Bus 599 strategic management exam

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BUS599 – Student Notes

(Prerequisite: To be taken as last or next to last course)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Examines the strategic management process and implementation of successful business strategies in the highly competitive and dynamic global environment. Analyzes the impact of technology, government policy, and world economic and political forces on strategy formulation and execution. This course is the capstone course for the MBA program. Analytic, integrative, and decision-making skills will be exercised through the use of case analysis and decision making that will involve the core business functions, leadership challenges, and global operations.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Required Resources

Abrams, R. (2014). Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies (6th ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Planning Shop.

Required Course Files: Course specific documents and a MS Excel template containing worksheets that accompany the text have been placed in Week 1 of Blackboard. These documents are required for the successful completion of your course assignments.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Analyze the role of a company mission, vision, and objectives and the impact to business strategy.

2. Describe strategic planning techniques used to formulate alternative strategies designed to achieve stated business goals.

3. Analyze the external and internal environment for opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses that impact the firm’s competitiveness.

4. Recommend effective business strategies based on an analysis of domestic and global operating environments, market dynamics, and internal capabilities.

5. Analyze competitive positions including foreign market entry and the resulting impact on business strategy.

6. Create a plan to implement a firm’s strategy and manage the change from current operations.

7. Assess how ethics, corporate social responsibility, and environmental sustainability impact strategy.

8. Analyze strategies for exerting the internal leadership needed to drive the implementation of strategic initiatives and improve operating excellence.

9. Use technology and information resources to research issues in strategic management.

10. Write clearly and concisely about strategic management using proper writing mechanics.

WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE

The standard requirement for a 4.5 credit hour course is for students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This includes preparation and activities regardless of delivery mode.

Week

Preparation and Activities

Points

1

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Course Required Files: Download the course required files from the Week 1 tab in Blackboard.

· “NAB Company Portfolio”

· “Business Plan Financials Guide”

· “Business Plan Financials” (MS Excel template)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 1: The Successful Business

· Chapter 2: Getting Your Plan Started

· Chapter 3: Making Your Plan Compelling

· Chapter 5: Company Description

· Additional Preparation

· Read the “NAB Company Portfolio” (see: Course Required Files in Week 1).

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Discussion: Company Description

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· Watch the video titled “10 Key Questions To Address: Business Plans - How To Start A Business” (9 min 19 s), located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_L0BqPWBLo.

20

2

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 6: Industry Analysis & Trends

· Chapter 9: Strategic Position & Risk Assessment

· Business Terms Glossary

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Discussion: Growing Honest Tea

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· Watch the Stanford eCorner video titled “Confidence and Risk” (1 min 17 s), located at http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=3392.

· Watch the Stanford eCorner video titled “Talk Openly About Risk and Reward” (1 min 09 s), located at http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=2846.

20

3

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 7: Target Marketing

· Chapter 10: Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy

· Video(s)

· Watch the video located in the Week 3 tab of Blackboard. The video introduces you to the MS Excel “Business Plan Financials” (see: Course Required Files in Week 1). The use of these financial worksheets is required in several graded project deliverables which you will submit over the course of the eleven (11) week course.

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Assignment 1: Company Description and SWOT Analysis Discussion: Don’t Miss the Mark

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· None

100

20

4

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 8: The Competition

· Chapter 10: Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Discussion: A Rotten Apple?

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· In Week 4, the focus is on the competition, sales, and marketing. Initially, you will build a local / regional company; however, this vision should carry you to consider a global strategy. Review the Journal of Management Inquiry’s article titled, “Management Emerging Multinationals Venturing Into Developed Economies: Implications for Learning, Unlearning, and Entrepreneurial Capability” located in Blackboard and at http://jmi.sagepub.com.

· Michael Porter’s Five Forces are explained in detail in this publication from Research Starters Business. Review Heather Wall Beckham’s publication (1 Jan 2015) titled, “Competitive Strategy” located at https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e6h&AN=29964424&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

· Watch the video titled “The Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015” (2 min 25 s) located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVq9MBhWEmE.

