Course Syllabus
MGMT-460: Strategic Management
Instructor Name and Communication Options
Instructor Name: Hadley Rakowski
Preferred Email Method: Canvas Inbox: https://champlain.instructure.com/conversations
Secondary Email Method: hrakowski@champlain.edu
Phone: 802-343-5470 (texting is ok any time, for calling, please be mindful that I am on Pacific time)
Course Description and Prerequisites
Course Description This course gives you an opportunity to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the previous business, economics, and accounting courses. There are three primary learning vehicles: reading and discussion of the text chapters and corresponding lectures; a complete strategic analysis of an existing firm with the findings summarized in a written report; and discussion of course material and current business events from a strategic perspective. The course consists of two overlapping parts. Part 1 consists of readings and discussions, and Part II is the completion of an in-depth company analysis.
Course Goals Upon successful completion of this course, you should be prepared to be an effective partner in the strategic management of an organization, and/or be prepared to perform well in a graduate business program (such as an MBA).
Prerequisite MGMT-425: Critical Thinking and Decision Making in Business
Student Centered Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, the student should be able to:
- Understand the standard terms of strategic management, marketing, new product development, operations, finance, economics, and accounting.
- Learn to think of business as an interacting system, and comprehend how to manage the system to maximize shareholder value.
- Analyze, interpret and evaluate company data, both that of your own company and that of your competitors.
NOTE: Additional, more specific outcomes will be provided at the beginning of each lecture.
Textbook(s) and Technology Requirements
Required Texts: While there is no formal text required for the class we will primarily be using the three free ebook resources listed below for the class. These free ebooks can be located and downloaded from the Champlain College library. I recommend downloading them at the beginning of class so you can access them as needed throughout the course.
The Quintessence of Strategic Management: What You Really Need to Know to Survive in Business, Kotler, Philip. Call No. HD30.28 .K6813 2010eb
Business Strategy: A Guide to Effective Decision-Making, Kourdi, Jeremy. Call No. HD30.28 .K676 2003eb
Strategic Management by M. Jeyarathnam HD31 .J49 2008eb Himalaya Pub. House, 2008
Essentials of a Balanced Scorecard, Nair, Mohan. John Wiley & Sons.
Topic Outline
- Week 1: Strategic Fundamentals
- Week 2: Competition & Environment
- Week 3: Organization & Corporate-Level Strategy
- Week 4: Business Unit Strategy & Functional Strategies
- Week 5: Strategy Formulation & Strategy Execution: Organization
- Week 6: Leadership & Strategic Control
- Week 7: International Business
Methods of Assessment
Your final grade will be determined based on:
| Graded Elements | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Discussions | 30% |
| Assignments | 40% |
| Research Paper Drafts (3) | 10% |
| Final Research Paper | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
| Extra Credit: IDEA Survey | 1% |
Discussions
Weekly discussions are an integral part of learning at Champlain College and represent a significant portion of a student's overall grade. In order to be successful, students should:
- Post a thorough, well-crafted initial response that fully addresses and develops all aspects of the prompt by the due date.
- Engage substantively throughout the discussion period by responding to others with questions or comments that demonstrate interest, build upon the ideas of others, and encourage elaboration.
- Apply and integrate concepts from this course as well as from quality resources including journals, websites, readings from another class, relevant work or life experience, etc.
- Demonstrate attention to style, structure, grammar, etiquette, and proper citation of references to maintain academic integrity.
Discussion grades are determined using the rubric below. The descriptions show what exemplary work looks like for each aspect of an overall discussion.
| Criteria | Description | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Explicitly and thoroughly explains, applies, and integrates a) concepts from this or other courses, b) outside resources or research, c) life experiences, and/or d) processes used to solve problems. | 30 pts |
| Critical Thinking | Clearly articulates a desire to a) reflect, b) explore possibility, c) recognize ambiguity, d) question assumptions, and/or e) search for logical relationships among ideas. Selects, analyzes, and synthesizes relevant information to demonstrate original thinking. | 30 pts |
| Collaboration | Fosters collaborative learning while a) problem-solving, b) respectfully challenging others, and/or c) expanding thinking through responses and reflection with other learners throughout the week. Builds on classmate and instructor contributions to deepen the conversation. | 30 pts |
| Presentation | Demonstrates attention to APA/MLA style and structure, adheres to rules of grammar and etiquette, and properly cites references to literature and course materials. | 10 pts |
| Total Points: 100 | ||
Assignments
Assignment
This portion of the grade will be based on the scores you receive on the various course assignments. For these assignments, the length will vary but what I am looking for is that you show off what you learn by applying concepts from the class and other research in your explanations.
Research Paper
This portion of the grade will be based on the quality of your in-depth strategic business analysis, based on the 25 "Case Analysis" questions that form the backbone of a strategic company analysis. Factors influencing the final grade will be: clear and accurate answers to each question, sufficient detail to understand the issues, citations in the proper format for all sources used, and adherence to the guidelines presented in the course.
Periodic draft submissions of your final paper will be graded primarily on a content basis, to assure progress is being made but with limited feedback on the content. The final draft report should be assumed to be the kind of work you would present to your "simulated" executive management or board of directors, and should include a condensed "executive summary" of 1 page or less.
Student Resources & Policies
Academic Honesty Policy
Champlain College students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to the College’s policy for Academic Honesty. Academic honesty entails creating original assignments, using your own words, and when using the words and ideas of others, documenting those sources using the method specified in this course. Please consult with your instructor if you are in doubt. Violations of the policy could result in a grade of F on the assignment or in the course as well as dismissal from the College.
Grading Policies
| Student Resources | |
|---|---|
| Accessibility and Accommodations | Champ Support |
| Bookstore | Library Resources |
| Canvas Support | Online Tutoring (Smarthinking) |
| Career Services | Student Accounts |
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|