Michael J. Kemper Syllabus Page

Meeting Times:

Thursdays
6:05 p.m. - 9:25 p.m.
Room 041 Rike Hall

Textbook:

1. Strategic Management:: Competitiveness and Globalization – Concepts and Cases, 7th Edition, Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson, South-Western College Publishing, 2007, ISBN: 0-324-31694-1 (hardback)

II. OBJECTIVES

This is an integrative, "capstone" course. There are several objectives for MGT 499. Upon completion of this course, all students should:

1. Understand and be able to discuss current terms and ideas in the field of strategy.
2. Possess the analytical skills necessary to understand, evaluate, and develop organizational strategies.
3. Be able to think strategically about an organization, and be able to describe the issues managers face in gaining and maintaining competitive advantage
4. Be able to clearly communicate strategy concepts, both orally and in writing.
5. Possess team skills in problem solving and consensus building, developed through case analysis, case discussion, and case resolution.
6. Be able to address issues in an integrative manner, using concepts and tools developed in all previous courses.

III. PREREQUISITES:

Senior Standing: NOTE: This course should be taken during the final stage of your undergraduate program due to its integrative nature.

IV. MODE OF INSTRUCTION:
During the first part of the course, we will spend time discussing some of the basic elements of strategic management and how these relate to events that may have occurred in the business community within the last several weeks. Later in the course, we will continue to cover material in the textbook but our class discussion will be supplemented by an examination of various "real life cases" in your Cases and Concepts textbook. All students will be expected to read all of the assigned cases. There will be Student Teams (3-4 persons per team). Each team will be assigned specific questions from one case from which they will prepare a written response and formal presentation. The written response will be due at 6:05 p.m. the day that the case is discussed in class.

If you haven't already discovered this dealing in a business environment, your success depends not only on what you write, but how you elicit information from your audience and how you verbally convey your thought process and point of view. Keeping that in mind, on the day that we discuss a case from which your team was assigned questions that require a presentation before the class, your team will lead the class discussion of those questions. Each project group will have anywhere from 2-4 questions. A written narrative report is required for all questions assigned to your group in addition to your oral presentation. Specific evaluation criteria for your written work and your oral presentation will be given to you.

Attendance is mandatory on each class where students are giving presentations. Missing one of those mandatory classes will deduct one whole point from your final course grade, missing two mandatory classes will deduct two more points (for a total of three points), missing three mandatory classes will deduct three more points (for a total of six), and missing four of the mandatory classes will deduct four more points for a total of 10 points. If you fail to show up on the night your presentation is due, you will receive a "0" for that project which is 30% of your grade. Emergency exceptions will be evaluated on a case by case basis. ALL GROUP MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVELENT PORTIONS OF THE ORAL PRESENTATION. Late written assignments will not be accepted and you will not get any credit for the assignment.

I will let you pick your own student teams if you desire. If you don't have any preference as to whom you would like to team up with, I will form your team for you. Remember, teamwork requires that you meet outside of class to discuss your questions. You only have to submit one written response from your team questions. Since your team is required to lead the discussion on this question, make sure you know it inside and out so you can attempt to answer questions that either your classmates or I may have.

Students with documented disabilities are encouraged to set up an appointment at the beginning of the quarter to discuss any reasonable classroom accommodations that may be necessary.

V. STUDENT ROLE EXPECTATIONS AND GRADING SYSTEM
Grading System:

Written Case Questions and Student Presentations: (30%) See "Mode of Instruction" as noted above for a description of what is required for case questions and student presentations. In making your presentation, I encourage you to use overhead transparencies and/or PowerPoint computer graphics. If you want to use this equipment, make sure you know how to operate it ahead of time. (It's easy!)

Seminar Participation: (10%) Includes discussion of all cases, both written and non-written, discussion of textbook concepts; and discussion of contemporary business and organizational issues. After the initial meeting, most classes will include time to discuss current strategy issues reflected in the media. I think teaching this class is great because most students have already had some exposure to the business environment and their comments about their experiences in business (and in life) add a lot to this class. We can all learn from each other.

Exams: (30% for Midterm, 30% for Final)

Both the midterm exam and the final exam will be "in class" exams. The midterm will be in short answer/essay format and the final will be the individual student's choice of an objective test or a short answer/essay test. They are not open book or open notes.

Exams cannot be retaken, but a makeup exam is available if arrangements are made PRIOR to the scheduled exam.

VI. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

"Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism (submission of an assignment as the student's original work that is wholly or in part the work of another person) or dishonest conduct during an examination (including possession of tests or notes not authorized by the instructor or a device prepared specifically for the purposes of cheating; communication with another person, other than the instructor, by any means; looking at another person's paper; violation of procedures prescribed to protect the integrity of the examination; cooperation with another in academic misconduct)" (WSU brochure, Academic Misconduct). Students who engage in any form of academic misconduct will be disciplined in accordance with the WSU Academic Misconduct penalties.

VII. ATTENDANCE POLICY

Seminar participants are strongly encouraged to attend all class sessions. Although attendance is not normally taken, participants are responsible for all material covered in each class, including critical case issues. However, attendance is mandatory on the dates that student groups give their case presentations. Unexcused absences during this period will result in additional points being deducted from your class participation score. (For additional details, see Section IV.) The instructor will be available during assigned office hours to discuss class material after the absent student has attempted to obtain the information from other members of the seminar.