· Review Legalzoom’s article titled, “Cost of Marketing: What Is the Average Budget?” (9 Dec 2009) located at https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/cost-of-marketing-what-is-the-average-budget.

20

5

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 11: Operations

· Chapter 12: Technology Plan

· Chapter 13: Management & Organization

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Discussion: Operation, Technology, and Management Plan

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· In Week 5, as you delve into internal governance, considering entrepreneurial capabilities (EC) and leadership can help you gain a further understanding of the course project. From a strategic management perspective, exploring EC and leadership will help you build naturally toward the following weeks’ materials. Review the Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies’ article titled, “Strategic Leadership and Entrepreneurial Capability for Game Change”, located in Blackboard and at http://jlo.sagepub.com.

· Business Level Strategies are explained in detail in this publication from Research Starters Business. Review Edwin D. Davidson’s publication (1 Jan 2015) titled, “Corporate Strategy” located at https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e6h&AN=29964426&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

· Watch the video titled “Business Plan Operations Section” (3 min 34 s), located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jd34WCmBMM.

· Watch the video titled “Why Every Business Needs a Technology Plan” (1 min 13 s), located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncD7WwBgkOE.

· Watch the video titled “Writing the Management Team Section of Your Business Plan” (2 min 56 s), located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rsnwp1SWOA.

20

6

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 14: Social Responsibility & Sustainability

· Chapter 15: Development, Milestones & Exit Plan

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Assignment 2: Marketing Plan

· Discussion: Thirsty for the Triple Bottom Line

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· Watch the video titled, “Honest Tea REVIEW!” (5 min 30 s), located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euCjMoVIEGQ.

· Watch the Stanford eCorner video titled “Don’t Compromise Your Ethics” (2 min 28 s), located at http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=3353.

100

20

7

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 16: The Financials

· Chapter 17: The Plan’s Appendix

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Discussion: The Financials

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· The Lynda.com course titled Making Business Projections with Rudolph Rosenberg shares the techniques used by financial planning professionals to build robust financial projections using Microsoft Excel. This course is intended to help you analyze revenue and expenses, anticipate changes, and incorporate company goals in a realistic picture of your company's future. (1 hr 17 m total time – segmented by chapters) Available at: http://www.lynda.com/Excel-tutorials/Making-Business-Projections/162274-2.html?org=strayer.edu.

· Organizational culture is explained in detail in this publication from Research Starters Business. Review Ruth A. Wienclaw’s publication (1 Jan 2015) titled, “Organizational Development” located at https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e6h&AN=55114069&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

80

8

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 18: Preparing, Presenting & Sending Out the Plan

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Assignment 3 Part 1: Operation, Technology, and Management Plan

· Assignment 3 Part 2: Business Plan – Draft

· Discussion: Mission Possible

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· Watch the Lynda.com video titled “What should you include in a business plan” (4 min 29 s) from the video series “Raising Startup Capital with Rudolph Rosenberg”, located at http://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/What-should-you-include-business-plan/160363/364096-4.html?org=strayer.edu.

70

30

20

9

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 4: The Executive Summary

· Chapter 19: Looking for Money

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Assignment 4: Presentation

· Discussion: Pitch Perfect

· Peregrine Exam (submission link is located in Week 9 of Blackboard)

· Note: You must take the Peregrine exam in Week 9, 10, or 11. For credit, you must take the assessment and also upload your completion certificate. Additional details are located in the notes section of the Course Guide (at the end of the Course Guide).

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· Watch the Lynda.com video titled “Writing the Executive Summary” (2 min 49 s) from the video series Writing Business Reports with Judy Steiner-Williams, located at http://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Writing-executive-summary/157341/196701-4.html?org=strayer.edu.

70

20

100

10

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s) from Successful Business Plan

· Chapter 21: Internal Planning for Existing Businesses and Corporations

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Assignment 5: Business Plan – Final

· Discussion: I Have a Plan

· Peregrine Exam (submission link is located in Week 9 of Blackboard)

· Note: You must take the Peregrine exam in Week 9, 10, or 11. For credit, you must take the assessment and also upload your completion certificate. Additional details are located in the notes section of the Course Guide (at the end of the Course Guide).

