Integrated Business Policy and Strategy
Summer 2004
Kent Office: A409 Phone 330.672.1160
Email: sgustavs@bsa3.kent.edu
Text:
Thompson, Arthur A. Jr. and Strickland, A.J., Strategic Management Concepts and
Cases, Irwin Mc Graw Hill, 2003, 13th edition
Text Website: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072443715/ Left margin, click on
Course Description
This course represents and
integration of all of your previous knowledge and coursework on business
management. It builds on basic principles of management and gives you tools for
approaching an understanding of business strategy. To that end, you will be
studying theories of strategy used in real-life business applications. It is
your job to tie the two together based on materials from our text, materials
given in class, your own research, and collaborative work with other class
members. As with any new skill, you must learn to use the tools. We will
practice the tools in class and in your assigned work throughout the semester. Applying
material learned in this class to business setting,
implies responsibility for and contributions to company performance. You
would do well to keep this in mind as you approach this class. You may expect
the work in this class to be commensurate with that responsibility.
During this course, you
will be working with the following support materials
· your text
· library and internet references
· articles of current interest from internet or popular
media sources
· readings from other texts
· your own structured observations
· detailed research using business resources on firms
assigned in class.
Thus, the word “integrated”
in the title of this course. We shall learn from academic sources and from each
other. What we learn and share will expand the learning of all.
Orion will be used for Class
Management. You can register on this site by typing in orion.kent.edu. Click on
the opening screen; it will expand. Begin your registration by clicking on
Courses at the lower left corner. At the next screen, click
on Enroll in a Course. You will be lead through the rest of your
registration. Orion will be used for on-line quizzes, posting handouts, links,
communicating with the class and submitting coursework.
Class withdrawal dates: June 19-July 6, 2004 to receive a W on your transcript.
Grades will be assigned as
follows:
A 100-90
B 80-89
D 60-69
F 59 and below
I.
Industry Analysis and Industry choice
for Business Plan 10%
II.
Google Business Model 10%
III.
Business Plan Concept and Goals 05%
IV.
Financial Goals and Objectives 05%
V.
Case Analysis 20%
VI.
Final Presentation of Business Plan 50%
Total 100
%
*Subject to change based
upon notice from the instructor
All assignments described
below are designed to support your learning and mastering of key business tools
such as financial analysis, key success factors, value chain analysis and
competitive analysis using Porters Five Forces Model.
Class Participation
An attendance sheet will be circulated
for every class. Students are expected to attend every class. The classroom lectures, exercises and
discussions are an integral part of the course and necessary for your full
understanding of the subject. In order
to maximize the time spent in the classroom the student should read all
assigned material prior to class and come prepared for discussion. Attending class without reading that day's
assigned material will often result in the student feeling lost and unable to
learn from the discussion or classroom exercise. This class functions on business principles.
If you must be absent, please notify your instructor.
Extra credit will be given for perfect
attendance – 4 points; extra credit for one University approved absence,
excused, 2 points. More than one excused
absence – no
credit given.
Oral presentations
and participation are critical skills for managers. As people who are or aspire
to be managers, your oral communication skills are or will be an essential part of your effectiveness. Even introverted people can
develop excellent communication skills.
Teamwork is
integral to today’s workplace. We shall practice teamwork in this class
setting. Students who do not participate and contribute to their team will be
asked to leave their teams and will receive a lower grade. “Group presentation”
means everyone in the group participates.
You will be given some opportunity to
work during class toward completion of team assignments. In addition, there
will be in-class assignments during the semester. You will be required to
submit in-class assignments in writing. These assignments are not subject to
“make-up” unless you have a University-approved absence.
Reading Assignments
Please refer to
attached schedules.
Course
requirements
To complete this
course, as a class of “investors,” you will be required to create a business
plan that describes a strategy for your implementing a proposed business. This
assignment will include several parts and will culminate in a final
presentation on the last day of class. In addition, the class will study the
business model of Google as it prepares for its IPO and complete a case
analysis.
Industry
Analysis, Selection of Industry for Business Investment
This assignment will
be completed by the end of the second class. The class will meet in the library
on
1. Evidence of your reasoning:
a. Industries you considered and rationale (data)
b. Industries you included and rationale (data)
c. Industries you rejected and rationale (data)
2. Your final decision about an industry in which to
invest
3. References that contributed to your decision
You will complete
your research on June 16, discuss your conclusions, and make assignments for
your presentation. You will have the week-end to create your presentation.
Google IPO
In research teams of
three, study current articles from the internet re: Google as the company
prepares for its Initial Public Offering (IPO). Develop your idea of Google’s
business model (reference text: Chapter 1, p. 4-6, Case 14 )
based on material researched. Review Google S-1 (link from Orion), through page 86. Note
business description, pp. 75-86, as well as introductory letter and prospectus.
Each research team shall turn in a minimum three-page summary plus references
(use APA format) describing Google’s business model. This description should
include a brief description of the auction approach to stock sales.
You can complete
this assignment in timely way most successfully if each team member reads
selected articles and members meet to discuss results and agree on model
description.
Case Analysis
The class will be
divided into three teams. Teams will choose among the following cases:
Business Plan
The class has become
a group of investors. You will determine the industry in which you will create
a business, specify the type of business, the dollar investment you will make
and your sources of capital (the mix of capital from internal investors – you –
and external investors – financial institutions, etc.), market analysis and
plan, your strategy for achieving your financial and strategic goals.
In this assignment
you will consider strategic issues at all levels: macro (world), micro (industry and related
industries), and the firm.
All presentations
will be done in PPT.
Report on your
business concept, goals for investment, vision, mission statement.
Part II.
Financial Goals
Report on financing of
business. Required initial investment, sources of capital. Be specific in your
selection and approach to sources of capital.
Part III. Final
Presentation of Business Plan
Details shall be
posted on Orion. Presented on the last day of class,
General
All work submitted
in this class should be single-spaced, using 12 point font, either Ariel or
Times New Roman, 1 inch margins. Paragraphs may be blocked. Present your work
as business documents, not entertainment. These requirements are listed on
Orion.
Academic Honesty:
Cheating means to misrepresent the source, nature, or
other conditions of your academic work (e.g., tests, papers, projects,
assignments) so as to get undeserved credit.
In addition, it is considered to cheating when one cooperates with
someone else in any such misrepresentation.
The use of the intellectual property of others without giving them
appropriate credit is a serious academic offense. It is the University's policy that cheating
or plagiarism result in receiving a failing grade for the work or course. Repeat offenses result in dismissal from the
University.
Learning about and practicing Business Ethics is part of
this course.
Student Disabilities:
In
accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and
require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact
the instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for
which an accommodation is required.
Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the
Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) in the
Students have responsibility to ensure they are properly
enrolled in classes. You are advised to
review your official class schedule during the first two weeks of the semester
to ensure you are properly enrolled in this class and section. Should you find an error in your class
schedule, correct the error with your advising office. If registration errors are not corrected and
you continue to attend and participate in classes for which you are not
officially enrolled, you are advised now that you will not receive a grade at the conclusion of the semester for any
class in which you are not properly registered.
Note: This Syllabus may be
updated or revised based on class discussions, interactions, and current
events