Strategic Management - Cindy Mahaffy, MBA Northwest Christian College
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Strategic Management (3 Credit Hours): This course examines the role of strategic management in the marketplace. The focus is on both the strategic element as well as the managerial function of leadership. It will use an online computer simulation to emulate many of the strategic decisions that leaders face in the business world.
CLASS SCHEDULE
May 3, 10 , 17; Thursday, 6:00 to 10:00 pm
May 19, Saturday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
May 24, 31 ; Thursday, 6:00 to 10:00 pm
COURSE TOPICS
The following topics will be addressed in this course:
What is strategy?
What is management?
Basic economic and business tenets and how they relate to business
Competition and environment in strategic decision making
Mission , goals, and strategies
Corporate vs. business unit strategy
SWOT analyses
Strategic implementation
Execution and strategic control
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Strategic management is a topic that demands insight and work on many levels. Upon completion of this course, each student will be able to:
Define strategic management
Describe business and economic tenets and their relation to decision making
Develop mission statements and goal statements and differentiate the two
Analyze corporate missions and strategies for effectiveness and consistency
Perform a SWOT analysis
INTRODUCTORY NOTES TO STUDENTS
Your participation is about success so attend all class sessions. One class may be missed by agreement with the instructor, if work is made up and the absence is reflected in the class participation portion of your final grade. Things do happen so keep the instructor informed.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Task, event, and time management is important. Keep track of your responsibilities, assignments, readings, out-of-class activities, and communication. Participate in the lectures, in-class examples and assignments, and discussions. All learning styles and abilities need to follow what is expected. I will adapt my teaching style to your learning as best I can. If we are not connecting, tell me as soon as possible.
SUMMARY OF GRADES BY POINTS:
Individual Writing Assignments (4 items at 10 pts each) 40
Chapters 1 & 4
Review Questions 1-6, p. 13
Review Questions 1-3a-d (exclude 3e), p. 78
Chapters 5 & 6
Review Questions 1-6, p. 100
Review Questions 1-6, p. 122
Chapter 7 & 8
Review Questions 1-6, p. 142 (exclude question #5)
Review Questions 1-3, p. 160
Chapter 9 & 10
Review Questions 1-5, p. 180 (exclude question #2)
Review Questions 1-5, p. 200
Project Team Assignments (2 items at 15 pts each) 30
Team Strategy choice document
Team Mission Statement
Foundation Team performance 50
Foundation Team Peer Evaluations 30
Presentation or Paper 50
TOTAL 200
LETTER GRADE SCALE
Grading Scale
A 94-100% |
B+ 87-89% |
C+ 77-79% |
D+ 67-69% |
F Below 60% |
A- 90-93 |
B 83-86 |
C 73-76 |
D 63-66 |
|
B- 80-82 |
C- 70-72 |
D- 60-62 |
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS:
Review Questions
Each week between 8 and 12 review questions from the text will be assigned. These questions relate directly to the week's reading. Answers should be clear, concise, grammatically correct, and demonstrate critical thinking. Generally no more than one or two paragraphs will be needed to answer the questions, but expand where necessary.
Foundation Team Performance
The Foundation Simulation is a competitive exercise - you will be competing directly with the other teams in the class. The first place team will receive full credit (A), with each team after that receiving subsequently fewer points depending on their order of finish (A-, B+, B, B- for this assignment). (Please note that receiving a lower grade for this portion will not by itself exclude the possibility of a student receiving an A for the course.)
Foundation Team Peer Evaluations
The Foundation Simulation is also a collaborative exercise - you will need to work well together as a team to succeed. At the end of the course you will be given the opportunity to evaluate your team mates in terms of their collaborative efforts. This feedback will be used along with instructor observations to grade this portion of the assignment.
Student Choice: Presentation or Paper
The purpose of either option is the same. Students are to reflect on what they have learned about strategy and management during the course. Observations from the Foundation Simulation should be included, as well as course readings and discussions.
Presentation:
Students should use PowerPoint to effectively illustrate their material. Presentations should be at least 8 minutes long, but no longer than 14 minutes. (Effective communication requires a certain amount of time, but too much speaking does not denote mastery of content.)
Grading will be based on several categories including: Effective delivery with visual and verbal elements; Organization and supporting arguments; and clarity of thought.
Paper:
Papers should be at least 4, but no more than 7 pages long. Format should be 12 pt Times New Roman font, 1' margins on all sides, page numbers on lower right corner, with title on the top of first page, and student's name and course number on the upper right. The final paper should also include a title page.
Grading will be based on several categories including: Mechanics of writing, such as format and grammar; Structure of the paper, such as introduction and body; and clarity of thought and argument.
TEXTBOOK:
Parnell, J. A., (2006). Strategic Management: Theory and Practice, Second Edition. Atomic Dog Publishing, Cincinnati , Ohio . ISBN: 1-59260-235-5
Foundation®; Registration Packet ($39 registration fee); www.capsim.com . Packet can be purchased at the NWCC bookstore, and registration codes are included in the booklet.