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· Watch the Lynda.com video titled “Determining your company vision” (3 min 42 s) from the video series Small Business Secrets with Dave Crenshaw, located at http://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Determining-your-company-vision/156584/177308-4.html?org=strayer.edu.

150

20

Week 9

11

Preparation (Required / Not Graded)

· Reading(s): None

Activities (Required / Graded)

· Discussion: Stronger Than Yesterday

· Peregrine Exam (submission link is located in Week 9 of Blackboard)

· Note: You must take the Peregrine exam in Week 9, 10, or 11. For credit, you must take the assessment and also upload your completion certificate. Additional details are located in the notes section of the Course Guide (at the end of the Course Guide).

Supplemental (Optional / Not Graded)

· None

20

Week 9

GRADING SCALE – GRADUATE

Assignment

Week

Total Points

% of

Grade

Assignment 1: Company Description and SWOT Analysis

3

100

11%

Assignment 2: Marketing Plan

6

100

11%

Assignment 3 Part 1: Operation, Technology, and Management Plan (70 points)

Assignment 3 Part 2: Business Plan – Draft (30 points)

8

100

11%

Assignment 4: Presentation

9

70

8%

Assignment 5: Business Plan– Final

10

150

17%

Peregrine Assessment: Taken in Week 9, 10, or 11 Note: Your assessment is graded as follows:

· Objective score on the exam is worth 50% of grade

· Completion of the exam is worth 50% of grade

9

100

11%

Participation / Weekly Discussions

(10 discussions worth 20 points apiece; Weeks 1 – 6 and 8 – 11)

(1 discussion worth 80 points; Week 7)

1 - 11

280

31%

Totals

900

100%

Points

Percentage

Grade

810 – 900

90% – 100%

A

720 – 809

80% – 89%

B

630 – 719

70% – 79%

C

Below 630

Below 70%

F

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BUS 599 – Strategic Management

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

BUS 599 STUDENT GUIDE 1156 (6-1-2015) Page 7 of 8

Peregrine Exam

What is the Peregrine Exam and why do I have to take it?

At the end of the course, you will complete a Program Assessment exam called the Peregrine Exam. The exam is designed to assess the foundational business knowledge that you have acquired throughout the duration of your program at Strayer. By completing this exam, you are not only evaluating your competency and understanding on each topic you have learned throughout your program but also helping to ensure that Strayer University maintains the highest quality of education in the business programs that we provide to our students.

How will I be graded on this exam?

The Peregrine exam is worth a total of 100 points. However, the score that you receive on your exam does not equate to the score that your instructor will record in your Gradebook. Instead, your instructor will grade you on an adjusted grading scale. Once you complete the exam, you will receive a certificate of completion which you must submit to your Instructor through the Peregrine Assessment Exam Certificate Upload Area, located in Week 9, in order for your Instructor to provide you with a grade. Please note that you must complete the entire exam in order to receive your certificate of completion.

Your assessment is graded as follows:

· Objective score on the exam is worth 50% of grade

· Completion of the exam is worth 50% of grade

For additional information and answers to some Frequently Asked Questions about the Peregrine Exam review the FAQ located in Blackboard.

Masters Student Registration Instructions

1. Select http://www.peregrineacademics.com/strayer.

2. Enter case-sensitive password STRAYERM-1001 (on right side of screen under Self-Registration for Access Key(s))

3. Select View Registration.

4. Select the appropriate exam as directed by your instructor.

5. Select Review Your Selection(s) and Proceed with Registration.

6. Select Proceed with Self-Registration.

7. Enter First Name, Last Name, and your E-mail address.

8. Select Review Registration(s).

9. Select Complete Registration.

10. To take exam:

a. Select the hyperlink under Course/Exam heading.

b. When finished, save / print completion certificate and return to your instructor.

Masters CPC Exam by Peregrine– FACULTY Registration Instructions ONLY

To begin the registration process, please follow the on-screen instructions found at the following URL.

http://www.peregrineacademics.com/strayer.

Your password is:

STRAYERMF-6001