Strategic ManagementMAN 4720 Section 0M82

Fall 2008Thursday 6:00 – 8:50 PM

South Lake Room 303

Contact Information

Instructor: Mr. Gary NicholsOffice: Phone:South Lake Campus Bldg. 2 Room 219 South Lake (352) 536-2172Orlando Campus BA1 Room 333 Orlando (407) 823-1202 Cell (352) 551-5395E-mail: gnichols@bus.ucf.edu Web address: www.bus.ucf.edu/gnichols

Schedule

Office Hours: To be held in my campus office in Orlando and Clermont. TBD for Valencia and Ocala.Monday: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm (V) Tuesday: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (O) 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (O)Wednesday: 11:00 am - 1:30 pm (M) Thursday: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm (SL) * Additional by appointment. V = Valencia M = Main SL = South Lake O = OcalaClass ScheduleMAN  4720 Sec 0M82 Monday Valencia VW01 153 6:00 pm - 8:50 pmGEB  3031  Sec 0084 Tuesday Ocala CF41 210 5:00 pm - 5:50 pmMAN 4441 Sec 0002 Wednesday Main Campus BA1 239 1:30 pm - 4:20 pmMAN 4720 Sec 0M84 Thursday South Lake LSCL 303 6:00 pm - 8:50 pm

Course Descriptives

This course examines the dynamics of Strategic Management as applied to modern organizations. As a capstone class, the course will integrate and apply business disciplines learned by the students in their previous studies. Strategic Management therefore draws on the tenets of Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, MIS, and Marketing to competently: analyze environmental influences; formulate decisions and resolutions in response to the analyses; extrapolate future conditions and trends; present findings to stakeholders; implement strategies and tactics; and monitor strategy implementation to ensure economic and efficient results. While the course will rely to a certain extent on traditional pedagogical methods such as lectures and exams to accomplish its task, there is a strong emphasis on experiential learning through the use of simulation and exercises which will require extensive business analysis techniques.

Required Text and Materials

Strategy: 2008-2009, Ketchen, Jr., David J., Eisner, Alan B., Dess, Gregory G., Lumpkin, G.T. (2009).ISBN: 978-0-07-338128-2. New Your, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

BSG-Online Registration will also be required for Computer Simulation. This can be accessed at www.bsg-online.com. An additional fee is needed to register.

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Class Webcourses Site

Lecture notes, assignment guides, course syllabus, earned grades, etc. will be posted on the class Webcourses site. The MAN 4720-B081 Webcourses site is located at: http://webcourses.ucf.edu. You can also reach the site through the MyUCF portal address: http://my.ucf.edu and follow the prompts to logon to the class Webcourse site. To access the “Class Login” portions of this course, students must follow UCF’s log-in and password conventions. You must know your UCF “NID” and password. If you experience problems with the Webcourse site, you should contact the UCF “techrangers” at: techrangers@mail.ucf.edu or by phone at (407)823-3808. Class notes are posted in the “Slides” section of the class Webcourse. These notes may be downloaded to a computer offering PowerPoint. It is suggested that you print the notes before coming to class and add comments from the readings to the notes. These slides are available for a limited time only on Webcourses. Students should print all slides no later than one week prior to the Exam. Students are expected to log in to the Webcourses site at least once a week for updates and additional comments from the instructor.

On-Line Learning Portion of the Course

The course includes an on-line pedagogical feature known as the Business Strategy Game, which requires the student to interact with strategic management theory, and compete with other students in a simulated business environment. This single credit portion of the course augments and compliments the face-to-face, traditional three credit classroom instruction in strategic management. The Business Strategy Game (BSG) is provided by publisher McGraw-Hill Irwin and can be accessed at www.bsg-online.com. Students must pay the registration fee with a credit card. Each student MUST register for a BSG-Online account and also complete two quizzes and a peer evaluation. The on-line learning portion of the class will require scheduled (weekly) strategic management decisions throughout the semester. Since there is a deadline for each on-line exercise, students must strictly adhere to the time-table. The submission date for each Business Strategy Game (BSG) exercise is posted in the Syllabus schedule. The exercise decisions must be submitted on the date specified. Failure to observe the deadlines or complete the assignments will result in a negated or reduced grade.

Course Requirements

Prerequisites for the course are: MAN 3025, MAR 3023, FIN 3403; and GEB 3031.

