University of Essex

BE485-7-AU-CO:
Management and Strategy

The details

Year: 2025/26

Department: Essex Business School

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Autumn

Level: Postgraduate: Level 7

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 02 October 2025

End date: Friday 12 December 2025

Credits: 20

Last updated: 12 August 2025

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): BE489, BE497, BE498

Key module for

MSC N40012 Professional Accounting,
MSC N40024 Professional Accounting,
MRESN21012 Management Research,
MRESN21024 Management Research,
MSC N30212 Finance and Management,
MSC N30224 Finance and Management,
MSC N1E212 Management (Social Economy),
MSC N20012 Management,
MSC N20024 Management,
MSC N200MO Management,
MSC N2E112 Management (International),
MSC N2E124 Management (International),
MSC N2E212 Management (Marketing),
MSC N2E224 Management (Marketing),
DIP C8N209 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
DIP C8N221 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
MA C8N212 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
MA C8N2MO Management and Organisational Dynamics

Module description

This module is designed to encourage students to reflect on a variety of issues relating to management and business strategy. It will introduce students to the basics of management such as dealing with teams, culture and organisational management structures together with managing strategically, covering topics that involve the analysis of the external and internal environments of the business as well as avenues for implementation.

Consequently, the module offers an insight into a range of current business issues, management dilemmas, ethical considerations, and general governance issues relating to the strategic direction of organizations. Overall, the module provides an introduction to management and strategy and a critical examination of its application in practice.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:

To enable students to understand the nature of management and business strategy and to evaluate its meaning and implications in practice

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

Recognise and understand the many varied principles, practices and perspectives involved in management and business strategy making

Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding in relation to issues underlying mainstream interpretations of management and strategic processes

Understand the importance of ideological positions and ethical principles in relation to strategic aspirations and to demonstrate an understanding of the complicated governance issues involved in management and strategic decision making

Critically evaluate the different tools and techniques used in strategy making as well as management practice

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered via:

10 x 3-hour lecture-seminars weekly

These will include a variety of teaching methods including formal teaching, case discussion, discussion of academic work and group work. The module Moodle page is your launching point for learning each week.

Bibliography

Clegg, S.R. et al. (2023b) Strategy: theory and practice. 4th edition. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Whittington, R. et al. (2023b) Exploring Strategy, Text & Cases. 13th edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
Boddy, D. (2024) Management: An Introduction. 9th edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
Stephen, P.R. and Mary, C. (2017) Management. 13th Revised edition. Delhi: Pearson Education India.
Whittington, R. et al. (2023c) Exploring strategy: Text and cases. Thirteenth edition. Harlow, England: Pearson. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2361850.
C. K., P. and G, H. (1990) 'The core competence of the corporation', Harvard Business Review, 68(3), pp. 79–91. Available at: https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&bquery=(+JN+%26quot%3bHarvard+Business+Review%26quot%3b+AND+DT+19900501+NOT+PM+AOP+)+AND+The+Core+Competence+of+the+Corporation&type=1&searchMode=Standard&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=sso&custid=s9814295.
Porter, Michael E (2008) 'The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy', Harvard Business Review, 86(1), pp. 78–93. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&bquery=AN+28000138&type=1&searchMode=Standard&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Hamel, G. (no date) 'First, Let's Fire All The Managers', Harvard Business Review, 89(12), pp. 48–60. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&AN=67484173&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=sso&custid=s9814295.
Henry Mintzberg (1987) 'Crafting Strategy', Harvard Business Review, 65(4), pp. 66–75. Available at: https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&bquery=JN+%26quot%3bHarvard+Business+Review%26quot%3b+AND+AN+4076026&type=1&searchMode=Standard&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=sso&custid=s9814295.
Linstead, S., Fulop, L. and Lilley, S. (2009d) Management and organization: a critical text. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6418202.
Lynch, R.L. (2018d) Strategic management. Eighth edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5347868.
Carter, C., Clegg, S. and Kornberger, M. (2008b) A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about studying strategy. Los Angeles, [Calif.]: SAGE. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/126308.
'How to create a successful organisational culture: Built it – literally' (no date). Environments at Work. Available at: https://www.environmentsatwork.com/products-inspiration/resource-library/how-to-create-a-successful-organizational-culture/.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	3,500 word Strategic Plan for an Organisation	08/01/2026	100%

Additional coursework information

Assignment 1: Moodle Quiz (20%)
Assignment 2: Max. 3000-word written assignment focusing key specific issues in management and strategy. (80%)

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Pasi Ahonen, email: pasi.ahonen@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Svetlana Warhurst, email: warhurst@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Svetlana Warhurst, Dr Malte Jauch, Dr Pasi Ahonen

Contact details: pasi.ahonen@essex.ac.uk; warhurst@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Dr Michael Maher

Institution: University of Northampton

Academic role: Researcher

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 30 hours, 30 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Essex Business School

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

BE485-7-AU-CO:Management and Strategy