Management Analysis



Fall 2010Business Policy and StrategyMGT 491 -- 02Tues and Thurs—2:00Bryan Building 202Instructor:Terrie Reeves, Ph.D.Instructor: Dr. Terrie C. ReevesOffice: Bryan Building 369Phone: 336 256-8591Email address: tcreeves@uncg.eduOffice hours: 3:30 – 4:30 Thursday or by appointment. You may talk with me after class, and via email. I try to answer all emails from students within 24 hours.TextDess, G.G., Lumpkin, G.T., & Eisner, A.B. (2008). Strategic Management: Creating Competitive Advantage (5th Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.Required cases and occasional required articles will be posted (or the URL will be posted) on BlackBoard.In addition to class time, I will communicate with you via email through BlackBoard and I will post notices on BlackBoard. Please check BlackBoard and your email regularly. In order to learn everyone’s name quickly, during the first weeks of classes, I will probably take your photograph. Catalogue Course Description:Capstone course in top management policy and strategy determination. Students learn to integrate various business functions and to develop skills and judgment in solving problems of the organizations as a total system in relations to its environment. Prerequisites: MGT 301, 309, 312, and 330; MKT 320; FIN 315; ISM 280: SSM 320; senior standing; admission to approved major. Course Goals:This is a course about organizational strategy and about how organizations become competitively successful. The first goal of course is to facilitate your understanding of strategic management concepts, theories, decision support techniques, and tools. Secondly, a goal of this course is to help you develop your analytical abilities and your abilities to think critically and strategically in analyzing management situations while using strategic management concepts, theories, decision support techniques, and tools. Thirdly, the course is designed so that you can integrate and synthesize knowledge, skills, and experience from previous courses and jobs. Approach used in the Course:Your ability to become an effective, successful, and entrepreneurial strategic manager who is able to make good decisions for your organization will depend on more than simply memorizing facts. Likewise, a good grade in this class will not depend only upon memorization. Your grade will depend on your ability to critically analyze business situations, using your prior course work and your professional experience in conjunction with decision support tools, and on how convincing you are in presenting your ideas--supported by facts and analysis. Your opinions are valued in this class and you are encouraged to voice them! Everyone benefits from hearing different viewpoints. COURSE OBJECTIVES:Understand the strategic issues and policy decisions facing businesses and how current management concepts address these issues.Understand and describe the strategic management process and the difference between strategic analysis, strategy formulation and strategy implementation.Acquire an understanding of how to use new and existing knowledge to analyze "real world" cases and by so doing, to understand the complexity of strategic issues.Elaborate on how strategic plans and policies are integrated, implemented and controlled and to comprehend the culture and ethical factors that influence these management activities.Analyze new knowledge and use existing knowledge to conduct strategic and competitive analysis using various tools (e.g., five forces model, SWOT analysis, Portfolio matrix models) in a variety of industries.Evaluate the formulation of business and corporate level strategies, the different business and corporate strategic types, alternative actions, and make sound strategic decisions using what-if analysis.Discuss the leadership tasks associated with implementing and executing company strategies, and the action managers can take to promote competent strategy execution.Assess the role of government policy in creating incentives and disincentives for a variety of competitive condition for both domestic and international competition.Demonstrate how the various pieces of the knowledge they have acquired in their functional-oriented business courses fit together, and discuss why the different parts of a company's business need to be managed in strategic harmony for the company to operate successfully.Synthesize and apply the concepts and analytical tools exposed to in the course by participating in managing a company through a business simulation game or by conducting a strategic and competitive analysis of a company, both individually and as a member of a group.Course philosophy:I commit to making the course as enjoyable as possible as part of the learning community, and I will work hard to make the class successful. (For additional information about the UNCG learning community, you may go to .) But it is not possible for me to make the course successful without you. In exchange for my very best efforts, I make some assumptions about your efforts. I assume that students taking this course are willing to learn new materials, to react and respond to materials their classmates and I present, to debate the issues explored in class, and to actively participate in their own learning and in the learning of their classmates. I assume that students are willing and able to work on projects independently, although I am always available for consultation if needed. I assume that students taking this course will devote the time and effort required to complete assignments by the dates specified. The workload for this class will be quite heavy—remember that the course is your capstone course, the course in which you can practice “putting it all together.” You should be prepared to spend about 5 hours each week outside of class, a couple of hours to read the assignments, a couple of hours to find and prepare individual cases, and a couple of hours working on your team’s projects. Spent the preparation time required and see if you don’t find the course to be rewarding and enjoyable. Class Policies and proceduresAttendance: You must be present in class in order to join in class discussion and participation, which