Corporate Strategy (BUSA90053)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability(Quotas apply)
July
September
FeesLook up fees

This course addresses the challenges facing executives running multi-business firms and the way they develop strategies aimed at creating value across the businesses owned by the corporation.

One of the most significant changes that occurred during the last century was the emergence of conglomerates, diversified corporation which grow via acquistion and are characterized by a separate headquarters and relatively autonomous and discrete operating units. This economic form was subsequently challenged by new forms of economic organization such as private equity and multi-sided platforms.

Corporate strategy can be defined as the way a corporation seeks to create value through the configuration and coordination of its multi-market activities – how it generates and preserves corporate advantage. Corporate advantage can be defined as the extent to which a corporation enhances the competitive advantage of its businesses, over and above that of (the best) alternative ownership structure.

The central questions a corporate strategy revolve around the following issues:

  • The firm’s scope – the mix of industries in which the firm competes; what businesses should we be in?
  • The allocation of resources between businesses? Corporate advantage comes from corporate resources being brought to bear on the component businesses such that their competitive advantage is enhanced.
  • The way a firm organizes itself; what is the appropriate level of coordination across the businesses and how should it occur? What is the appropriate role of the corporate office in the coordination of resources and the control of decentralized decision-making?

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:




On completion of this subject, students should have an appreciation of the impact of various corporate styles and the ‘role of the centre’ on the economic performance of diversified firms.

  • distinguish between corporate and business strategy
  • understand how value can be created through specific forms of corporate economics organisation and corporate capabilities
  • appreciate of the way value can be added both through specific forms of corporate economics organisation and corporate capabilities

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

All of

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
BUSA90001 Financial Accounting
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
September (On Campus - Parkville)
January (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90026 Business Strategy
September (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90060 Data Analysis
July (On Campus - Parkville)
January (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
September (On Campus - Parkville)
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90074 Global Business Economics
January (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90093 Finance
July (On Campus - Parkville)
January (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
September (On Campus - Parkville)
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90193 Managerial Economics
September (On Campus - Parkville)
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
January (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90224 Managing People
September (On Campus - Parkville)
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
January (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90227 Operations
January (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
September (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90243 Marketing
January (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
September (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
BUSA90480 Leadership
September (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
June (On Campus - Parkville)
 6.25
BUSA90481 Managerial Ethics & Business Environment
April (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
September (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 6.25

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Assessment

June

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Case preparation and discussion

Throughout the teaching period25%

Syndicate case presentation

Week 120%

2 Individual case reports

  • 1200 words
Week 5 & 920%

Individual assignment

Hurdle requirement: Students are required to pass the assignment to pass the subject.		Week 95%

Syndicate project - Report

  • 3000 words
End of the teaching period30%

September

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Case preparation and discussion

Throughout the teaching period25%

Syndicate case presentation

  • 1000 words (equivalent)
Staggered throughout subject15%

Syndicate case write-up; equivalent to 600 words individual

  • 600 words (each)
Throughout the teaching period10%

Final examination (equivalent to 2500 words)

  • 2.5 hours
Hurdle requirement: Students are required to pass the examination to pass the subject.		End of the teaching period50%

Additional details

Geoff Lewis (assessment items for June availability)

Geoff Martin (assessment items for September availability)

EMBA:

  • Class preparation and discussion (15%)
    • Throughout subject
  • Quiz (15%)
    • 1 hour
    • Midway through subject
  • Syndicate project (30%)
    • Report (equivalent of 750 word assessment)
    • Presentation (equivalent of 750 word assessment)
    • Midway through subject
  • Final Exam (40%)
    • Hurdle requirement
    • 90 minutes
    • End of subject

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Quotas apply to this subject

Dates & times

  • July
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours30 hours
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Pre teaching start date28 June 2021
    Pre teaching requirementsStudents are required to complete approximately 10 hours of reading to prepare for the subject during pre-teaching period.
    Teaching period 5 July 2021 to 10 September 2021
    Last self-enrol date25 April 2021
    Census date16 July 2021
    Last date to withdraw without fail20 August 2021
    Assessment period ends17 September 2021

    July contact information

    Melbourne Business School

    Degree Program Services

    Email: programservices@mbs.edu

  • September
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours30 hours
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Pre teaching start date20 September 2021
    Pre teaching requirementsStudents are required to complete approximately 10 hours of reading to prepare for the subject during pre-teaching period.
    Teaching period27 September 2021 to 3 December 2021
    Last self-enrol date18 July 2021
    Census date 8 October 2021
    Last date to withdraw without fail12 November 2021
    Assessment period ends10 December 2021

    September contact information

    Melbourne Business School

    Degree Program Services

    Email: programservices@mbs.edu

Additional delivery details

This subject is only available to students admitted to MC-BA, MC-BAPT, or students with the permission of the MBA course coordinator

This subject is a quota subject and places are limited. Students may provisionally enrol via the Student Portal, but places are not guaranteed until selection is completed. You will be notified in writing by the Student Centre if you are selected.

The students will be selected on the first come, first served basis. If any student is approaching the course completion date, s/he will get priority in enrolment.

This subject is equivalent to BUSA90054 in MC-BAPTME

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.

  • Subject notes

    This subject is only available to students admitted to MC-BA, MC-BAPT, or students with the permission of the MBA course coordinator

  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    CourseMaster of Business Administration
    CourseMaster of Business Administration/Master of Marketing
    CourseMaster of Business Administration
  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 3 November 2022