Gb699Corporate Strategy

Course Syllabus

Professor Name John J. HamptonEmail

Phone 201 761-6390Office Location: School of Business

Office Hours Wednesday1:00-4:00 or by appointment

Description

This course examines strategic decision making in the areas of management, marketing, and finance. It links strategic planning with performance in a framework for decision making. It correlates planning and leadership in a framework for strategic thinking. It encourages a pursuit of the big picture as the key to success in strategic planning. International perspectives are incorporated throughout the course.

Outcomes

Students can expect the following outcomes in this course:

  • They will improve written communications.
  • They will have a better understanding of ethical responsibilities of the profession.
  • They will recognize problems and apply strategic analysis.
  • They will reason analytically and make data-driven decisions.

Course materials

  • Textbook. Corporate Strategies, (2016).
  • Study Guide. This is it. It is also the syllabus.Copies can be downloaded from . Click the Study Guides button.

Downloading the Textbook

The textbook is available for download at The steps are:

  • ClickBook Title and then Add to cart.
  • Proceed to Checkout. Or proceed to checkout with PayPal.
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  • To receive a 25% student discount, enter discount code SPU25.
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  • Find your order. Click Download files. Then sign out on top.
  • Having Trouble? Email

Hybrid Format

  • Term. May to August, 2016 in room G09, School of Business.
  • Meetings. Five total sessions with dates to be announced in class.
  • First meeting on May 19.
  • Dates: To be chosen from May 26, June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30.
  • Note: This course is not available in a total online format.

Grading

The grade is based upon.

  • Part 1. Exercises. 50 percent of the grade.
  • Part 2. Individual or Team Project. 30 percent of the grade.
  • Attendance20 percent of the grade.
  • Blogs and Risk Insider Postings. Makeup assignments are required for missed attendance.

Due Dates for Assignments

  • Part 1. June 14(Tuesday)
  • Part 2. July 5 (Tuesday)
  • Make up. July 12 (Tuesday)

Submission 1 -- Exercises

They are printed at the end of this syllabus. They cover:

Chapter 1. Planning and Decision Making.

Chapter 2. Leadership Strategies.

Chapter 3. Framework for Strategies.

Chapter 4. The Big Picture.

Chapter 5. How Do We Find The Big Picture?

Chapter 6. How Do We Connect The Dots Between The Big Picture And Everything Else?

Submission 2 -- Course Project

Course project is described below.

Submission 3 -- Make-up for Missed Classes

Select the blogs and Risk Insider postings from the website at

  • Miss One Class. Do the assignment for twoblogs or Risk Insider Postings.
  • Miss Two Classes. Do the assignment for fiveblogs Risk Insider Postings.

Assignment: Answer the following questions for each blog:

  • Which blog did you select?
  • What is the main point of the blog?
  • What is the purpose of the blog? Be specific.
  • Do you agree with the main point? Be specific.

Requirements for Completing the Exercises

  • Complete all exercises with at least 30% of them using the engaged format described below.
  • Show you understand the point of the exercise.
  • Add a little something to it.
  • Choose either the basic or engaged format for each exercise.

Basic Format Example

Question: What are examples of a speculative risk not named in the book?

Basic Format Answer A speculative risk exists when we have the possibility of a loss along with the chance to make a profit. Examples are betting on horse races, buying stocks and bonds, and real estate investment. This differs from a pure risk where only a loss is possible.

Engaged Format Answer

A speculative risk exists when we have the possibility of a loss along with the chance to make a profit. Examples are betting on horse races, buying stocks and bonds, and real estate investment. This differs from a pure risk where only a loss is possible.

Since we know that pure risk is a risk in which loss is the only possible outcome, there is no beneficial result. Pure risk is related to events that arebeyond the risk-taker's control and, therefore, a person cannot consciouslytake on pure risk.

An example is the possibility that a person's house will be destroyed due to a natural disaster. In this example, it is unlikely that there would be any potential benefit to this risk.

There are products that can be purchased to mitigate pure risk. For example, flood insurance can be used to protect homeowners from the risk that their homes will be destroyed by an overflowing river. Other examples of pure risk events include premature death, identity theft, and career-ending disabilities.

Submitting the Exercises

Carefully follow these submission guidelines to avoid delays that affect grading.

  • Copy the exercises from the Study Guide to a separate MS Word file for part 1.
  • Repeat the process to a different MS Word file for part 2.
  • Save each file with the name <Your last name> Course # Part#.
  • Answer each question in order.
  • Do not repeat the wording of the question in your answer.
  • Send a single MS Word document for each part as an attachment to an email to . Do not use BlackBoard for submissions.

Confirmation

The instructor will confirm receipt of the exercises and project within four days. If no confirmation is received, query the instructor.

Course Project

Pick one of the following countries and create a PowerPoint presentation on the business, economic, and cultural, aspects of doing business in the country. For an example of such a project, check the button at hamptonjohn.comwith the Gb699 number and sample project.

  • Thailand.
  • Venezuela.
  • Peru.

You have complete freedom to create an interesting presentation. This includes the use of graphics and clever components. The project will be graded as follows:

  • Start. In the first few slides, identify an interesting and compelling story.
  • Goal. To identify and explain a strategy that a company should follow to successfully do business in the selected country.
  • Content. The story should be told in an interesting format that engages the viewer.
  • Conclusion. The story is closed with an interesting and logical wrap-up.
  • Length. Projects are likely to range from 14 to 30 slides.

