UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON
ARTHUR J. KANIA SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Course: Management 509 - Business Policy and Strategy
Semester: Spring 2001
Time & Room: Tuesday 7:20 10:00 PM 105 Brennan Hall
Instructor: Dr. Alan L. Brumagim
Office: 409 Brennan Hall
Telephone: 941-7480
Office Hours: Thursday 10:30 11:55 AM,
Tuesday 5:00 7:00 PM, or by appointment
Description: This is the capstone course for the MBA program. Concepts and skills developed in the
prerequisite courses are integrated and applied to the overall management of
business organizations. This course
focuses upon the choice of strategic direction and takes a generalist (top
management) perspective.
Required Texts: (1) Thompson &
Strickland, Strategic Management, 12th Edition, 2000,
Irwin/McGraw-Hill.
(2) Fortune Magazine (in class sign-up will be
available at the beginning
of
the semester)
Course Goals:
1.
To learn the basic concepts
and frameworks of current strategic management thought,
2.
To
understand the role of strategic thinking in the survival and growth of
organizations,
3.
To
gain a greater understanding of selected industries and specific companies,.
4.
To apply
knowledge and skills developed from other courses, and
5.
To learn how to apply the
concepts and theories of strategic management to case studies in an organized
and comprehensive manner.
Course Methodology: A substantial amount of class time will be devoted
to student analysis and group discussion.
Several lectures at the beginning of the term are intended to provide
initial guidance on a methodology for preparing cases and conducting case
analysis. Additional lectures at the end
of the term are intended to expose the student to recent developments in
strategic management and business.
Evaluation Method: Grading:
|
Mid-term
Exam |
30% |
95-100%
A |
80-82% B- |
|
Class
participation/homework |
10% |
90-94% A- |
76-79% C+ |
|
Case
Presentation |
30% |
87-89% B+ |
70-75% C |
|
Final
Exam
|
30% |
83-86% B |
69% down F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
Punctual
class attendance is important.
Excessive absences (more than 1 class) will result in a reduction in
your final grade. Each absence over the
limit will result in one grade step reduction (for example from a B+ to a
B). Attendance will be taken twice a
night (before and after break). There
is no distinction between approved and non-approved absences. Each student must come to class prepared to
discuss the material and cases being presented. Occasional quizzes may be given to aid in assessing personal
preparation.
Schedule:
Week 1 1/30/01 Lecture Introduction to Industry Analysis
Week 2 2/6/01 Lecture Industry Analysis
Week 3 2/13/01 Lecture Industry Segment Analysis
Week 4 2/20/01 Lecture Company Analysis & The Resource-Based View
Week 5 2/27/01 Lecture Recommendations & Diversification Strategies
Week 6 3/6/01 Mid-term
Exam
Week 7 3/13/01 No Class Spring Break
Week 8 3/20/01 Case
6 -
U. S. Auto Retailing Industry (Class Preparation)
Week 9 3/27/01 Case
13 -
Callaway Golf Company (Group 1)
Week 10 4/3/01 Case
7 -
Dell Computer Corporation (Group 2)
Week 11 4/10/01 Case
9 -
Cannondale Corporation (Group 3)
Week 12 4/17/01 No Class -
date of make-up class
will be determined during the first class
Week 13 4/24/01 Case
18 - Campbell Soup in 2000 (Group 4)
Week 14 5/1/01 Case 10
- Retail Brokerage Industry
from Morgan Stanley Dean Witters position (Group 5)
Week 15 5/8/01 Case
11 -
EBay (Class Preparation)
Fortune
articles will be assigned throughout the term
(Any
changes to this syllabus will be announced in class)