BUSINESS POLICY

Uganda Martyrs University
Template for a detailed breakdown (granulation) of course activities for a blended learning course
By Richard Odoki Facilitator (rodoki@umu.ac.ug or odokik@gmail.com)
Template of blended course outline with activity granulation:
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FACULTY OF BAM
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
NAME OF PROGRAMME:
COURSE TITLE: BUSINESS POLICY
COURSE CODE: BPO3102
Level of course: Undergraduate
Level of course: 111 Semester
Credit units: 4 CU
Brief course description
This course will enable students to put together what they have learnt from other subjects into practical aspects when making different choices of decisions. Each manager is expected to make decisions for the corporations that they manage on a daily basis.
Objectives
1. To understand the various management concepts used in strategic management.
2. Explore the meaning of organizational strategy and competitive strategies.
3. Investigate the process on how strategies are formulated within the organization.
4. Measure organizational performance against set objectives and also in comparison to the industry competition.
5. To understand the basis and functions of various strategic management models.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course students should be able to:
1. Describe the characteristics of strategic decisions.
2. Define what is meant by strategy and strategic management.
3. Explain how strategic priorities vary by level in terms of corporate, business and operational.
4. Identify key structural drivers of change and the different impact on organizations.
5. Describe the most important organizational processes, systems, performance targets and the circumstances where they will be most appropriate.
COURSE DURATION: You are expected to spend about 60 hours of online engagement and additional hours for the final examination. Additional hours of self-directed learning will be required to gain a broader understanding of the course concepts.
METHODS OF DELIVERY: The course will be delivered through a variety of online activities like asynchronous / synchronous lectures, discussion forums, demonstrations, project work, group presentations, individual presentations and micro teaching. The final examination will be guided on later.
MODE OF ASSESSMENT:
• A number of inbuilt course activities like quizzes, a test and projects assignment will be assessed to contribute to a total of the Course work mark of 50%.
• End of Semester examinations (50%).
• Total mark 100%
• Pass Mark 50%
Course Facilitator: Richard Odoki can be reached on E-mail: rodoki@umu.ac.ug or odokik@gmail.com Or WhatsApp +256782 333463
S/N Topic/Sub-topic
Topic Introduction (7 hours)
-What is strategic management?
-Definition of terms.
-Strategic managers and types of businesses
-Strategic management VS management
Lecture with guided discussion, Online – Learners will follow an asynchronous online lecturer led video discussion on the general scope of strategic management, definition of key terms, strategic managers and types of business. [2 hours]
Online video presentation and discussion on Strategic managers [ 2 hours]
Online video Individual researched presentation on strategic management VS management. 2 hours
Quiz Online multiple-choice quiz to test understanding of major concepts in strategic management. [1 hour]

Topic Strategic management (6 hours)
-Basic resources of strategic management
-Strategic planning and strategic direction
-Corporate planning
Lecture/ discussion Online – Video lecturer led discussion highlighting the basic resources of strategic management, strategic planning and strategic direction and corporate planning. [1 hour]
Quiz Selected questions will be assigned to online learners [1 hour]
Guided discussion Online – Learners will hold an asynchronous discussion to share their own experiences on the -Basic resources of strategic management
-Strategic planning and strategic direction
-Corporate planning

3 hours
Written Assignment and individual presentation Online – learners will summarize and submit online the main aspects of strategic planning and strategic direction 1 Hour
The corporate environment (6 hours)
-Types of environments
-Factor markets
-Analysis methods commonly used: SWOT/SWOC analysis
Reading Assignment Online – learners will read an online article about the Corporate environment 1hour
Guided discussion Online – learners will hold an asynchronous discussion following a group-led discussion on types of environments, factor markets, analysis methods commonly used 2hours

Quiz
Learners will take an online multiple-choice questions to test understanding of the corporate environments and there after discussion will follow



2 hours
Decision making (7 hours)
-Challenges decision makers encounter
-Flexibility in thinking
-Types of decisions
Lecture Online – Learners will follow an asynchronous lecturer led discussion describing the decision making. 2 hours
Guided discussion Online – learners will hold an asynchronous discussion about the challenges decision makers encounter, flexibility in thinking and types of decisions 3 hours
Written Assignment and individual presentation Online – Learners will have individual presentation and submit the assignments 2 hours

Strategy alternatives (6 hours)
-Types of strategies
-Combination strategies
-Alternatives and performance
Lecture Online – learners will follow a synchronous video lecture on the general concepts of strategic alternatives. 1 hour
Discussion and presentation Learners will be assigned specific tasks in group on the types of strategies, combination strategies, alternatives and performance. 3 hours
Quiz Each learner will take a 20 mins online test presentation 2 hours
Analysing resources and capabilities (6 hours)
-Objectives
-Research and development
-Functional strategies

Lecture /Discussion Online – learners will follow a synchronous lecture on analyzing resources and capabilities. 1 hour
Task-based learning Learners will be assigned take home tasks on practical considerations on objectives, research and development and functional strategies.
Learners will have individual presentation thereafter 5 hours
Evaluating and choosing policy alternatives (8 hours)
-Decision making under certainty
-Uncertainty and risk
-Characteristics of the decision making process.
-Freewheeling opportunism



Lecture Discussion Online – learners will follow an asynchronous lecture demonstrating the general concepts of evaluating and choosing policy alternatives 3 hours
Task based learning





Assignments Learners will be assigned specific task on decision making under certainty, uncertainty and risk and characteristic of decision making process and they will present their finding online


Final Online questions shall be given and each group will make an online 15-minute presentation of their findings demonstrating or showing how they have handle the task


3 hours






2 hours
Competitor analysis (7 hours)
-Identifying competitors.
-Assessing competitors
-Selecting competitors to attack and avoid
-Basic competitive strategies

Lecture




Assignment








Test Online – learners will follow a synchronous lecture on the general concepts of Competitor analysis

Learners will be assigned specific task on identifying competitors, Assessing competitors, selecting competitors to attack and avoid and they will present their finding online




Final Online questions shall be given and each group will make an online 15-minute presentation of their findings demonstrating or showing how they have handle the task










1hour



3 hours










3 hours
Business assessment (7 hours)
- Identify non-functional aspects.
-Benchmark according to the competitive forces.
-Provide a general overview of the corporate performance.

Online – learners will follow a synchronous lecture on the general concepts of Business assessment.

Learners will be assigned specific task on identifying non functional aspects, Benchmark according to competitive forces, provide overview of the corporate performance and they will present their finding online

Final Online questions shall be given and each group will make an online 15-minute presentation of their findings demonstrating or showing how they have handle the task


















1 hour




3 hours






3 hours
. Final examination Theoretical written examination Examination. Learners will be guided later
Online engagement
Examination Engagement
Total Engagement 60hours
hours
hours