ACADEMIC POLICIES:
General undergraduate academic policies can be found starting on page 42 of the Undergraduate Academic Catalog which is online at http://www.nwcc.edu/registrar/catalog/. The following specific policies are related to this particular course:
Class Attendance Students are expected to arrive on time for class. Your participation grade will be affected if you are not in class or are late to class, for whatever reason. Excused absences will be allowed for activities such as serious illness, family or work emergencies, and recognized commitments with the College. The professor will determine the validity of the excuse. The student is responsible for knowing all information presented in the class(es) missed. If there are any problems, please let the professor know BEFORE the class.
Missed Quizzes, Tests, and Exams No make-up exams will be allowed except for circumstances granted a legitimate excuse status. In the event that a student cannot take an exam, he/she must contact the professor BEFORE the absence, and the professor will determine whether or not a legitimate excuse is warranted. Final exams are not given before their scheduled time unless permission has been secured from the Vice President for Academic Affairs in advance. In case of serious illness or an extreme family crisis the student should request the professor for an I (incomplete) grade. In such a case, the policy on make-up exams applies.
Late Papers and Class Assignments Class assignments will be accepted without penalty for circumstances considered a legitimate excuse. Assignments and the stage one data analysis project report without a legitimate excuse will be accepted late, but will be reduced one full grade for each class period late. The final data analysis project report without a legitimate excuse will be accepted late, but will be reduced one full grade for each day late.
Academic Honesty Our college's mission assumes the highest principles of virtue and ethics in the intellectual life. Plagiarism, cheating, and any other form of academic dishonesty are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. If a student cheats on a test or assignment he/she will receive a zero for that work and, depending on the severity of the offense, possibly a grade of "F" in the course. All incidents will be reported in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and to the Dean of Students, who may consider additional actions, including dismissal from the College.
May 3, Thursday, 6:00-10:00 PM
CLASS ONE
FIRST HALF
Introduction, Class Expectations, and Student Expectations
Discuss the components of strategic management: strategy and management.
Introduction to the Foundation computer simulation
The back story to the situation
SECOND HALF
OBJECTIVES - Orientation to Foundation
Registration
Site and spreadsheet orientation
Situation analysis
Online tutorials
ASSIGNMENTS
The following assignments are to be completed for the next class:
Read Strategic Management, Chapters 1 & 4
Complete Review Questions 1-6 for Chapter 1 (p. 13) and Review Questions 1-3d (exclude 3e) (p. 78)
Complete on-line tutorials
May 10, Thursday, 6:00-10:00 PM
CLASS TWO
FIRST HALF
Strategy in the context of competition and environment
Review of Ch. 2 & 3 of text
Missions, Goals, and Objectives
Differences, similarities, and importance
Discussion
Real Time Case 2 (p. 215): Amazon.com
Review possible strategies for Foundation
SECOND HALF
Foundation Simulation Rehearsals
Team Assignments
ASSIGNMENTS
The following assignments are to be completed for the next class:
Individual
Read Strategic Management, Chapters 5-6
Complete Review Questions 1-6 for Ch. 5 (p. 100) and Review Questions 1-6 for Ch. 6 (p. 122)
Team Assignment:
As a team, you will need to develop and write your team's mission statement for Foundation. What will your team be about? What is the purpose of your team? Come to next class with a draft of this mission statement.
May 17, Thursday, 6:00-10:00 PM
CLASS THREE
FIRST HALF
Strategies: Differences between Corporate and Business Unit level
Seeing the big picture: more on developing strategy
Discussion
Real Time Case 11 (p. 224): Costco
SECOND HALF
Foundation Simulation
Discuss Strategies and Company Mission Statements
Practice Round
ASSIGNMENTS:
The following assignments are to be completed for the next class:
Individual
Read Strategic Management, Chapters 7-8.
Complete Review Questions 1-4, 6 for Ch. 7 (p. 142) and Review Questions 1-3 for Ch. 8 (p. 160)
Team Assignment:
Choose company strategy for Foundation. Can use one of the six pre-defined strategies, or create your own as a team. If you choose to create your own, please follow a similar format as the pre-defined strategies. Write a brief statement as to why you have chosen to pursue that strategy.
Create and write out a company mission statement for your Foundation company. This should be built off of your rough draft from the previous week. What is going to make your company unique? Statement should be brief (1 paragraph) and compelling.
May 1, Saturday, 8:00- 4:00 PM
CLASS FOUR & FIVE
FIRST SESSION
SWOT Analyses
Strategy Implementation
Discussion:
Real Time Case 27 (p. 240): Starbucks
Foundation Simulation, Round 1
Debrief Round 1
LUNCH
SECOND SESSION
Foundation Simulation
Rounds 2 and 3
Debrief each round
May 24, Thursday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
CLASS SIX
Foundation Simulation
Rounds 4 and 5
ASSIGNMENTS:
The following assignments are to be completed for the FINAL class:
Individual
Read Strategic Management, Chapters 9-10.
Complete Review Questions 1, 3-5 for Ch. 9 (p. 180) and Review Questions 1-5 for Ch. 10 (p. 200)
Final paper or presentation due at last class.
May 31, Thursday, 6:00-10:00 PM
CLASS SEVEN - Chapters Eleven and Twelve
FIRST HALF
Strategic Control - staying on top of the plan
Execution - getting the strategy done
Discussion:
Real Time Case 13 (p. 226): Delta Air Lines
SECOND HALF
Presentations
Peer Evaluations
Course Evaluations