	*Strategic Management and Organizational Policy*
	*Management 499-03*
	*Fall Quarter 2007*
Syllabus	Printable Link I. Meeting Times: Thursdays 6:05 p.m. - 9:25 p.m. Room 041 Rike Hall Textbook: 1. Strategic Management:: Competitiveness and Globalization – Concepts and Cases, 7th Edition, Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson, South-Western College Publishing, 2007, ISBN: 0-324-31694-1 (hardback) II. OBJECTIVES This is an integrative, "capstone" course. There are several objectives for MGT 499. Upon completion of this course, all students should: 1. Understand and be able to discuss current terms and ideas in the field of strategy. 2. Possess the analytical skills necessary to understand, evaluate, and develop organizational strategies. 3. Be able to think strategically about an organization, and be able to describe the issues managers face in gaining and maintaining competitive advantage 4. Be able to clearly communicate strategy concepts, both orally and in writing. 5. Possess team skills in problem solving and consensus building, developed through case analysis, case discussion, and case resolution. 6. Be able to address issues in an integrative manner, using concepts and tools developed in all previous courses. III. PREREQUISITES: Senior Standing: NOTE: This course should be taken during the final stage of your undergraduate program due to its integrative nature. IV. MODE OF INSTRUCTION: During the first part of the course, we will spend time discussing some of the basic elements of strategic management and how these relate to events that may have occurred in the business community within the last several weeks. Later in the course, we will continue to cover material in the textbook but our class discussion will be supplemented by an examination of various "real life cases" in your Cases and Concepts textbook. All students will be expected to read all of the assigned cases. There will be Student Teams (3-4 persons per team). Each team will be assigned specific questions from one case from which they will prepare a written response and formal presentation. The written response will be due at 6:05 p.m. the day that the case is discussed in class. If you haven't already discovered this dealing in a business environment, your success depends not only on what you write, but how you elicit information from your audience and how you verbally convey your thought process and point of view. Keeping that in mind, on the day that we discuss a case from which your team was assigned questions that require a presentation before the class, your team will lead the class discussion of those questions. Each project group will have anywhere from 2-4 questions. A written narrative report is required for all questions assigned to your group in addition to your oral presentation. Specific evaluation criteria for your written work and your oral presentation will be given to you. Attendance is mandatory on each class where students are giving presentations. Missing one of those mandatory classes will deduct one whole point from your final course grade, missing two mandatory classes will deduct two more points (for a total of three points), missing three mandatory classes will deduct three more points (for a total of six), and missing four of the mandatory classes will deduct four more points for a total of 10 points. If you fail to show up on the night your presentation is due, you will receive a "0" for that project which is 30% of your grade. Emergency exceptions will be evaluated on a case by case basis. ALL GROUP MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVELENT PORTIONS OF THE ORAL PRESENTATION. Late written assignments will not be accepted and you will not get any credit for the assignment. I will let you pick your own student teams if you desire. If you don't have any preference as to whom you would like to team up with, I will form your team for you. Remember, teamwork requires that you meet outside of class to discuss your questions. You only have to submit one written response from your team questions. Since your team is required to lead the discussion on this question, make sure you know it inside and out so you can attempt to answer questions that either your classmates or I may have. Students with documented disabilities are encouraged to set up an appointment at the beginning of the quarter to discuss any reasonable classroom accommodations that may be necessary. V. STUDENT ROLE EXPECTATIONS AND GRADING SYSTEM Grading System: Written Case Questions and Student Presentations: (30%) See "Mode of Instruction" as noted above for a description of what is required for case questions and student presentations. In making your presentation, I encourage you to use overhead transparencies and/or PowerPoint computer graphics. If you want to use this equipment, make sure you know how to operate it ahead of time. (It's easy!) Seminar Participation: (10%) Includes discussion of all cases, both written and non-written, discussion of textbook concepts; and discussion of contemporary business and organizational issues. After the initial meeting, most classes will include time to discuss current strategy issues reflected in the media. I think teaching this class is great because most students have already had some exposure to the business environment and their comments about their experiences in business (and in life) add a lot to this class. We can all learn from each other. Exams: (30% for Midterm, 30% for Final) Both the midterm exam and the final exam will be "in class" exams. The midterm will be in short answer/essay format and the final will be the individual student's choice of an objective test or a short answer/essay test. They are not open book or open notes. Exams cannot be retaken, but a makeup exam is available if arrangements are made PRIOR to the scheduled exam. VI. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT "Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism (submission of an assignment as the student's original work that is wholly or in part the work of another person) or dishonest conduct during an examination (including possession of tests or notes not authorized by the instructor or a device prepared specifically for the purposes of cheating; communication with another person, other than the instructor, by any means; looking at another person's paper; violation of procedures prescribed to protect the integrity of the examination; cooperation with another in academic misconduct)" (WSU brochure, Academic Misconduct). Students who engage in any form of academic misconduct will be disciplined in accordance with the WSU Academic Misconduct penalties. VII. ATTENDANCE POLICY Seminar participants are strongly encouraged to attend all class sessions. Although attendance is not normally taken, participants are responsible for all material covered in each class, including critical case issues. However, attendance is mandatory on the dates that student groups give their case presentations. Unexcused absences during this period will result in additional points being deducted from your class participation score. (For additional details, see Section IV.) The instructor will be available during assigned office hours to discuss class material after the absent student has attempted to obtain the information from other members of the seminar. .

Schedule

Case Questions

PowerPoint Slides

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