PACE
BUS 497A Strategic Management Seminar Spring 2008
March – May 2008
March 27, 2008
Instructor:William W. Roberts
Office: JH 4248
Office Hours: After class Tuesdays and Saturdays and by appointment.
E-mail:
Webpage:
NOTE: Updates, modifications and additional information (including grades) will be on WebCT.
Course Description: Prerequisites: Senior standing and completion of BUS 302/L, FIN 303, MKT 304, and MGT 360. Passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE). This capstone course integrates previous coursework and introduces concepts and approaches for analyzing, formulating, and implementing business interdependencies between the functional areas within organizations, and how these are impacted by external forces.
Text material:
Dess, Gregory G., G.T. Dumpkin and Alan B. Eisner, Strategic Management, text and cases, 3e, McGraw-Hill, Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill. 2007.
ISBN-13: 978-0-07-310246-7
Available online at:
You may find used versions of the text online.
AND:
Thompson, Arthur A., & Stappenbeck, Gregory J. (2008). Players' Manual: The Business Strategy Game [BSG]. Boston: Irwin McGrawHill. Online.
The last item is an online game that is played by your assigned team!
Overview:
Class participation is essential. Over the past 3-? years you have acquired a substantial amount of information and skills. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that acquisition. On the case days, you have the opportunity to lead the discussion and direct the class. The decisions discussed are the result of a complex interaction between multiple areas inside and outside of the firm. Your expertise in multiple areas is essential in the understanding and evaluation of the firms and industries discussed.
You need to be aware that, in many – if not most- cases, there is no right answer. There are many paths that will lead to acceptable results.
STUDENT CONDUCT CODE:
Violations of the University’s Student Conduct code will result in an F for the class and forwarding the material to the University for further review and action.
Course Objectives:
Learning objective #1: Given a broad set of information—pieces of which may vary considerably in relevance—students can identify critical issues the organization is facing.
- related to COBAE emphasis on critical thinking
Learning objective #2: In identifying critical issues, students draw on and synthesize concepts from a variety of functional areas of business.
- related to COBAE emphasis on cross-functional knowledge
Learning objective #3: Given a broad set of information—pieces of which may vary considerably in relevance—students can make relevant, valuable, and reasonable strategic recommendations for the organization.
- related to COBAE emphasis on critical thinking
Learning objective #4: In making strategic recommendations, students draw on and synthesize concepts from a variety of functional areas of business.
- related to COBAE emphasis on cross-functional knowledge
Learning objective #5: In making strategic recommendations, students display significant understanding of the resulting implementation issues that managers need to deal with.
- related to COBAE emphasis on critical thinking
Learning objective #6: Students use appropriate strategic management concepts and language in effectively communicating about their analyses, including when identifying critical issues and making recommendations.
- related to COBAE emphasis on effective communication
- related to COBAE emphasis on discipline-specific knowledge
Schedule – Subject to change.
3/25/08 – Chapter 1, Housekeeping, Team formation. Start BSG. (Schedule forthcoming!)
Saturday, 3/29/08
Case Method – Rex Mitchell
Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 14. Case 1 (Ford Motor)
4/1/08 Chapter 4
4/8/08 Chapters 5 and 6.
Saturday, 4/12/08 Chapters 7 and 8, Case 2 (Red Cross)
4/15/08 Chapters 9 and 10.
4/22/08 Case, Mid-term examination.
4/29/08 Case
Saturday, 5/03/08 Cases (2)
5/6/08 Cases (2)
Saturday 5/10/08 Cases (2)
5/13/08 In class final case.
Grades:
Grading will use plus/minus. Weighting is as follows:
Business simulation30%
Performance20%
Reports10%
Annual Report2.5%
3-year plan7.5%
Participation20%
Case analysis and presentation20%
Midterm10%
Final Case20%
TOTAL100%
Final case20%
Failure to complete any segment will result in failure in the course. Since a significant segment is based upon team activity, performance within that team is important and grades within the team may be altered based upon team feedback. Each team member will provide team evaluations during the term. These, along with instructor observations, will be used to modify individual grades on team activity. For example, should the team project earn a B grade, some members may receive A grades and others less than a B grade, down to a possible F.
Each group will create and implement written PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS for your group members. This appraisal will include those group performance measures deemed significant by your group. Each group member will individually complete this appraisal for their other group members. Performance appraisals will be used, at the discretion of the instructor, in assigning individual grades on the group projects.
CASE SUBMISSION:
The case submission is designed as a report to management. It is expected that you will identify the organization’s core competencies and explain how you determined this. The important content in the report is identifying and explaining the critical issues, internal and/or external, facing the firm. This is to be followed by recommendations, with explanations, that address these critical issues.
Your report will include an executive summary. Details will be given later. Reports will be evaluated both for content and writing.
NOTES FOR ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
- Use reasonable margins
- Use at least 12 point font
- Minimum line spacing is 1.5.
- It is imperative that you use correct grammar and spelling. Your spelling and grammar will affect your grade. If significant errors are observed, your paper may be returned for corrections (with a grade penalty).
- NO covers, please. Simply staple the pages together.
- NOTE: Papers will be submitted in HARD COPY and electronically.
Business Strategy Game (BSG)
This is a comprehensive simulation of a global athletic shoe company. You will be part of a team that guides your company in this competitive market. This simulation integrates all aspects of operating a business and all components of strategic management.
There are two parts to the BSG.
- Your team will submit a set of strategic decisions. These decisions will determine your team’s performance relative to that of the other teams.
- On schedule, your team, as top management, will submit an annual report for your stockholders. This report will analyze last year’s performance, recommendations for improving results, and details of changes for the coming year(s). Th1s report should be no more than 2-3 pages. For year 15 you will complete a 3-year plan. This plan is ONLINE.
Update or financials: (10%)
Each student will be assigned one of the in class cases. For this case you will be assigned to submit an update of the conditions of the firm or an analysis of the firm’s financial condition. Length – 1 to 1 and ½ pages.