BUS 426STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

Instructor: Jim Sethi, M. Com., M.S. Ph.d.Office Hours: By AppointmentOffice Phone: 683-7310E-mail: j_seith@umwestern.edu

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE

The course will deal with theory and practice of strategic management covering strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation in various environmental contexts. In today’s hypercompetitive marketplace, future managers and leaders must learn to formulate and adapt strategy to become powerful competitors to survive. This course will analyze ingredients of a good strategy and effective methods for implementing that strategy. Strategic Management prepares students to anticipate and respond to the accelerating pace of global competition and technological innovation. This course will benefit future leaders in providing tools to formulate and evaluate new competitive strategies, determine how to lay the groundwork for change, and execute their action plans. Prerequisite: BUS 325, or consent of Instructor.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, Strategic Management, LTP, 2004.

Sethi, A.S. (Jim). Teamwork and E-Business: A Guide for CEOs and Team Leaders", Universal Publications, 2003. [Text B]

OPTIONAL TEXT

Mintzberg, M. etal. The Strategy Process, Prentice Hall, 2004 (fourth or latest edition)

GRADING

Symposium (Presentation and Critique) 10%Group Case Presentation and Report 10%Group Case Critique 5%Current Event 5%Project Paper 30%Final Exam 40%

FOCUS OF COURSE AND OBJECTIVES

The course will focus on providing hands-on learning experience in teaching the following ten strategies:

Leadership Strategy:

Business – Level Strategy Competitive Strategy Corporate – Level Strategy Acquisition and Restructuring Strategy International Strategy Cooperative Strategy

The course will be centered around creating a learning environment that encourages students to develop their skills in brainstorming, facilitated discussion, and hands-on field-study projects in team-building and leadership effectiveness.

INSTRUCTIONS RE SYMPOSIUM

Following the following steps:

1. Make sure that you are a member of a group.

2. Define the resolution and position taken, either for or against the resolution. (A list of resolutions will be provided in class.)

3. Develop three to four arguments in favor of your position, and your rational for each argument. This rationale should be based on logic, experience, and evidence.

4. Identify literature (including Internet sources) used.

5. Cite one real-life multinational example in some detail, illustrating your position. (Use Internet sources.)

6. Provide an overall summary in support of your position.

CASE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Develop and prepare case analysis according to the following framework: Assume the role of a consulting ethics team:

a. Clearly define any assumptions you have made in the case. Update the case by reviewing information at the Internet.

b. Develop a concise definition of primary and secondary problems.

c. Analyze problems and their causes under two categories:

1. internal SWAT analysis and,

2. external SWAT analysis

d. Develop alternate solutions (at least develop two options) in addition to status quo.

e. Select the best solution based on a cost-benefit analysis

f. Develop a step-by-step implementation plan

g. Point out references to selected text concepts or ideas

h. Provide a real-life example with implication for ethical practices and outcomes.

2. Processa. To be done in groups (report should consist of six pages, typed and double

spaced). Each team member is expected to co-author the report and clearly indicate his/her contribution.

b. Must be submitted in class on date assigned.

3. Evaluation is based on style, problem definition, analysis, appropriateness of alternatives selected, and overall clarity in logic and references to text concepts.

FIELD STUDY BASED PROJECT AUDIT REPORT

1. CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF A MEDIUM-SIZED OR LARGER CORPORATION IN RELATION TO THE FOLLOWING CRITICAL FACTORS:

2. Develop five key criteria for assessing strategic behavior, and a questionnaire (about 12-15 questions) pertaining to key elements in strategic management.

3. Corporation's economic goals and ethical responsibilities: Provide a brief history of corporation and its leadership behavior.

4. Conduct a literature review analysis as well as an interview analysis.

5. Discuss in detail key issues, followed by your recommendations.

6. Draw micro and macro conclusions, based on your major findings and its analysis.

REPORT FORMAT

The project may be undertaken singly or as a group of two. The report should be about 12 double-spaced pages (for single student) and 20 pages (for groups of two). The following are the required steps and format. [Select a company, and your topic from 13 topics listed in the next section.]

