Strategic Business Proposal

Module title	Strategic Business Proposal
Module code	BEMM117DA
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	20
Module staff	Dr Mozi Fani (Lecturer)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	Multiple delivery points dependent on entry

Number students taking module (anticipated)	50

Module description

The strategic business proposal module is designed to enable SL apprentices to develop a strategic piece of work that can deliver organisational change at a strategic level. The strategic business proposal is relevant to the apprentice’s role within the organisation. The eventual proposal is developed in conjunction with the module team and the apprentice will seek organisational and EPAO approval. As the module is designed to enable apprentices to develop a proposal no requirement to deliver in the workplace is needed.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Senior leaders are responsible for developing and implementing major organisational and strategic change projects that ultimately enable organisations to achieve their strategic objectives. The strategic business proposal involves the apprentice completing a relevant and defined piece of work that has a real business benefit. This module is scheduled towards the end of the apprenticeship programme and allow the apprentices the benefit of utilising the knowledge they have established during the first three modules. The module will be delivered through a three days of masterclasses followed by support from a dedicated team of project supervisors. During the masterclasses the apprentices will engage with a range of project skills and subject areas importantly but not limited to strategic and evaluative frameworks and in-depth research methods and design topics. The masterclasses will be delivered through focused workshops, group and individual sessions orientated towards supporting the students in completing their assignments. As stated, the masterclasses will be followed by support from a dedicated project supervisor, although this process will be managed and driven by the apprentices.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Critically appraise new market strategies, changing customer demands and trend analysis . K3.
2. Apply and appraise research methodologies and programme management. K5:

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Apply and assess systems thinking, knowledge/data management. K5:
4. Identify and apply financial strategies, for example scenarios, modelling and identifying trends, application of economic theory to decision-making, and how to evaluate financial and non- financial information. K8:
5. Manage financial governance and legal requirements, and procurement strategies. K9:
6. Employ influencing and negotiating strategies both upwards and outwards. K12:
7. Demonstrate working with board and other company leadership structures. K14:
8. Critically appraise brand and reputation management K15:
9. Evidence of working with corporate leadership structures, for example, the markets it operates in, roles and responsibilities, who its stakeholders are and what they require from the organisation and the sustainability agenda K16:

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

10. Demonstrate the ability to set strategic direction and gain support for it from key stakeholders. S2:
11. Design and execute research, and critically analyse and integrate complex information. S3:
12. Demonstrate the skill to Use financial data to allocate resources. S11:
13. Illustrate the use of personal presence and "storytelling" to articulate and translate vision into operational strategies, demonstrating clarity in thinking. S13:
14. Evidence management of relationships across multiple and diverse stakeholders. S19:
15. Show evidence the ability to lead within their area of control/authority, influencing both upwards and outwards, negotiating and using advocacy skills to build reputation and effective collaboration. S20:

Syllabus plan

Refresher on previous taught content

strategy refresher (internal & external analysis, systems thinking, VRIO, SAFe, etc)
finance refresher (financial and non-financial data analysis, KPI’s, Balance Scorecard, etc)

Project ideation
Project lifecycle and programme management
Introduction project management tools (stakeholders management, mind mapping, Fishbone, Gantt charts, risk mitigation, RACI, etc.)
Research Methods and Methodology

introduction to qualitative data
introduction descriptive quantitative data
research methods
research methodology

Data collection & Analysis

Project evaluation and GAP analysis techniques

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
27	0	173

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	21	3 Masterclass days
Scheduled Learning and teaching activities	6	On-going support delivered through project supervisors 1 Hour individual supervision and 5 Hours of group supervision
Placement / study abroad	173	Work-based Learning - Time in employment used for research and preparation of Project Proposal.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
1:1/Elevator pitches	15-minute meetings		Verbal/Written
Scoping document	500 word		Verbal/Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Assessment 1	20	500 word scoping document	1 - 15	Written
Assessment 2	80	4000 word strategic business proposal report	1 - 15	Written
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Assessment 1	20% 500 word scoping document	1, 9, 10	Programme schedule dependent
Assessment 2	80% 4000 word strategic business	1 - 15	Programme schedule dependent

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Suggested reading:

Maylor H., (2010). Project Management (4^th Ed). Pearson Education Limited
Arthur A., Thompson, A., Strickland, A. J., & Janes, A. (2017). Crafting and Executing Strategy: the quest for competitive advantage: concepts and cases. McGraw-Hill Education

Additional suggested reading:

Costley, C., Elliott, G. C., & Gibbs, P. (2010). Doing work-based research: Approaches to enquiry for insider researchers. Sage.
Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., & Jackson, P. R. (2012). Management research. Sage
Gill, J., & Johnson, P. (2010). Research methods for managers. Sage.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2009). Doing Research in Business & Management: An Essential Guid to Planning Your Project.
Thomas, G. (2009). How to do your research project: A guide for students. Sage.
Whitehead, J., & McNiff, J. (2006). Action research: Living theory. Sage.

Key words search

Strategic Business Proposal, Research, Methodologies, Analysis, Communication, Brand and Reputation, Storytelling, Influencing

Credit value	20
Module ECTS	10
Module pre-requisites	n/a
Module co-requisites	n/a
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	Yes
Origin date	15/03/22
Last revision date	28/02/2025