BUSMBA 723 : Strategy in Dynamic Markets

Business and Economics

2025 Quarter One (1252) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores strategic approaches to sustainable growth in a VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) world, focussing on problem-solving, effective positioning in existing markets and shaping of new markets. Develops skills to devise and implement strategies at organisation, ecosystem and market levels in uncertain and complex contexts. Practical examples are used to reinforce climate mitigation and circular economy practices to face and embrace 21st-century challenges.

Course Overview

In today's rapidly changing world, businesses face unprecedented challenges and opportunities that require innovative and sustainable strategies. The Strategy and Market Dynamics course is designed to equip MBA students with the knowledge, skills, and frameworks necessary to navigate and lead in this complex environment. This course delves into the core principles of strategic management while placing a strong emphasis on sustainability, ensuring that future business leaders can create lasting value for their organisations and society.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Formulate and implement strategies that integrate sustainability principles, creating long-term value for businesses and society (Capability 2, 3 and 4)
  2. Critically evaluate innovative business models that are set-up for growth. (Capability 2, 4 and 7)
  3. Analyze competitive strategies and ways how companies can leverage partnerships and co-opetition to achieve sustainable business goals (Capability 2, 3 and 8)
  4. Critically evaluate how firms can shape their markets toward more environmentally sustainable market practices (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  5. Provide justified recommendations to implement sustainable business strategies (Capability 3, 6.1 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Weekly preparation 10% Individual Coursework
Business model and strategy 55% Group & Individual Coursework
Market shaping 35% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Weekly preparation
Business model and strategy
Market shaping

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course, and students are expected to spend 15 hours per week involved in each 10-week, 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 20 hours of live online sessions, 60 hours of guided online activities, readings, completing tasks and thinking about the content and 70 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is mandatory at scheduled online activities.
The course will include live online sessions including group discussions and lectures. These may not be recorded.
Most study material will be available at course commencement although some may be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University quarter timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This course has been developed in response to student feedback.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 09/01/2025 11:35 a.m.