will be a large part of your grade. Coming in more than 10 minutes late or leaving more than 5 minutes before the end of class will count as an absence (unless you make prior arrangements with me and I consider your reason for being late or leaving early appropriate). Electronic Devises: I do not answer my cell phone or text during class time, and I expect that you will show your classmates and me the same courtesy. Your cell phone and all other electronic devises must be silenced and put away out of sight. There are two exceptions listed below, but otherwise, if I see you interacting with any electronic device in class, or if your cell phone makes any noise in class, you will fail the class unless you bring cookies (at least two cookies per person) for everyone in the class to the next class meeting.Exceptions to Electronic Devises policy: Laptop computers will be used for classroom activities occasionally and we may use clickers in the class. Unless I have asked you to work on your computers, close your computer until I ask you to use it. If I ask you to answer questions via clicker, you should respond.BlackBoardMost course documents will be posted to BlackBoard. In addition, I may communicate with you through BlackBoard or make announcements on BlackBoard. Please make sure your preferred email address is used by BlackBoard. Access to and frequent checking of BlackBoard will contribute to your success in this course.The course will use a variety of methods and assignments as listed directly below and in “Class Schedule.” Please be aware that the “Class Schedule” is tentative. The on-line version posted on BlackBoard will reflect any changes to the schedule, so be sure to check it! Criteria for earning points are also posted on BlackBoard.Assignments:General instructions for assignments: All assignments require that you express yourself understandably in English. If English is not your first language and/or you are not as fluent in English as in another language, please take advantage of the Speaking Center or the Writing Center, whichever is appropriate. Points will be subtracted for poor use of English.If you did not complete an assignment by the due date as noted in the topic and assignment schedule, you cannot hand it in later. All assignments are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise noted.Team assignmentTeam Case Presentation (worth 200 points): Students analyze a company approved by the instructor and present the results of their analysis in order to develop expertise in analyzing business situations, and to contribute to the learning community in the classroom. Businesses used in this assignment will help contribute to the Mission, Vision, and Values of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Strategic Plan for 2009-214 ( then click “Strategic Plan”), and will further Strategic Areas 2 and 4 (especially, 2.1, Natural Products Pharmaceuticals and/or Nanopharmacology, 4.1, “. . . companies prepared to meet economic, environmental, and social challenges within the emerging knowledge-based economy,” and 4.2, “. . . development of artistic and cultural communities as well as the regional economy” (UNCG Strategic Plan 2009-2014).Students will hand in a brief outline of their analysis plan in October and will give presentations and hand in the final written analysis in November and December. To be successful at this assignment, teams will do a complete strategic assessment of their chosen company including: external analysis (minimally, general and industry), internal (value chain excellencies or company capabilities/competencies needed for success), analysis of what governmental entities or political pressures will impact the company and development of strategies for dealing with those entities, and analysis of control mechanisms needed for the business. Finally, you must convincingly present your analyses and finding to your classmates in one half hour. Your grade will be based on thoughtfulness and completeness of the outline, the depth and clarity of your analysis, the use of appropriate materials from the text, the logic of your conclusions based on your analysis, and the clarity and pursuasiveness of your written document and presentation. Every member of each team must submit a peer evaluation form about every member of the team. Please note that no one on any team will get a grade for the team case until I have a completed evaluation from all team members. The form is on BlackBoard. You may submit it electronically to me via email attachment, you may leave it under my office door, or you may give me the hard copy in class. Firing a team mate: There may be students who consistently fail to perform their share of the work or who consistently underperform while the project is being developed and researched. Teams may take actions to insure that the team’s overall grade is not impacted by such persons. Unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to, missing scheduled face-to-face or on line meetings, failing to appropriately complete project sections as agreed upon by the team by the time set. Actions a team must take in order to “fire” a member are as follows:The whole team will meet with the underperforming member to discuss the problems and issues. In addition to discussing the problems and issues, the team will write out the issues and the team’s expectations of the underperformer going forward and will provide a written time during which he/she will be allowed to improve. A copy of the meeting’s written documentation will be given to the underperformer and a copy will be sent to the instructor. If the person’s performance does not improve after the time determined for improvement during the meeting (see 1. above), the team may request a meeting with the instructor to discuss the issues at hand. The instructor will then request a meeting with the underperformer(s). After these meetings, and after time has been allowed for the person to correct the issues, if the underperformer is still not fulfilling his/her team responsibilities and not contributing appropriately on his/her team task(s), with the approval of the instructor and the documented “just cause,” the team will be