Students are required to be punctual, to attend all lectures to participate in class discussions, and to complete all assignments and submit the assignments to the instructor by the assigned due date at the beginning of class. Students are expected to complete all assignments/readings before each class that will enable a productive exchange of ideas during lectures and case studies. Assignments must be submitted according to schedule or may not be accepted. Any student unable to attend class because of special or extraordinary circumstances, when an assignment is due, can e-mail the assignment to the instructor at least 2 hours before the class provided that prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.

The UCF academic honesty policy will be strictly adhered to in this class. The University of Central Florida Code of Conduct is to be followed at all times and the University of Central Florida “Golden Rule” will be observed in all cases. The rules can be found at www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu .

Incompletes will not be awarded except where mandated by University policy.

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Course Objectives

The objectives of the course include: Provide the student with a broad understanding of strategic management, and how business

decisions affect organizational well-being. Enhance the student’s analytical abilities for formulating responsible business solutions to

environmental challenges. Provide the student with opportunities to apply strategic management methodology in a

number of real-world situations. Encourage the student to develop a sense of objectivity and scholarly approach in examining

problems and environmental influences. Allow the student to practice business presentations in front of a critical audience. Acquaint the student with the consequences of business strategy choices in numerous

situations and conditions. Acquaint the student with potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to

established business practices. Assist the student in recognizing flaws in business decisions that countervail established

ethical values. Instill analytical skills that will further inherent abilities while enhancing self-fulfillment. Provide the student an opportunity to produce a professional and scholarly strategic analysis. Expose the student to theoretical frameworks that will facilitate the understanding and further

study of Strategic Management.

A supportive learning environment is provided for all students, and the instructor will make every effort to accommodate students with documented special needs.

Grading

The following grading scale will be used: A 900 - 1000 D 600 - 699 B 800 - 899 F Below 600 C 700 - 799 Grades will be awarded based on the following:

150 Points: In-Class Exercises, 15 or 20 points per project*450 Points: Exams (3 Exams worth 150 Points each)100 Points: Industry Analysis Paper100 Points: Firm Strategic Analysis Presentation200 Points: Business Strategy Game (BSG) Simulation1000 Points Total

*Additional points may or may not be assigned to exceed 150 points at the discretion of the instructor. These points are not “extra credit,” but possible additional assignments available to the entire class. There will be no extra credit available in this class.

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Course Expectations

Five categorical activities comprise the course expectations.

1. In-Class Exercises. During the semester there will be approximately 10 in-class exercises, each contributing to the student’s final grade. Groups and/or individuals will be assigned to answer specific questions regarding case studies in the text. In-Class Exercises will encourage students to interact with the presented material. The projects usually will be assigned and completed during class. A peer evaluation by the student’s group pertaining to the student’s performance will also be considered in awarding the final grade. Excused (with acceptable documentation) absences for the projects will be permitted to make up the absence by providing written essay answers (3 pages minimum, double spaced, 12 point New Times Roman font) related to topics assigned by the instructor. A maximum of one make-up assignment will be allowed for absences and must be completed by the date specified by the instructor.

2. Exams 1, 2 and 3. The exams may consist of essay, short answer, and/or multiple choice questions as related to exercises and the course material in general. Each exam will deal with the information presented in one of the three modules of the semester. The class lecture notes will provide the foundation from which the exams questions will emerge. The readings, lectures, assignments, and class discussions will clarify points made in the lecture notes. There will be no make up exams without authorization from the instructor, and no authorization will be issued without appropriate documentation of an emergency that prevented attendance during the exam. Make up exams will be conducted at a time designated by the instructor if the student has appropriate documentation to excuse absence from the scheduled examination. Failure to satisfy these requirements automatically incurs a failure for the exam.

3. Industry Analysis Paper. Students will prepare a scholarly paper that analyzes a specific industry. The topic of such a paper must be approved by the instructor. Students are encouraged to submit requests for topics as early in the semester as possible. The paper should be approximately seven to ten pages in text length (excluding reference pages, table of contents, etc.), and demonstrate the student’s understanding of industry analysis. A guideline specifying the required elements of the analysis is available. The student also has the option of submitting the assignment in “bulleted” or outline form. Whether essay or outline form, the paper should sequentially follow the Industry Analysis Paper Content Requirements presented in the course. Specific instructions for the analysis paper can also be found on the class Webcourses site.

