MANAGEMENT 476 - Strategic Management and Policy


Dr. Paul Reed - Room AB1 216H

Office Phone: 294-1281

Office Hours: MW 2-4, TH 4-6 or by appointment
 

REQUIRED TEXTS -

Strategic Management, 7th Ed., Prentice-Hall, by Fred R. David. Lack of texts by 4th class meeting will result in expulsion from the course.
 

SUPPLEMENTAL - none
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The evaluation of external environmental factors and internal organizational strengths and weaknesses for the purpose of formulating organization strategies. Prerequisites: MGT 380, MKT 371, FIN 367, and senior standing. Credit 3.
 

COURSE OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the course is to give you the opportunity to pull together what you have learned in the separate business fields and utilize this knowledge in the analysis of complex business problems.
 

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY POLICY: Students who are absent from class for observance of a religious holy day will be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within one week of returning to class. The student, not later than the 15th calendar day after the first day of the semester, must notify the instructor of each scheduled class day that he/she should be absent for a religious holy day.
 

DISABLED STUDENT POLICY: It is the policy of Sam Houston State University that no otherwise qualified disabled individual shall, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any academic, Student Life program or activity. Disabled students may request academic assistance when needed from a Committee for Continuing Academic Assistance for Disabled Students by visiting the Director of the Counseling Center in the Lee Drain Building.
 

ATTENDANCE POLICY: While there is no maximum number of absences in this course, there is a STRONG direct correlation between poor attendance and bad grades. More about this later.
 

GRADING POLICY: The following grading policy will be in effect:

A = 90-100

B = 80-89.9

C = 70-79.9

D = 60-69.9

F = 59.9 and below
 

Individual grade breakdown will be as follows:

Examinations 2 (15 pts. each) 30 points

Case Quizzes 30 points

Class Participation 10 points

Case Analysis 30 points
 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
 

1. Student teams will be responsible for analyzing and presenting one of the cases listed on the schedule of assignments. The case analysis will be similar to Fig. 1-1, and pp.xx-xvii. This is to be YOUR analysis of the company based upon the case and further information obtained via the SHSU library. You will not contact the organization about which the case is written. You will not request assistance from other sources without my permission. Violation of this rule has caused grades of ZERO in the past and will continue to do so in the future. If you have any questions concerning this SEE ME!
 

The cases will be presented:
 

a. Oral: 20 minute decision briefing that, in effect, verbalizes the written analysis described in b below. This briefing will comprise 20 percent of your case analysis grade.
 

b. Written: It will be typed, double spaced, and logically organized. Cases will be a 10 page minimum and a maximum of 20 pages. Tables, figures, and graphs will not be included in the page count. Footnoted where appropriate. Spelling and grammar errors will adversely affect case grades. The written portion will comprise 80 percent of your case analysis grade.
 

c. Homework: There will be several team and individual homework assignments that will be specifically designed for your case. Failure to turn in assignments or poor quality work will adversely affect your case analysis grade.
 

d. The case and presentation are due on the date indicated and a grade of zero will be awarded for failure to turn in the written portion and/or to present the oral segment at that time. There will be NO exception!
 

2. Hour Exams - There will be two examination in this course. They will consist of multiple choice type questions. Excused exam absence requires prior approval. Excused make-up will be given at my convenience. It will be all essay. Unexcused absence will result in a zero.
 

3. Quizzes - There will be a quiz given on each of the presentation cases. Quiz absences will result in a zero. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Quizzes will start promptly at the beginning of class. Late arrives will not be permitted to take the quiz.
 
 
 

4. Class participation consists of your knowledgeable critiquing of classmate oral case analysis. You are expected to get to the heart of the matter and let the chips fall where they may. I expect meaningful comments and will not give credit for questions, repeat remarks or meaningless phraseology. Absence prevents class participation and adversely affects your grade.
 

5. Final Examination - School regulations require that I give a final at the time so scheduled. This presents us with a unique problem since no new material is presented after the second exam. Last semester a Final with a weight of one thousandth of a point was given. Attendance at the exam was surprisingly light - zero.
 

6. Course Outline -

Chapter Topic
 

1 Overview of Strategic Management

2 Strategies in Action

3 The Business Mission

4 The External Assessment

5 The Internal Assessment

EXAM I (Chapters 1-5)

6 Strategy Analysis and Choice

7 Implementing Strategies: Management Issues

8 Implementing Strategies: Other functional areas

9 Strategy Evaluation

10 Global Issues

EXAM II (Chapters 6-10)
 

Date Case Page
 

Oct. 27 Classic Car Club C-253

Nov. 1 Grace Lutheran Church C-236

3 Audubon Zoo C-117

8 Biomet, Inc. C-466

10 Circus Circus C-60

15 RailTex, Inc. C-162

17 Nike, Inc. C-497

22 Swisher C-341

29 Harley-Davidson C-266

Dec. 1 America Online C-434
 

Oct 30 Classic Car Club C-263

Nov 3 Woodlands Cleaning Service C-28

5 Elkins Lake Baptist Church C-275

10 Norwood Furniture C-14

12 Wal-Mart C-127

17 Pilgrim's Pride C-630

19 Circus Circus C-175

Dec 1 Winnebago Industries C-378

3 Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern RR C-210

8 Greyhound Corp C-225