COURSE SYLLABUS

CITYU PROGRAM

Degree: Bachelor
Course Code: MGT02A
Course name: Business Dynamics
Number of credit: 5
Name Phone No Email
L1 (Module leader):
Lecturers: 0368742498 [email protected]
Nguyen Thu Tram
L2: Hannes Roos 0938339850 [email protected]
Prerequisite
courses:

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
It has been currently proved that strategic success results from matching the complexity
of the company with the complexity of its external environment, especially when the
external environment is changing rapidly in unexpected ways. This course is designed to
helps students understand the external environments, including its components,
characteristics (VUCA), behaviors and impacts on organizations. In the course, the
external environment is recognized as a complex system, therefore, students will be
equipped with proper analytical perspectives and tools from Complexity Science to make
sense of the market’s behaviors. Based on the analysis, EFE Matrix may be used to
provide a comprehensive picture about business situation for effective strategy
formulation.

2. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:
Course outcome
standards Knowledge Skill Behavior
STT
(Course Learning (Cognitive) (Psychomotor) (Affective)
Outcome)

CLO1 Analyze key external Analyze

components that must be
examined in formulating
strategies and explain t

CLO2 Understand nature and Understand

dynamics of the external
environment to determine
an appropriate
management style and
organizational structure
 (VUCA)

CLO3 Develop an External Understand

Factor Evaluation Matrix
(EFE) as a base for
strategy formulation

CLO4 Perceive the market as a Understand

complex system and
explain its behaviors using
key properties of complex
systems including
emergence,
intqsd,erdependence, self -
organization, simple rules
of interaction, requisite
variety and the butterfly
effects.

CLO5 Design business models Apply

using principles of
Complexity Science.

3. COURSE GRADING
The course grades are designed to measure the learner's level of achievement of course output
standards.
Assessment component % of Course Grade

Participation 10 %
Formative 1st Assessment
Assessment 20 %
(Written Test)
(50%) 2nd Assessment
20 %
(Report/Presentation)
Summative
Final Assessment
Assessment 50 %
(Exam)
(50%)
Total 100%
Participation
Students will be required to attend and participate in class activities and discussion as
requested by the lecturer. Students will not be allowed to take final assessment if they miss
20% (or more) of contact hours.
1st Assessment: Written Test
Students have a mid-term test to show their achievement of CLO1 and CLO2. The topics of
mid term test involve analyzing key external components that must be examined in formulating
strategies and explaining the role of the external environment evaluation in the formulation of
strategy and management, as well as understanding nature and dynamics of the external
environment (VUCA) to determine an appropriate management style and organizational structure.
2nd Assessment: Report/ Presentation
Students will be divided into groups of 5 members to conduct a group presentation on a topic
given by the lecturers. The lecturer will give an overall score which will be subsequently allocated
among members proportionate to their contribution. Students have to show that they understand
the module contents, including External Factor Evaluation Matrix (EFE) as a base for strategy
formulation, complex system and explain its behaviors using key properties of complex systems,
as well as designing business models using principles of Complexity Science, and their
applications in practice.
Final Assessment: Exam
Students have an written final exam on both theory and practice to show their achievement of all
learning outcomes .
Note: Grading system
- For CityU 9

10-point grade 4-point grade Letter Grade Classification

8.5 – 10.0 4 A
7.0 – 8.4 3 B Pass
5.5 – 6.9 2 C
4.0 – 5.4 1 D
Fail
< 4.0 0 F
- For CityU 10 onwards

10-point range Letter Grade 4-point range Classification

9.5 - 10.0 A+ 4.0
8.5 - 9.5 A 4.0
8.0 – 8,5 B+ 3.5
Pass
7,0 - 8,0 B 3.0
6,5 - 7,0 C+ 2.5
5,5 - 6,5 C 2.0
5,0 - 5,5 D+ 1.5
4,0 - 5,0 D 1.0 Fail
< 4,0 F 0

4. COURSE RESOURCES
• Core textbook:
David, F. R., & David, F. R (2020), Strategic Management: A competitive Advantages
Approach, Concepts and Cases (17th ed), Pearson.

• Supplementary reading:
 Kinicki, Angelo,Williams, Brian K. (2018), Management : a practical introduction, Mc Graw
Hill.
Case studies and articles assigned by lecturers.

