Drop me a line desantoj1@uofs.edu

Jerome P. DeSanto, Associate Provost for Information Resources, Adjunct Professor of Management--SOM B.S. , M.B.A. University of Scranton

Alumni Memorial Hall Room 121 Office Hours by Appointment(Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PM)

Office Telephone: 717-941-6185

Fax Number: 717-941-7899

Email Address: DeSantoJ1@UofS.edu

Web Page: http://academic.uofs.edu/staff/desantoj1

1) To develop your capacity to think strategically about a company, its business position, how it can gain sustainable competitive advantage, and how its strategy can be implemented and executed successfully.

2) To build your 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 challanges of a global market environment.

3) To give you hands-on experience in creating business strategy, reasoning carefully about strategic options, using what-if analysis to evaluate action alternatives, and making strategic decisions, and figuring out how to implement them successfully.

4) To improve your ability to manage the organization process by which strategies get formed and executed and to build your confidence in being able to perform the tasks of a strategy maker and strategy implementer.

5) To develop your poweres of managerial judgement, help you learn how to assess business risk, and improve your ability to create results-oriented action plans.

6) To make you more conscious about the importance of ethical principles, personal and company values, and socially responsible management practices.

4 - Weekly Journal Updates @ 5%  = 20%
1 - Class Presentation @ 15%  = 15%
1 - Midterm Exam @ 20%  = 20%           
1 - Final Exam @ 25%  = 25%                 
Oral Case Analysis & Class Participation and Attendance = 20%
Total = 100%


A(range)   =   90 - above
B(range)   =   80 - 89
C(range)   =   70 - 79
D(range)   =   60 - 69
F(range)   =   below 60

Each student is required to create and update a journal on a weekly basis.  The journal update is to be emailed to the instructor on Friday January 9, 16, 23, and Thursday January 29.  The journal represents a method for the student to fulfill the writing component of this course.  It is also a way for the student to individually express one's thoughts about the concepts learned in the course.  The journal should be an accumulation of comments, statements, and reflections on the course material and related outside readings and research.  Most appropriate would be recognition of applications of course concepts in the business world.

Class Presentations

Students will be grouped in teams of three or four and will be responsible for working on a team case project for presentation during the last two class meetings. Your team number is posted next to your name in the e-mail section of this web page.  In addition, each student has be assigned a case to lead a class discussion on.  In most cases two students will study the same case.  The students may coordinate their analysis and discussion of the case, or if they choose they may report their findings separately. The schedule for the individual cases is also posted to the e-mail section of this web page. The first student led case discussions will begin on Thursday January 8. These discussions should follow the guidelines provided in the Case Analysis section below.  It is also receommeded that students research and secure updated information on each company via research sources on the web.

Attendance Policy

Attendance in this course is particularly important.  First, since this is an intersession course, a single class meeting is approximately equal to three class meetings during a regular semester.  Second, a significant amount of time during class meetings is devoted to discussion of concepts and cases.  20% of the final grade is therefore derived from attendance and participation.  However, scheduling conflicts outside of our normal control happen.  The instructor understands this and will be tolerant of up to 2 class absences.  If, however, absences exceed 2 without a meaningful excuse the student's final grade will be negatively impacted.

Case Analysis

The approach to case analysis should be organized and consistent though depending on the information provided certain parts of the analysis may be impossible to cover.  In general the analysis should include the following: 1) A review of the external environment including political/legal, sociocultural, economic, and global implications; 2) A review of Porter's forces including threat of new entrants and barriers to entry, intensity of rivalry among competitors, product substitutes, suppliers, and buyers; 3) Competitive environment analysis; 4) Environmental trends; 5) Strategies, including business level and corporate level; 6) Core competencies and resources; 7) Value chain issues including operations, marketing, and human resources; 8) Strategy formulation and implementation; and 9) Performance appraisal.

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Team Project Descriptions

Team #1. Examine and discuss the competition between Microsoft Inc. and Netscape Inc. for leadership and dominance of the internet browser and groupware software market. Why is this rivalry so intense? What's at stake? What is the relevance of the recent court decision against Microsoft?

Team # 2. Analyze and discuss the merger between airline and aerospace giants Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas. What impact is this likely to have on this industry. Discuss competition home and abroad.

Team #3. Given the continuing rapid rise in costs of higher education, what impact might alternative methods of education have on the industry?  Discuss the potential for other new entrants in this industry. What impact does changing demographics have on this industry?

Team #4. Analyze the rapidly changing telecommunications industry.  Examine such issues as local telephone services, long distance services, cellular services, cable TV, and internet services in this industry where deregulation is currently taking place.  Who are the winners and losers with such changes?  Are their international opportunities for U.S. firms in this industry?

