SYLLABUS FOR Strategic Management & Decision Making

 

Term:  Fall, 2003 (031) (September 2 – December 12)                                          

Course Number: BUS 489A

Instructor: Mr. George Grzesiowski

                   Assistant Professor in Accounting and Management

Office:  516

Office Phone: 219-473-4283

E-mail:            ggrzesiowski@ccsj.edu

Home Phone: 219-362-1696

Home E-mail:  grzz@csinet.net

Cell:  219-716-5002

 

Office Hours: 

Monday

10:30AM – 12:00PM

  3:30PM -    7:00PM

Wednesday.

12:00PM -    7:00PM

Thursday

10:30AM – 12:00PM

 

 

Course Time: Mondays & Thursdays 12:10PM – 1:40PM

 

Course Description:

This capstone course is designed to present an organized and integrated approach to strategic management and business policy.  Decision-making aids and tools are utilized in the process.  A broad spectrum of problems will be presented to students for study and for solving.

 

Prerequisites:  This course must be taken in the student’s last semester.

 

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

Students in this course will:

 

·        Develop the capacity to think strategically about a company, its present business position, its long-term direction, its resources and competitive capabilities, the caliber of its strategy, and its opportunities for gaining sustainable competitive advantage.

·        Build their skills in conducting strategic analysis in a variety of industries and competitive situations and, especially, to provide you with a stronger understanding of the competitive challenges of a global market environment.

·        Acquire hands-on experience in crafting business strategy, reasoning carefully about strategic options, using what-if analysis to evaluate action alternatives, and making sound strategic decisions.

·        Learn the managerial tasks associated with implementing and executing company strategies, understand the range of actions managers can take to promote competent strategy execution, and attain confidence in being able to function effectively as part of a company’s strategy-implementing team.

·        Integrate the knowledge gained in earlier core courses in the business curriculum and demonstrate why the different parts of a business need to be managed in strategic harmony for the organization to operate in winning fashion.

·        Develop their powers of managerial judgment, learn how to assess business risk, and improve their  ability to make sound decisions and achieve effective outcomes.

·         Understand the importance of exemplary ethical principles, sound personal and company values, and socially responsible management practices.

 

 

Textbooks:     Strategic Management, 13th edition, Thompson & Strickland, McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2003.

 

Assessment:                          

Exams (3 tests)                                                              50% of grade

Case Studies                                                  20%

Management Philosophy                                    10%

Presentation                                                     10%

Participation/Attendance                                  10%

                                                                                    100%

 

Grading Scale:

 

A: 92-100           A-: 90-91              B+:  88-89     B: 82-87         B-:  80-81    C+: 78-79

C: 72-77             C-: 70-71             D+:  68-69     D: 62-67         D-:  60-61    F:  59 & below

 

Open Door Policy

Since your learning is my primary concern, it is imperative that anything preventing you from learning be discussed.  Please feel free to make an appointment with me or call me so that I can help you keep on track.

 

Class Policy for Assignments:

Students will be required to write one short paper on their personal management philosophies and submit to cases.  Students will be required to give a fifteen-minute presentation at the end of the semester on a business topic.

 

Class Policy on Attendance:

Attendance in classes is an important priority.  Attendance will affect your participation grade.  If you are not here, you are not participating.

 

Student Responsibilities:

Students are expected to have read the chapter prior to the lecture.  Students are expected to be prepared for case discussion when assigned.

 

 

 

 

Classroom behavior

The student is expected to treat the instructor and his/her fellow students with respect and courtesy at all times.  This means giving your full attention – no private conversations, no catching up on homework assignments, no naps.

 

Class Policy on Electronic Devices: (Optional)(Cell phones, Beeper, Pagers…etc.)

Turn on soft ring or message only.

 

Center for Academic Excellence:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Call the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), to make an appointment at 473-4287. The Center has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help students who are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to do better. Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.

 

Statement of Plagiarism:

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances.

 

Please note: Calumet College of St. Joseph subscribes to Turnitin.com and all papers can and may be submitted for checks on plagiarism from the Internet/Electronic sources/Databases.

 

Citation Guidelines:

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.).  All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore.  These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

 

 

 

Withdrawal from Classes Policy:

After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. The Registrar must receive written request for withdrawal by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed.

 

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).

 

 

Course Outline:

Week  Class Dates:                                                 Topics/Assignments:

1          M-9/1                                                               Labor Day – No Class

R-9/4                                                                Introduction

 

2          M-9/8                                                               Chapter 1

R-9/11                                                              Chapter 2

                                                                                    Guide to Case Analysis

 

3          M-9/15                                                             Case Discussion

            R-9/18                                                             

 

4          M-9/22                                                             Chapter 3         

R-9/25                                                              Chapter 4

 

5          M-9/29                                                             Case Discussion

R-10/2                                                              Exam 1 Chapters 1-4

 

6          M-10/6                                                             Chapter 5

R-10/9                                                              Chapter 6

 

7          M-10/13                                                    Case Discussion

            R-10/16                                                           

 

8          M-10/20                                                    Chapter 7

R-10/23                                                            Chapter 8

 

9          M-10/27                                                   

            R-10/30                                                            Exam 2 Chapters 5-8                                                                                        

 

10         M-11/3                                                             Chapter 9

R-11/6                                                              Chapter 10

 

11         M-11/10                                                    Chapter 11

R-11/13                                                            Written Case Due (#14)

Krispy Crème Doughnuts

 

12         M-11/17                                                    Chapter 12

R-11/20                                                            Written Case Due

Southwest Airlines (#28)

 

13         M-11/24                                                    Chapter 13

R-11/27                                                            NO CLASS Thanksgiving

                                                                                   

14         M-12/1                                                             Presentations

R-12/4                                                              Presentations

                                                                                    Management Philosophy Paper Due                                          

15         R-12/11                                                            Final Exam Chapters 9-13