Seminar in Strategic Management and Policy
Fall, 1999
Dr. Paul R. Reed - Room 216H, Bldg., AB1
Office Phone - 409-294-1281
Office Hours - MW 2-4, THU 4-6 or by appointment
REQUIRED TEXT: Strategic Management, 7th Ed. Prentice-Hall, by Fred R. David.
SUPPLEMENTAL : none
PREREQUISITES: Course must be taken in graduating semester.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course covers principles of top management
and considers the forming and effecting of business policy. The case approach
is used in the course.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This is the capstone course of the MBA program. The
goals of the course are twofold: 1) provide the student with insights into
the strategic planning process; 2) provide the student with an opportunity
to apply what he/she has learned in earlier graduate and undergraduate
coursework to actual and simulated business situations. Ideally, in addition
to the material covered in this course, the student will be confronted
with problems requiring the application of financial, accounting, marketing,
management, economic, and statistical tools and information.
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.
GRADING POLICY: Individual grade breakdown will be as follows:
Major Exams (2) 30%
Case Analysis & Presentation 20%
Class Participation 10%
Original Case/Final Exam 40%
100%
Grading scale is :
A = 90 - 100
B = 80-89.9
C = 70-79.9
F = 69.9 and below
Major Exams: There will be two examinations in this course. Excused
exam absence requires prior approval. Excused make-ups will be given at
my convenience, and are TERRIBLE! Unexcused absence will result in a zero.
CASE ANALYSIS & PRESENTATION: Students will be responsible for analyzing
and presenting one of the cases listed on the schedule of assignments.
The case analysis should follow Fig. 1-1, and pp. xx-xxvii. This is to
be your analysis of the company based upon the case and further information
obtained via the SHSU/UC Libraries. You will not contact the company about
which the case is written. You will not request assistance from any other
source. If you have any questions concerning this SEE ME!
The case will be presented:
a. Oral: 20 minute decision briefing that, in effect, verbalizes the
written analysis described in b. below. This briefing will comprise 30%
of your case analysis grade.
b. Written: This analysis will follow the strategic management model
Fig. 1-1, pp.xx-xxvii. It will be typed, double spaced, and logically organized.
It will be 10 page minimum and a maximum of 20 pages. Tables, figures,
and graphs will not be included in the page count. Footnoted where appropriate.
The written portion will comprise 70% of your case analysis grade.
CLASS PARTICIPATION: Consists of:
a. Normal in-class discussion of the subject matter assigned.
b. Your knowledgeable critiquing of classmate case analysis and presentation.
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, meaningless phraseology or reading from the
text.
ORIGINAL CASE/FINAL EXAM: Your knowledge of strategic management and
the strategic decision-making process will be solidified by the writing
of and solution to a case written about a company of your choosing. Cases
judged to be outstanding will be forwarded to major publishers for possible
selection and use in future policy/strategy texts. An in-class handout
will cover the specifics of this assignment.
Class Schedule
Date Topic Assignment
Aug. 26 Course Overview
All You Ever Needed to Know About None
Business.
Sep. 2 Nature of Strategic Management Ch. 1
Strategies in Action & Case Assignment Ch. 2
Mission Ch. 3
9 External Environment Ch. 4
Internal Environment Ch. 5
16 EXAM I Chs. 1-5
Strategy Analysis & Choice Ch. 6
23 Strategy Implementation I Ch. 7
Strategy Implementation II Ch. 8
Strategy Review, Eval. & Control Ch. 9
30 EXAM II Chs. 6-9
Oct. 7 Grace Lutheran Church C-236
Audubon Zoo C-117
Oct. 14 Biomet C-466
Railtex, Inc. C-162
21 Swisher C-341
America Online C-434
28 Original Case Update Notes
Nov. 4 Original Case Update Notes
11 Original Case Update Notes
18 Original Case Update Notes
Dec. 2 Original Case Due Notes
9 Original Case Critique & Course Summary Notes
MANAGEMENT 567
Original Cases and Audit/Plan
Purpose - The purpose of this requirement is to permit you to
utilize your in-class experience in the real world. The writing of an organization's
"history" for purposes of conducting a strategic audit and formulation
of a strategic plan will benefit you and the organization concerned.
Organization - You may select any type organization. Experience
suggests small locally owned firms as the best candidates. Time, distance,
availability problems are normally the case with franchises and larger
businesses. Think liquor store, florist, jeweler, nursery school, nursing
home, credit union, etc.
Case - Your case should cover a two or three year time period.
Shorter periods are satisfactory if the firm is new. Some cases have been
written from a perspective of whether a business should be started.
Length - At least 20 pages, double spaced including requisite
tables, graphs, matrices, references, etc. Spelling, grammar, sentence
construction are important and are part of your grade.
Clarity - You are not expected to spell out every facet of your
case and, like the real world, some areas will be vague or unknown.
Financial Data - Is a must in every case!
Time Frame - Post 1996 is preferable.
Permission - You must get the owners, managers and/or CEO's written
permission prior to writing the case and a release after writing the case.
(I will give you examples of permission/release letters)
Decision - The case must center on the need for a decision to
be made about the future of the firm. Should it expand, shrink, stay the
same, etc.?
Strategic Audit/Plan - David's strategic model serves two functions.
First, it permits you to analyze the various facets of the firm's external
and internal environment. Secondly, it permits you to select the best strategy
for the firm and an implementing plan.
Case Notes - A generic name for the written strategic audit/plan.
It is expected to be a written 20-plus page analysis similar to Dakota,
Minnesota & Eastern Railroad. Included in these pages are tables and
matrices. The case notes should represent what the case reader could plausibly
ascertain from analyzing your original case. What is in the case notes
should either be implicitly or explicitly covered in the case.
Assistance - I will help you early on in your efforts. I will
probably become deaf and mute after mid-November.
Synopsis - Your first requirement will be to give me a one page
synopsis of your original case before April 13. Included would be a brief
history of the firm, problem(s) identification and possible solutions.
If your effort lacks substance you will be required to either redo it or
select another firm.
Grade - This requirement is 40 percent of your final grade. The
case is worth 30 percent (12 points) of this amount and the case notes
70 percent (28 points).