Team #5. Discuss the deeply troubled healthcare industry. Discuss such pressures as cost, as well as  political, and ethical issues. What would be the benefits and drawbacks associated with nationalizing this industry?

Second Journal Submission Due Date: Friday January 16
Third Journal Submission Due Date: Friday January 23
Fourth Journal Submission Due date: Thursday January 30

Classes cancelled on Thursday January 15 due to inclement weather.  Mid-Term exam rescheduled for Monday January 19.  Please check the revised schedule for other changes.
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Name	Email Address
Andriano Anthony M..--Team #1, Nat. Fin. Planners Case	ANDRIANOA1@tiger.uofs.edu
Benavitch Kristin J.--Team #1, M-Benz Case	BENAVITCHK1@tiger.uofs.edu
Gessner Patricia--Team #1, H-Davidson Case	GESSNERP1@tiger.uofs.edu
Getts Valerie--Team #1, Telephonos Dos Mexico Case	VAG1@tiger.uofs.edu
Gray Sean P.--Team #2, Eastman Kodak Case	GRAYS1@tiger.uofs.edu
Husvar Ryan M.--Team #2, Perdue Case	RMH1@tiger.uofs.edu
Johnson Dennis G.--Team #2, XEL Case	JOHNSOND1@tiger.uofs.edu
Kenehan Martin--Team #2, M-Benz Case	KENEHANM1@tiger.uofs.edu
Knight Thomas M.--Team #3, H-Davidson Case	TMK4@tiger.uofs.edu
Maloney Maureen M.--Team #3, Matsushita Case	MALONEYM1@tiger.uofs.edu
McHale Kathryn M.--Team #3, Ben & Jerry's Case	MCHALEK1@tiger.uofs.edu
Porrecca John T.--Team #3, Eastman Kodak Case	PORRECCAJ2@tiger.uofs.edu
Reilly Peter F.--Team #4, Cadbury Case	REILLYP1@tiger.uofs.edu
Reiner Andrew T.--Team #4, XEL Case	ATR3@tiger.uofs.edu
Rutledge David M.--Team #4, United Airlines Case	RUTLEDGED1@tiger.uofs.edu
Schafer William F.--Team #4, Matsushita Case	WFS2@tiger.uofs.edu
Schuster James M.--Team #5, Greensboro Housing Case	SCHUSTERJ1@tiger.uofs.edu
Vaniskhian Derrick A.--Team #5, Ben & Jerry's Case	VANISKHIAND1@tiger.uofs.edu
Yacoubian John H.--Team #5, United Airlines Case	JHY1@tiger.uofs.edu
Zazzali Daniel P.--Team #5, Greensboro Housing Case	DPZ1@tiger.uofs.edu

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Catalog Description: Survey course examines the individual in the work setting, working with a variety of people inside and outside the organization.  This course deals with such issues as motivation, leadership, communication, diversity at the work place, and with individual effectiveness, interpersonal relations and group skills.

Required Text: Lewis, Goodman, and Fandt, Management, Challenges in the 21 Century, West publishing Company, 2nd Edition.

Course Objectives: To learn basic concepts, principles, and common terms of organizational behavior(OB).  To comprehend and apply the concepts of organizational behavior(OB).  To develop analytical, diagnostic skills in the field of OB.  To help gain interpersonal competence.  To become familiar with literature in the field of OB.

Course Methodology:  Includes lectures, written examinations, small group case studies with student presentations, videos, and email journal entries.

Attendance:  Required and recorded at each class session.  More than 3 unexecused absences will be considered excessive and may affect your final grade.

Grading:
            Mid Term Exam....................................25%
            Final Exam............................................25%
            E-Mail Journals(4).................................25%
            Small Group Presentation.......................15%
            Attendance & Participation.....................10%
                                                                         100%

Examinations:  Will cover the textbook, outside assignments, class notes, class discusions and cases.

Changes in Syllabus:  This syllabus may be changed when deemed necessary by the instructor.  Please periodically refer to this web page for changes.

Special Requirements:  Small group presentations will be held the week of May 11.  Each presentation should be 20-30 minutes in length.  Slides, transparencies, handouts, and/or visual aids may be used.  Each student in the group maust participate in the presentation.  Topics and assignments will be made around March 1.

Each student will be required to submit an email journal entry to the instructor on the following dates by 12:00 midnight: 2/27, 3/27, 4/24, and 5/15.  The email journal should cite outside readings in OB connecting the readings to current course material.  The journals are free form and can contain other observations, experiences, comments relative to the course and its concepts.  The length is left to the students' discretion.  The instructor is looking for quality entries.
 

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