBA6001
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Carlos Vazquez Hernandez, carlos.vazquezhernandez@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Group project (presentations Weekly presentations (Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, and Week 10)	30%	Multiple weeks Due date: 19 Apr 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 19 Apr 2022	25-30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case study 1 Case study	35%	Week 05	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case study 2 Case study	35%	Week 09	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Real-world case study 1 (35%): Each student answers the question presented during the first class, and independently analyze it. The assignment should 1) identify key drivers in macro environment, and 2) assess the impact on the industry and its key players with the goal of 3) identifying one or more strategic issues that the firm needs to address. Essentially, you will conduct a combined PEST(PESTEL) and 5-Forces analysis. This assignment is due in week 5 (more information will be provided in class).Formatting: Time New Roman. 12 point size, 1.5 spacing. More information on assessment criteria on Canvas.

Real-world case study 2 (35%): Each student will focus on the company allocated in week 5. You will have to identify its strategic issue(s), and independently analyse its strategies, business model and operations. The purpose of this assignment is to gauge the student´s ability to apply concepts and theories from class. Particular emphasis should be paid to issues related to:

Execution
Hedging strategic bets
Identification of innovation strategy
Possible new business models

This assignment is due in week 9 (more information will be provided in class).Formatting: Time New Roman. 12 point size, 1.5 spacing. More information on assessment criteria on Canvas.

Group project (presentations – 30%): From week 1 to Week 4, and also for week 10, you are required to prepare a presentation on the content of the class. This presentation evaluates the preparation of mandatory readings and class concepts. The presenting group should always end with a few provocative/interesting/relevant questions in order to stimulate class debate. ALL STUDENTS MUST READ ALL MANDATORY READINGS in order to be prepared for discussion. More information on assessment criteria on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per university policies

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to strategy and growth	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 02	Strategy Analysis for Competitive Advantage	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 03	Business-Level Strategy and Rivalry	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 04	Corporate Strategy and Strategic Leadership	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 05	Strategic Agility and Effective Execution	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 06	Strategy and Uncertainty	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 07	Strategy and Innovation	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 08	New Business Models	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 09	Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 10	Strategy in practice, wrap-up, and key take-aways	Seminar (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: Note that MBA classes held at the CBD Campus are not systematically recorded and 100% class attendance is expected for each unit of the MBA Program. If there are extenuating circumstances as to why you are not able to attend a particular class, please contact your unit coordinator as soon as possible, and also notify your group members (if the unit has a group work component). A course requirement is 80% attendance, and those who drop below this level may not pass the unit.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See Canvas website for details both under each week and in the reading list.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. apply key strategy tools to business situations
LO2. evaluate organizational strategies and propose solutions for strategic issues in a variety of business contexts and industries.
LO3. tailor organisational design to facilitate strategy execution
LO4. evaluate business model performance and communicate key insights effectively.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Business School Policies

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

SMBA6002: Strategies for Growth

MBA Session 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Castlereagh St, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect