Students
MMBA8055 – Business Strategy: Utilising Multi-Level Frameworks for Business Success
2025 – Term 3, In person-scheduled-infrequent, City
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Erik Lundmark
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MBA or GradCertBusAdmin or GradDipBusAdmin or GradDipMgt or GradCertMgt or MEngMgt
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
Business Strategy develops your capacity to think strategically about an organisation, its macro environment, industry, and competitive position. Through a blend of theoretical frameworks and their practical applications, you will develop individual and team skills for conducting strategic analyses across diverse industry contexts. You will learn how industry dynamics and environmental change affect organisations and how to act strategically to create a fit that sets your organisation apart from others. While you will discover a range of strategic models and tools, ultimately, the unit aims to develop a strategic mindset based on understanding organisations, their stakeholders and broader environments from various perspectives. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Demonstrate an applied knowledge of the perspectives, concepts and tools of business strategy through application to a variety of organisational contexts.
- ULO2: Individually and in teams apply the concepts and tools of business strategy to undertake the sustainable development and evaluation of strategy in a variety of organisational contexts.
- ULO3: Recommend and communicate an optimal strategic direction and its implementation in a variety of organisational contexts.
- ULO4: Analyse and integrate environmental, social, and governance factors, and principles of responsible leadership, in the development and implementation of strategy.
General Assessment Information
Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments)
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to apply for Special Consideration.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Practice: Strategic Organisation Analysis | 40% | No | Week 6 |
| Professional Practice: Strategic Organisation Evaluation | 20% | No | Week 8 |
| Skills Development: Strategy Perspectives | 40% | No | Week 10 |
Professional Practice: Strategic Organisation Analysis
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 40%
The purpose of this assessment is for you to work with peers to demonstrate an applied knowledge of the concepts and frameworks of business strategy by conducting a strategic analysis and presenting your findings, strategic direction and its implementation for an organisation in various contexts.
You will work with peers to conduct a strategic analysis, identify strategic direction and recommendations for an organization, together with an implementation plan for your recommendations and present the findings to the class.
Skills in focus:
- Discipline knowledge
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Collaboration
Deliverable: Group presentation [max. 20 minutes; marked individually 30% and group 10%]
Individual and group assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an applied knowledge of the perspectives, concepts and tools of business strategy through application to a variety of organisational contexts.
- Individually and in teams apply the concepts and tools of business strategy to undertake the sustainable development and evaluation of strategy in a variety of organisational contexts.
- Recommend and communicate an optimal strategic direction and its implementation in a variety of organisational contexts.
Professional Practice: Strategic Organisation Evaluation
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%
The purpose of this assessment is for you to work with peers to demonstrate your understanding of concepts, frameworks and tools in business strategy and their applications, and then draw on this understanding to critically analyse a business of your choice.
You will assume the perspective of a team of strategy consultants who have been retained by the senior management of a business and generate a strategy report that evaluates the strategic position of the business and provides an analysis and recommendation for its future strategic direction.
Skills in focus:
- Discipline knowledge
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Collaboration
Deliverable: Written submission [max. 2,000 words]
Group assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an applied knowledge of the perspectives, concepts and tools of business strategy through application to a variety of organisational contexts.
- Individually and in teams apply the concepts and tools of business strategy to undertake the sustainable development and evaluation of strategy in a variety of organisational contexts.
- Recommend and communicate an optimal strategic direction and its implementation in a variety of organisational contexts.
- Analyse and integrate environmental, social, and governance factors, and principles of responsible leadership, in the development and implementation of strategy.
Skills Development: Strategy Perspectives
Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 40%
The purpose of this assessment is for you to contrast different perspectives on strategy and organisations to identify their strengths and weaknesses and how they relate to the content addressed in the unit and its activities.
You will write an essay that draws on established frameworks and perspectives to discuss and critique the content covered in the unit.
Skills in focus:
- Discipline knowledge
- Critical thinking
- Work readiness
- Communication
Deliverable: Written submission [max.1,800 words]
Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an applied knowledge of the perspectives, concepts and tools of business strategy through application to a variety of organisational contexts.
- Analyse and integrate environmental, social, and governance factors, and principles of responsible leadership, in the development and implementation of strategy.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
This unit is offered in intensive mode at the city campus. You need access to software to produce word documents and videos.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2025.07 of the Handbook