Text required:            Essentials of Strategic Management, 3E

J. David Hunger and Thomas L Wheelen;

Publisher: Pearson - Prentice Hall.

 

A word about the text: This text may be different from other texts you have used. It is an “Essentials” text, meaning that it contains only the major concepts without a lot of supporting detail. It is designed to be used with other supporting material. Please read the chapters carefully because every sentence has an important meaning. You cannot “skim” and expect to get the meaning of the concepts.

 

 

This course represents an 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 and 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.

 

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.

 

We shall learn from several academic sources and from each other as well as the structured learning experiences during the semester - thus, the word “integrated” in the title of this course. 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 led through the rest of your registration. Orion will be used for on-line quizzes, posting handouts, links, communicating with the class and submitting coursework.

 

All completed assignments are to be uploaded on Orion – NO EXCEPTIONS. Assignments should be submitted as a hard copy in class and uploaded on Orion by the date due.

 

All assignments described below are designed to support your learning and mastering of key business tools such as ratio analysis, SWOT, value chain analysis and competitive analysis using Porters Five Forces Model. 

            Class Participation and Attendance

 

Attendance is required and shall represent 5% of your grade. Attendance shall be graded on a pass-fail basis. No more than 2 unexcused absences - pass with 5 points. Missing 3 or more unexcused absences - 0 points for this requirement. University accepted excuses shall be required for attendance credit when missing class.

As students who are or aspire to be managers, your oral communication skills are or will be an essential part of your effectiveness. I expect you to practice and display them in class. Even introverted people can develop excellent communication skills.  Oral presentations and participation are critical skills for managers.

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 may be asked to leave their teams and will receive a lower grade. “Group presentation” means everyone in the group participates. Each student will be evaluated by his or her peers at the completion of the course.

You will be given some opportunity to work during class toward completion of team assignments. You must do your reading outside of class and come to class prepared. In addition, there may 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.

 

 

There will be a brief on-line quiz for each chapter assigned, open book, open notes. There are 10 Chapters, therefore 10 Quizzes. Quiz questions will be objective.

 

Case analysis begins with an analysis of the Company’s financial position over a given period of time. Using financial statements: the balance sheet and the income statement, students will develop and interpret ratios for an assigned company and submit as a paper and a presentation.

 

Students will be assigned to teams to prepare a paper and present a case analysis. Questions will be provided for each case as a basis for analysis. Students are expected to update information in the cases. Submission of research references will be required. More detail for this assignment will be provided on Orion.

 

 

Students will work as teams to prepare a paper and present using PPT an analysis of an assigned industry. Teams will prepare answers to structured questions. References should be used in the discussion and submitted for credit.

 

Using the format in Appendix 11.C, students working in teams will conduct a comprehensive audit of an assigned case. Information on the companies must be updated. A list of references and the name of the student supplying the references should be attached. References should be used in the discussion and submitted for credit.

 

Assignments are due as listed on the Class Schedule.

 

 

Papers will be formatted as follows: 1 inch margins, single spaced; Times Roman or Ariel fonts may be used; 12 point type. Paragraphs may be blocked. Use one space between paragraphs. A cover sheet with the names of all students participating in the presenting team should be included.

 

All research papers and presentations should use APA format for all references. Examples of APA format are available through the KSU library website. A three page paper requirement means three full pages. Points are deducted for not meeting the minimum length requirement. To achieve an “A,” the student must exceed the minimum requirements.

 

Students should provide the instructor with a copy of their PPT presentation prior to the presentation.

 

 

For team assignments, students will receive a grade based on their contribution to the overall quality of the presentation. The team will be assigned a grade and individual grades adjusted based on the adequacy and quality of the contribution of each. Your grade will be determined as follows[1]:

 

 

10 Quizzes on Chapters	20 %
Financial Analysis	10%
Industry Analysis	15%
Strategic Audit and Presentation	30%
Case Analysis	20%
Attendance	5%
Total	100%

 

 

 

PERCENT	GRADE
90-100	A
80-89	B
70-79	C
60–69	D
<60	F

 

 

All assignments are expected to be submitted on time. Students who turn in assignments past the due date are responsible for informing the instructor immediately of their situation. Failure to do so may result in a 0 (no credit) for the assignment. Credit may be given for a late assignment based in agreement between the instructor and the student.

 

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 (0 points) for the work or course.  Repeat offenses may result in dismissal from the University. For this class, anyone making a request of others to perform their assigned work, in either a group or individual setting, is considered a violation of the academic policy and will result in a failing grade.

 

The instructor reserves the right to incorporate extra credit during the course of the semester.

 

Students have responsibility to ensure they are properly enrolled in classes.  You are advised to review your official class schedule (using Web for Students) to ensure you are properly enrolled in this class and section.  Should you find an error in your class schedule, you have until January 29, 2006 to correct the error with your advising office.  If registration errors are not corrected by this date 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.

 

For Spring 2006 the date to withdraw without receiving a “W” is January 29, 2006.  Students may continue to withdraw between January 30 and March 26, 2006; however students withdrawing between these dates will receive a "W" on their official transcript.  Withdrawal after the deadline will require an assignment of a letter grade for the course.  Please see the undergraduate business advising office (107 BSA) for details and exceptions to this policy.

 

University policy 3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access equal access course content.  If you have documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments.  Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through the Student Disability Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit www.kent.edu/sds for more information on registration procedures).

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Note: This Syllabus may be updated or revised based on class discussions, interactions, and current events 

 

 

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