given the authority to “fire” the under-performer(s), If a student is “fired” from a team, he/she will receive a score of “0” for the project. No make-up work is available in lieu of this assignment. Individual assignments:Introduction (possible points 20). Students post a head shot picture and compose a three paragraph descriptive essay about themselves to accompany the picture in order to introduce themselves to their peers and to foster a classroom learning environment. Criteria for this assignment are posted on BlackBoard.In-class discussion participation (possible up to 100 points): Students will participate by contributing to classroom discussion and by asking appropriate questions in order to contribute to the learning community of the classroom, and to understand the concepts of strategic management and its analytical tools, techniques, and theories. Participation is a substantial portion of the class grade, so students will come to class prepared to discuss the assigned materials. Grading will be based on evidence of a) thoughtful deliberation about the topics, b) reasoning that can help others understand the topics, and c) correct use of the terms we learn. Individual case analysis (three analyses @ 33 points each plus one “free” point to total 100 points): Students will choose an appropriate article about a company and analyze the strategic situation of the company in order to understand the strategy process in real companies, to perform a strategic analysis, to identify business strategies, to discuss managerial tasks, and to understand government policies’ impacts on business. Grading will be based on the appropriateness and accuracy of your analysis given your chosen article, the use of appropriate theories, tools, and vocabulary, the clarity of the logic used in the analysis, and clarity with which you write out your analysis.Again, please remember: Use facts from the article and analysis of those facts only to support your writing; do not use your personal opinions. You must cite ALL of your sources in the body of the text, including web pages, in each installment using APA style. For help on APA style, go to owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/. Any quote or anything that you cut-and-paste from any on-line source or from your article must be enclosed in quotation marks and followed by a citation including the page number. If you use anything beyond your article, all references will be included in a bibliography, in APA style, at the end of your paper.Two Examinations, each worth 200 pts, for total a possible 400 points: There will be two examinations (timed closed book exams as noted in the Schedule). The most likely format for the exams will be multiple choice with a few short answer questions. The object of this assignment is to allow you do demonstrate your mastery of the material covered in the class. We will do practice questions in class each class session.Grading:Introduction 20Participation in class discussion100Individual case analysis (3@ 33 pts each)100Exams (2@100)400Team company/case presentation200TOTAL820Grades will be assigned as follows:Points Accrued Letter GradeFromTo770820A750769A-725749B+700725B675699B-645674C+610644C580609C-555579D+540554D510539D-5090FACADEMIC INTEGRITY IS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY IN THIS CLASS!!You are responsible for knowing and following the academic integrity policy of UNCG. Any breaches of academic integrity policy will result in the maximum sanctions allowed under the policies! I really mean it! The academic integrity policy of UNCG can be found at addition to many other things, being bound by the UNCG academic integrity policy means that you have not plagiarized anything or cheated on any assignments. We will discuss plagiarizing in class. Please come talk with me or talk with a librarian if you have any questions about academic integrity! There is no reason for you to cheat in this class, so please don’t do it. ?Topic and Assignment Schedule (subject to revision, especially toward the end of the term): Assignments due at the beginning of class on the dates in that row unless otherwise notedDateTopic Reading AssignmentOther assignments dueAug 24Introduction and analyzing casesChapter 13Article as listed on BlackBoardAug 26Strategic ManagementChapter 1Introduction Assignment due by 5:00 to BlackBoardAug 31An Aging Audience: The Broach TheatreSept 2The External EnvironmentChapter 2Hand in External environmental analysis of a companySept 7Got Milk? Agri-Mark, Inc. and the US Dairy IndustryHand in External environmental analysis of a companySept 9The Internal EnvironmentChapter 3Hand in Internal environmental analysis of a companySept 14East Central Ohio TruckingHand in Internal environmental analysis of a companySept 16Intellectual AssetsChapter 4Hand in Intellectual Assets analysis of a companySept 21Business Level StrategiesChapter 5Hand in Business Level analysis of a companySept 23ExamSept 28Corporate Level StrategiesChapter 6Hand in Corporate Level analysis of a companySept 30Respironics Teams finalized Hand in Corporate Level analysis of a companyOct 5International strategiesChapter 7Hand in International strategy analysis of a companyOct 7Antrix Corporation LimitedHand in International strategy analysis of a companyOct 14Team meetingsThe name of your company, your plan for analysis, and several information sources you plan to use in the analysis due by 5:00 to BlackBoardOct 19Entrepreneurial StrategyChapter 8Hand in Entrepreneurial strategy analysis of a companyOct 21ControlChapter 9Hand in Control analysis of a companyOct 26TBA: either HP or Community BankSharesHand in Control analysis of a companyOct 28Organizational DesignChapter 10Hand in Organizational Design analysis of a companyNov 2LeadershipChapter 11Hand in Leadership analysis of a companyNov 4EntrepreneurshipChapter 12Hand in Entrepreneurship analysis of a companyNov 9ExamNov 11Presentations by teamsNov 16Presentations by teamsNov18Presentations by teamsNov 23Presentations by teamsNov 25ThanksgivingNov 30Presentations by teamsDec 2Presentations by teamsDec 10 3:30 – 6:30Final ................
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