This course explores the relationships between organizations and their environments from a corporate policy perspective. Topics to be discussed include organizational structure and development,competition analysis, long and short-range planning, creating mission and vision statements, implementing goals, performance indicators and evaluation.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Explain the participants in the strategic management process.
2. Apply appropriate strategic management tools to diagnose internal and external factors facing organizations.
3. Summarize the types of competitive advantage and explain associated best practices for creating and maintaining advantages. 
4. Identify the most commonly used corporate strategies and analyze alternatives for creating long-term value.
5. Apply modern strategic management techniques and choose the best alternatives in the face of rapidly changing technology.
6. Summarize strategic management theory and concepts to explain competitive advantage in the era of globalization.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).

Week 1: Unit 1 – Introduction to Strategy

Week 2: Unit 2 – Industry Analysis and the Five Forces

Week 3: Unit 3 – Strategy Formulation and the SWOT

Week 4: Unit 4 – Strategy Formulation, the PEST, and Success Factors

Week 5: Unit 5 – Competitive Advantage

Week 6: Unit 6 – Corporate Strategies

Week 7: Unit 7 – Innovation and Globalization

Week 8: Unit 8 – Ethics and Globalization

Weel 9: Unit 9 – Review and Final Exam

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: Introduction to Strategy

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment and rate in Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 2: Industry Analysis and the Five Forces

• Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment and rate in Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 3: Strategy Formulation and the SWOT

• Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment and rate in Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 4: Strategy Formulation, the PEST, and Success Factors

• Peer assess Unit 3 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment and rate in Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 5: Competitive Advantage

• Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment and rate in Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 6: Corporate Strategies

• Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment and rate in Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 7: Innovation and Globalization

• Peer assess Unit 6 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment and rate in Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 8: Ethics and Globalization

• Peer assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignment
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment and rate in Discussion Forum)
• Make entries to the Learning Journal
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Read the Unit 9 Learning Guide carefully for instructions on the Final Exam
• Take the Review Quiz

Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam

• Read the Learning Guide and take the Review Quiz, if you haven’t already done so
• Prepare for, take, and submit the Final Exam
• The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time); exact dates, times, and other details will be provided accordingly by your instructor