4. Group Case Study Presentation. The student will be assigned to a group of other students, and will cooperate with the other students in presenting a firm analysis. The firm selected for analysis must be included in the industry analyzed earlier in the paper discussed above. This will offer the student the opportunity to develop presentation techniques, while at the same time cultivate their analytical abilities. The presentation should take no more than twenty minutes and should follow the guidelines set forth in the course’s Strategic Analysis Presentation Guide.

5. Simulation. The course requires participation in an on-line Business Strategy Game (BSG) which uses a state-of-the-art computer simulation that utilizes an experiential learning opportunity for the

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student. The Business Strategy Game (BSG) is provided by publisher McGraw-Hill Irwin and can be accessed at www.bsg-online.com. Students must pay the registration fee ($36 plus tax) with a credit card. Each student MUST register for a BSG-Online account and also complete two quizzes and a peer evaluation. Real-world conditions are created by the simulation, and the student within a group, must compete with other students using Strategic Management theory and practices. As demonstrated in the preceding grading scale, the simulation constitutes a large percentage (20%) of the student’s final grade. The module, which comprises the fourth credit for the course, requires that students navigate through the simulation. Technical assistance is provided by the text and simulation publisher, McGraw-Hill Irwin. Each BSG Year decision is due by 5:30 pm on the day designated by the schedule located on the last page of this syllabus. Students are strongly advised to participate in the practice session offered by the on-line Business Strategy Game. Each team member will complete a peer evaluation in the simulation. This evaluation may impact team members’ final grade for the simulation.

Itinerary

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Week Date Lecture TopicIn-Class Exercises

Assignments &Exercises

1 08/28 Introduction and OrientationChapter 1 – What is Strategic ManagementThe Business Strategy Game (BSG)Formation of Groups

Chapter 1

2 09/04 Chapter 9 – Case AnalysisIn-Class Exercise – Provided by Instructor

Chapter 9Register with BSG Print Player’s Guide

3 09/11 Chapter 3A – Internal Analysis: Mission, Objectives and Value Chain In-Class Exercise – Case 5, YAHOO!

Chapter 3BSG Practice Decision

4 09/18 Chapter 3B – Internal Analysis; BenchmarkingIn-Class Exercise – Case 10, Ford Motor CompanyExam 1 Review

Chapter 3BSG Practice Decision

5 09/25 Exam 1 – Chapters 1, 3A, 3B, & 9 BSG Year 11 Decision Due

6 10/02 Chapter 4 – Analyzing the External EnvironmentIn-Class Exercise – Case 8, Claire’s Stores

Chapter 4

7 10/09 Chapter 5 – Corporate-Level StrategyIn-Class Exercise - Case 4, Johnson & Johnson

Chapter 5BSG Year 12 Decision Due

8 10/16 Chapter 6 – Business-Level StrategyIn-Class Exercise – Case 3, JetBlue Airways

Chapter 6 BSG Year 13 Decision Due

10/17 Withdrawal Deadline9 10/23 Chapter 7 – Creating Effective Organizational Designs

In-Class Exercise - Case 9, Nintendo WiiExam 2 Review

Chapter 7BSG Year 14 Decision Due

10 10/30 Exam 2 – Chapters 4, 5, 6, & 7 BSG Year 15 Decision Due

11 11/06 Chapter 8A – Strategic Control: Corporate CultureIn-Class Exercise – Wal-Mart Corporate Culture

Chapter 8BSG Strategic Plan Due

12 11/13 Chapter 8B – Strategic Control: Marshalling Resources In-Class Exercise – Case 6, World Wrestling Entertainment

Chapter 8BSG Year 16 Decision Due

13 11/20 Chapter 2A - Context of Strategic Management: Foreign MarketsChapter 2B - Context of Strategic Management: Social ResponsibilityIn-Class Exercise – Case 1, Enron

Chapter 2BSG Year 17 Decision DueIndustry Analysis Due

14 11/27 Happy Thanksgiving – No Class BSG Year 18 Decision Due

15 12/04 Group Case PresentationsExam 3 Review

Final Peer Evaluation

16 12/11 Exam 3 – Chapters 2A, 2B, 8A, & 8B

Disclaimer Statement: This is a tentative syllabus and schedule, and the instructor reserves the right to make any changes that the instructor deems necessary to meet the objectives of the course.

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