LAMBUTH UNIVERSITY

Strategic Management

MGT 4923W

Section 1

Spring 2008

Class Time:                            Monday, Wednesday & Friday 11:00 am – 11:50 am

Professor:                                            Amy W. Halters

Office:                                                   308 Varnell-Jones

Phone:                                                  425-3244

Email:                                                   halters@lambuth.edu

 

Office Hours:                         Monday           10:00 – 11:00 am; 12:00 – 12:30 pm

                                                Tuesday           8:25 – 9:25 am; 10:45 - 11:15 am; 12:30 – 1:45 pm

                                                Wednesday      10:00 – 11:00 am; 12:00 – 12:30 pm

                                                Thursday          8:25 – 9:25 am; 10:45 - 11:15 am; 12:30 – 1:45 pm

                                                Friday              10:00 – 11:00 am; 12:00 – 12:30 pm                                                                                        Other times by Appointment

 

Add/Drop Date:                                  January 18th/February 22nd  

Required Text:                  Arthur A. Thompson, Jr., A. J. Strickland III, and John E. Gamble, Crafting and Executing Strategy, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2008 (16th edition).

                                              

Course Description

Strategic management refers to decisions, plans and actions taken at top management level to direct the firm towards the attainment of its goals. Managers face pressing challenges in guiding their organizations through today's complex and dynamic economic environment. It is these problems of determining, formulating, and implementing strategy that will be the focus of this course.

Course Objectives:

1.        To develop skills and perspectives necessary to become successful managers in a global environment.

2.        To develop the capacity to identify strategic issues and to reason carefully about strategic options.

3.        To build skills in conducting strategic analysis in a variety of industries and competitive situations.

4.         To build the skills to develop a strategic plan and then execute them successfully.

5.         To acquire an awareness of the significance of domestic and foreign environmental factors.

6.        To develop an awareness and appreciation for the significance of the ethical dimensions of policy and strategy formulation at the top management level.

7.        To use accounting principles and procedures to record business transactions and to determine the financial condition of business firms.

8.        To demonstrate skills to communicate effectively in a domestic and global business environment.    

9.         To apply management principles to the functions of business in domestic and international environments.

10.       To apply the concepts necessary to market business goods and services successfully in a global economy.

11.       To apply methods of business data analysis to assist in business decision making and employ the appropriate software when creating learning experiences designed to develop student competencies.

12.       To apply computer technology for research, data analysis, business information processing, and global communications.

 

Course Procedures:

A variety of techniques will be used to teach Strategic Management, including lectures, discussions, exercises, case analysis and other projects. The lectures will generally cover the Strategic Management topics, which you have been assigned to read and study. During the lectures, students are encouraged to interject relevant insights from personal experience, ask questions about the material being covered, and inquire about the strategic management implications of the material. The ability to apply what you learn about strategic management is very important.

Evaluation and Grading

There will be four exams given during the semester.  There will be no makeup exams allowed, except for excused absences (see “Excused Absences).  If you will be absent on an exam date for a non-excused reason, you may take your exam prior to the exam date.  There will be Individual Case Analyses / Individual Briefs (discussed below).  For purposes of the group assignments, the class will be divided into groups. These groups will be responsible for case analyses and presentations listed below.  

Group Case and Presentation

Each group will be assigned and will complete a case analysis report of approximately 8 double spaced type written pages (excluding tables and appendices). This report should address the specific problems or dilemmas in the case in question as well as analysis of the industry environment. Particular attention should be directed towards applying the strategy concepts and tools covered in class in order to develop alternative courses of action and strategies. The group will also make a formal 20-25 minute class presentation followed by 20 -25 minutes of class discussion and questions. The case analysis report will be due the class period prior to the presentation.

Please note that all group members must participate in all group activities. Group members will evaluate each other at various points during the course, these evaluations will then factor into each members individual grade.

Individual Case Analysis /  Individual Briefs

Each student will turn in individual case analyses for the cases that are presented by other groups as well as additional cases we will discuss in class, describing the major problems of the case and offering a solution or course of action. Students may also be asked to prepare an individual brief (often following suggested questions) in regard to topics we are covering in class. Students should use these reports to showcase their understanding of the case and their ability to apply already learned concepts and tools to it. Students should also strive to support their recommendations for each case with arguments referencing strategy concepts and tools. Do NOT turn in a recitation of the case facts.  Papers consisting of facts only with no analysis will receive a zero. 

 

The GLO-BUS Simulation Game

Students will participate in the “Game” in groups and will make executive decisions resulting in quantitative results from which they will be evaluated.  Further information will follow throughout the semester.