5. TEACHING - LEARNING PLAN

Week Learning Activities Study document
Outcomes

Week 1 - 2 CLO1: Analyze Teaching: Textbook: Chapter 1, Chapter 7

key external • Introduction to the subject
components that • Introduction to regulation in the
must be examined subject
in formulating • Definition of external environment
strategies and evaluation
explain the role of • Role of external environment
the external evaluation
environment • Process of external environment
evaluation in the evaluation
formulation of • Tools for external environment
strategy. evaluation
Topics: Chapter 1 Studying:
 Definition of • Group Discussion: Yahoo and Grab
external cases
environment • Individual analysis on a practical
evaluation case that students choose by
 Role of external themselves
environment
evaluation
 Process of
external
environment
evaluation
 Tools for
external
environment
evaluation.
Week 3- 4 CLO1: Analyze Teaching: Textbook: Chapter 7
key external  Macro - level factors
components that  Industrial factors
 Sources of information
must be examined
 Outcomes of external factors
in formulating Studying:
strategies and  Case study: Vinamilk or
explain the role of any other companies
the external  Group discussion: Groups
environment of students choose a
evaluation in the given company and
analyze their external
formulation of
environment
strategy.  Individual task: Summarize the
outcomes of external factors
Topics: Chapter 2
 Week Learning Activities Study document
Outcomes

 Macro - level
factors
 Industrial
factors
 Sources of
information
Outcomes of
external factors

Week 5-6 CLO2: Understand Teaching: Supplementary: Chapter 12

nature and  The changing external Materials supplemented by
dynamics of the environment lecturers
 The VUCA characteristics
external
 Challenges in VUCA times
environment to  Firms reaction in strategy
determine an formulation
appropriate Studying:
management style  Individual task: list of events
and organizational representing VUCA
structure.  Group discussion: Reasons for
VUCA
Topics: Chapter 3  Group discussion: How to deal
with VUCA based on a practical
 The changing company analysis
external
environment
 The VUCA
characteristics
 Challenges in
VUCA times
 Firms reaction
in strategy
formulation
Mid term test 1: in-class test, LO1, LO2

Week 7 CLO3: Develop Teaching: Textbook: chapter 7,

an External  Overview of the EFE Matrix chapter 8
Factor  The significance of the EFE Case study
Matrix
Evaluation
 The application of EFE Matrix
Matrix (EFE) in strategy formulation
as a base for  The result of EFE Matrix
strategy Studying:
formulation  Group activity:
Formulate EFE Matrix
Topics: Chapter for given companies.
4  Individual task: EFE
matrix solutions
 Overview of  Group activity:What are
 Week Learning Activities Study document
Outcomes

the EFE strong point and weak

Matrix point of EFE matrix
 The
significance of
the EFE
Matrix
 The
application of
EFE Matrix in
strategy
formulation
 The result of
EFE Matrix

Week 8-9 CLO4: Perceive Teaching: Matrial supplemented

the market as a  Key components of by lecturers
complex system complexity system
including emergence,
and explain its
interdependence, self
behaviors using organization, interaction,
key properties of requisite variety and the
complex systems butterfly effect
including  How complex system
emergence, changes business
interdependence, dynamics
Studying:
self -
 Group activity: Discuss key
organization, components of complexity
simple rules of system
interaction,  Group game: Guess words
requisite variety (related to definition or
and the butterfly characteristics of key
effects. components of complexity
system)
Topics: Chapter
5

 The nature of
complexity
science
 Components
of complexity
science
 Application of
complexity
science in
business
 Week Learning Activities Study document
Outcomes

Week 10- CLO5: Design Teaching: Matrial supplemented

11 business models  Definition of business models by lecturers
using principles of  Creating business model for
organizations
Complexity
 Review and revise business
Science. models
Studying:
Topics: Chapter
 Group activity: Analyze
6 practical business model and
how they change to deal using
 Definition of
principles of Complexity
Business
Science
models
 Creating
business
model for
organizations
 Review and
revise business
models

Mid term test 1: presentation, CLO1-CLO5

Week 12  Recap the content of the whole module

 Revise important contents
 Prepare for exam: introduce the structure of the exam
paper
 Answer questions of students
TBC by Final Exam: -
ISBA - 90 mins
- Structure: (MCQs, T/F and explain, Essay)
- Learning outcomes: CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4,
CLO5
SIGNATURE OF MODULE LEADER