STEPS AND FORMAT FOR PROJECT REPORT

1. Attach an Executive Summary. (See format.)

2. Provide key objectives of your audit of the study corporation, and provide brief background in relation to its overall leadership behavior.

3. Construct ten key criteria. Provide operational definitions of the terms used in your criteria.

4. Presentation of your major findings and issues analysis drawn from literature review. Review at least two chapters of literature and one article. (This will be increased to four chapters and two articles in case of a group of two).

5. Interview at least two persons (or four in case of group) based on a pre-designed questionnaire. Telephone or Internet based interview are acceptable. Presentation of findings from interview.

6. Do an in-depth analysis of at least four issues facing the corporation. (Increase to six in case of a group.)

7. Draw suggestions for improving leadership practices at your study organization.

8. Draw macro implications for leadership responsibility of business specific to the industry.

9. Overall conclusions and areas for further study.

Reference cited and appendices, if any. (Include a copy of the questionnaire comprised of 12 to 15 questions.)

NOTE: (Select one of these topics for your project)

List of Suggested Projects for Student Research in Strategic Management

1. Techniques for Developing Strategic Competitiveness

2. Teamwork, E-commerce and Strategic Leadership

3. Styles of Strategy based on Mintzberg’s Model

4. Strategies for Dealing with Ethical Issues

5. Strategic Change Management

6. Mergers: Continual Success Factors

7. Business System Reengineering and Organizational Effectiveness

8. Strategic Benchmarking

9. Corporate Governance: Recent Reform Measures

10. Strategic Leadership: An Inventory of Skills

11. Strategic Entrepreneurship

COURSE MODULES

1. Course Model and Assignments What is Strategic Management?

2. The External Environment: Opportunities, Threats, and Competitive Analysis

3. The Internal Environment: Resources, Capabilities, and Core Competencies

4. Strategy Formulation: A Model

5. Strategy Formulation Actions Types of Strategies: Mintzberg Framework

6. Acquisitions and Restructuring Strategies

7. International Strategy Strengths and Weaknesses of International Joint Ventures Strengths and Weaknesses of Mergers

8. Implementation of Strategy Corporate Governance: Recent Legal and Ethical Decisions Organizational Structure Control Strategies

9. Strategic Leadership Skills

10. Strategic Entrepreneurship and Creative Vision

11. Strategic Management and E-Business/E-Commerce

12. Strategic Management: Ethical Audit and Behavior

COURSE OUTLINE CRITERIA

1. Integrated hands-on teaching.

2. Workshop participation and presentations.

3. Case analysis and reports.

4. Reports on current events on leadership issues.

5. Demonstration of competence and excellence in leadership behavior.

[Extensive use of video cases, films, and Internet for research on projects, and library resources for reporting current leadership issues related to business, education, including local, and national organizations.]

OUTCOME MEASURES

Some of the measurable outcomes of this course include hands-on practical experiences including:

1. Success completion of a major research project report based on real-life research report of a multinational corporation drawing upon the analysis of literature and interview data.

2. Successful completion of a comprehensive exam to demonstrate conceptual knowledge and application of that knowledge in the field.

3. Verbal and written reports based on selected case analysis, thus demonstrating analytical skills.

4. Successful participation in the debate (symposia) on selected resolutions as part of group presentations.

5. Demonstration of the use of Internet and library resources by presenting each week a written report on current events in the area of international trade and finance, including a brief verbal presentation of this report, and demonstrating its relevance to the field.

Students with Special Needs: Students with documented special needs are asked to make contact before, or during, the first week of instruction so that needs can be addressed.

Academic Misconduct: A student involved with presenting another's work as their own, or attempting to enhance testing outcomes through deceitful practices will be subjected to the policies for "Academic Misconduct" detailed in section III, pages 38-52 of the Student Handbook for student attending The University of Montana - Western.

CASE LIST (to be provided in class)

SYMPOSIA LIST(to be provided in class)