 

Class Participation, Reading Assignments and Attendance

Reading assignments should be completed prior to the class during which that material will be covered. Student participation in class discussions is mandatory and students should be prepared to be called upon to contribute their insights and opinions to the class. Students are expected to attend all classes. A sign-in sheet will be passed around during each class for which the student is responsible.  Late assignments will only be accepted for excused absences.  Please be in class on time to avoid interrupting class activities.

 

Excused Absences:  An absence will be deemed “excused” for any of the following:

·        University affiliated absence, such as athletics, music, arts, etc..

·        Absence accompanied by a note from the University nurse or Physician for the days in question.

·        Family emergency, such as hospitalization of immediate family member or death.  This does not include lack of transportation, sick child/parent/sibling, work scheduling conflict, traffic delay, or other routine conflict.

Grading:

Individual case analyses / briefs                                     40%

Group case analysis report & presentation                     10%

Group Simulation Game                                                10%

Exam 1                                                                         10%

Exam 2                                                                         10%

Exam 3                                                                         10%

Exam 4                                                                         10%

Percentage     Grade

90 -100                     A

80-89              B

70-79               C

60-69             D

Below 60             F

 

Academic Integrity Policy:  Plagiarism or any other type of cheating will not be tolerated and will result in a grade of zero for the work in question.  Such incidents will be reported to the Department Head and the Dean of Students.

Questions

If you have problems related to the course please do not hesitate to ask questions or see the instructor during office hours.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE*

 

WEEK # & DATE

TOPICS

ASSIGNMENTS

January 11

Introduction and Course Overview

 

1.  January 14, 16

What is Strategy and Why is it Important?; The Managerial Process of Crafting and Executing Strategy

 Read Chapter 1 & 2

1. January 18

Guide to Case Analysis (Download from Website) and Simulation Game Overview

 

2.  January 21

MLK Holiday; No Class

 

2.  January 23 & 25

Evaluating a Company’s External Environment

Read Chapter 3

3.  January 28

 

Practice Round 1 Decisions Due

3.  Jan 30 & Feb 1

Evaluating a Company’s Resources and Competitive Position

Read Chapter 4

4.  February 4

 

Practice Round 2 Decisions Due

4.  February 6

Exam 1

 

4.  February 8

The Five Generic Competitive Strategies: Which One to Employ?

Read Chapter 5

5.  February 11

 

Round 1 Decisions Due

5.  February 11, 13, 15

Supplementing the Chosen Competitive Strategy: Other Important Strategy Choices

Read Chapter 6

6.  February 18

 

Round 2 Decisions Due

6.  February 18, 20, 22

Competing in Foreign Markets

Read Chapter 7

7.  February 25

Exam 2

Round 3 Decisions Due

7.  February 27 & 29

Tailoring Strategy to Fit Specific Industry and Company Situations

Read Chapter 8

8.  March 3

Diversification: Strategies for Managing a Group of Businesses

Round 4 Decisions Due; Read Chapter 9

8.  March 5

Our class will not meet

 

8.  March 7

 

Read Chapter 9

9.  March 10, 12, 14

SPRING BREAK; NO CLASS

 

10.  March 17

 

Round 5 Decisions Due

10. March 17, 19,

Strategy, Ethics, and Social Responsibility

Read Chapter 10

10.  March 21

GOOD FRIDAY; NO CLASS

 

11.  March 24

Exam 3

Round 6 Decisions Due

11. March 26 & 28

Building an Organization Capable of Good Strategy Execution

Read Chapter 11

12. March 31

 

Round 7 Decisions Due

12. Mar 31, Apr 2 & 4

Managing Internal Operations: Actions that Promote Good Strategy Execution

Read Chapter 12

13. April 7

 

Round 8 Decisions Due

13. April 9, 11

Corporate Culture and Leadership: Keys to Good Strategy Execution

Read Chapter 13

14.  April 14

 

 

14.  April 16

Game Debrief

 

14.  April 18

Exam 4

 

15. April 21

Group Case

 

15. April 23

Group Case

 

15. April 25

Group Case

 

16. April 28

Group Case

 

 

* Instructor reserves the right to make changes to the above schedule.  Additional cases may be added if time permits.

Strategic Management Student Deliverables

Group Assignments

 

Case Analysis Group will do the following (1 paper and 1 presentation).

•    Case Analysis Papers should be approximately 8 pages.

•    Papers are due the class prior to when you are leading the case.

 

The Simulation Game Group will make a series of executive decisions throughout the semester which will result in quantitative results from which the group will be evaluated.

 

Individual Assignments

Each student will individually submit the following:

1)      Individual Case Analysis / Individual Briefs

·        Each student will submit an individual analysis or brief of the cases which are to be presented by other groups or assignments made to the class.

·        Come to class ready to discuss the case. The discussion of the cases is very important.