FARM H4705 - Agribusiness Strategy

Module Title:Agribusiness Strategy
Language of Instruction:English
Credits: 10
NFQ Level:8
Module Delivered In No Programmes
Teaching & Learning Strategies: The classes will deliver relevant theory supported by relevant examples. Learners will review current happenings from Irish and International agribusinesses as part of their programme work. Further learners will be asked apply their knowledge as well as utilise relevant models and tools of analysis to case studies.
Module Aim: The aim of this module is to develop a learner’s knowledge of strategy concepts and their application to the agribusiness sector. The module aims to develop a framework of analysis to enable a learner to identify central issues and problems in complex agribusiness scenarios and to suggest alternative courses of action and to present well-supported recommendations for future action.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:
LO1 Critically discuss the strategic management process in relation to the agribusiness sector
LO2 To conduct detailed environmental analyses (including competitive and industry analyses) as well as detailed organisational analyses (including strategic capability, organisational context, cultural and stakeholder analyses).
LO3 Evaluate appropriate strategies for an organisation including internationalisation.
LO4 Evaluate salient issues of implementation including organisational structure, management strategies, change management techniques and relevant strategy controls.
LO5 Evaluate the application of supply chain management in an agribusiness context.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.

No recommendations listed
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed.
No requirements listed
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Introduction to Strategic Management
• Introduction to strategic management and the strategic planning process • Strategic management in an agribusiness context
Strategic Analysis
• The agribusiness environment: strategic environmental appraisal, PESTEL, drivers of change, impact of environmental influences, scenarios, opportunities and threats, strategic gaps, Porters Diamond, agricultural policy (WTO, EU, CAP, national policies, environmental protection, sustainability). • Industry and competitive analysis: five forces, strategic groups, market analysis, customer analysis. • Strategic capability: competitive advantage: critical success factors, resources, competencies and core competencies, benchmarking, value chain analysis, experience curve, activity maps. • Context of the organisation: mission statement, objectives, strategies, ownership, history and structure, strategic business units, functions, SWOT. • Cultural context: organisational, national, regional context, cultural web, • Stakeholder analysis : corporate governance, stakeholder expectations, ethics.
Strategic Choice
• Selecting a strategy, Generic strategy options, Bowman’s strategy clock • Strategies for stages in the industry life cycle. • Directions for strategy development: protect and build, product development, market development, diversification. • Agri-supply chain management, partnerships, outsourcing • Methods of strategy development: organic, acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers, value added partnerships. • Identifying criteria for strategic evaluation: suitability, acceptability, feasibility. • Corporate and international level choices: product diversity, international diversity, corporate parenting roles. • Portfolio analysis: portfolio management, BCG, directional policy matrix, parenting matrix.
Strategic Implementation
• Organisational structure and design: structural types, matching strategic choice and organisational structure. • Management strategy: management styles, strategy and corporate leadership • Managing strategic change: diagnosing the change situation, change management. • Strategic control: control types, milestones • Approaches to strategy development: intended strategy development, emergent strategy development, multiple processes of strategy development, strategy development methods.
Assessment Breakdown%
Continuous Assessment30.00%
End of Module Formal Examination70.00%
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Case Studies Case Study: Environmental and capabilities analysis of agribusiness 1,2 15.00 n/a
Case Studies Case Study: Strategic options (including supply chain management) and implementation issues 1,2,3,4,5 15.00 n/a
No Project
No Practical
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Formal Exam Terminal Examination 1,2,3,4,5 70.00 End-of-Semester

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture 30 Weeks per Stage 3.00
Independent Learning 30 Weeks per Stage 3.67
Total Hours 200.00