Submitting the Project

  • Create a separate PowerPoint document.
  • Identify yourself or members on the first slide.
  • Save it as <Your team or last name>, Gb699, Country Name.
  • Submit by email.

Exercises 1. Strategic Decision-making.

1-1.The text describes the difference between a strategy and a tactic. Give a personal example of when you had to make a decision where you were not sure whether it was a strategic or tactical situation. Explain how you made the decision.

1-2.According to Peter Drucker, the only purpose of a business is to create a customer. Do you agree with that position? Explain your reasoning.

1-3.Strategically, which is better? Should a company seek out a market, determine its needs, and meet them? Or should it create a product, manufacture it, and attempt to sell it in existing markets? Explain your reasoning.

1-4.Update the story of Marissa Mayer hiring Henrique de Castro. Explain how it worked out and then discuss whether it was a good gamble for her to take. Explain your reasoning.

Exercises 2. Leadership Strategies

2-1. Describe a situation in your work life where you saw someone “win the battle but lose the war.” What would you have done in that situation? Explain your reasoning.

2-2. The chapter lists skills that leaders display when interacting with others. Describe how you used one of these skills recently. How did it work out? Be specific.

2-3. Many people believe that a large part of the success of Apple is the company’s willingness to create a climate of pride as described in the chapter. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.

2-4. Answer this question applied to your current boss or a recent boss. Of the management skills of leaders described in the chapter, which one was the strongest skill possessed by the boss?Explain your reasoning.

2-5. Some people think Donald Trump displays the traits of a highly-effective leader. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.

2-6. The chapter identifies obstacles to leadership development. Which one is the biggest factor explaining the failure of many young people to develop leadership skills today. Explain your reasoning.

Exercises 3.Framework for Strategic Planning.

3-1. Improved economics are a global phenomenon. Is this good or bad for global corporations? Explain your reasoning.

3-2. Zakaria claims the political view of the world since 2000 is failure with respect to 9/11, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, Hezbollah, and Gaza. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.

3-3. Zakaria argues that the West lagged the East centuries ago. Do you think we are returning to such a situation? Explain your reasoning and cite a source that supports you or disagrees with you.

3-4. What are some major problems a company would face while developing business strategies in a Second World country? Be specific.

3-5. Khanna claims that the world’s most compelling ideology is not freedom, democracy, authority, religion, or philosophy. Instead, the goal is simply to be successful. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.

Exercises 4. Seek the Big Picture.

4-1. Ask someone whether he or she would be interested in climbing Mount Everest. Who did you ask? What did the person say? Do you think the person has the big picture? Explain your reasoning.

4-2. Peter Drucker asked three questions about what is, what will be, and what should be if we have a strategy. How can organizations use these questions to understand the big picture? Use an example to explain your answer.

4-3. Bill Gates and Microsoft illustrated the big picture when they pursued the acquisition of Intuit. Do you agree that the acquisition should have been stopped by the federal government? Explain your reasoning.

4-4. Why does the story of Fresh and Frozen Foods show the failure to identify the Big Picture? Be specific.

4-5. The textbook argues that the big picture for customers of IBM occurred when they realized, “Nobody ever got fired by choosing IBM.” Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.

4-6. What risks were taken by Cook County Hospital when it allowed Dr. Brendan Reilly to use his new method to diagnose heart attacks? Be specific.

4-7. In terms of the big picture, do you think Blockbuster was just stupid by ignoring changing market conditions? Explain your reasoning.

4-8. Some people think a company the size of BP Oil is simply too big to see the big picture. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.

4-9. Fraud is a criminal offense. Since the accounting rules allowed Lehman to hide its toxic assets, the company did not commit fraud. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.

Exercises 5. How Do We Find The Big Picture?

5-1. Gladwell has an answer for the question, “Are leaders born or made?” Do you agree with his answer? Explain your reasoning.

5-2. Jet Blue got it wrong. U.S. Airways got it right. Which airline is doing better today? Use Internet references to support your answer.

5-3. Philip Zimbardo created an experiment to show the power of context. Identify an actual environment that was highly negative. The setting can be personal or taken from television, a book, or other source.Describe how people reacted.Be specific.

5-4. What is the most exciting new strategy at Apple today? Do you think it will be successful? Explain your reasoning.

5-5. What is the most exciting new strategy at Amazon today? Do you think it will be successful? Explain your reasoning.

5-6. With respect to the story of Rollins College, did the faculty leaders or President fail to use any of the components of decision making used by the Navy SEALS? Explain your reasoning.

Exercises 6. How Do We Connect The Dots Between The Big Picture And Everything Else

6-1. Have you ever had a tipping point in your life? If yes, describe it. If not, describe a situation where a big change happened in your life or way of thinking. Were the law of the few, stickiness, and weak connections part of the situation you described? Be specific.

6-2. A fire in a church in Charleston, S.C. in 2015 produced a tipping point for the display of the Confederate Flag. Describe what happened. Who were the few? What was the sticky message? Who were the weak connections? Be specific.

6-3. A speech by a Georgia Mayor affected the announced closing of Sweet Briar College in 2015. Did it create a tipping point? Explain your reasoning.

6-4. Southern New Hampshire University created a tipping point by changing the context of its admissions, customer relations, technology, facilities, and attitude. Which of these would have to be changed for Rollins College to create a similar tipping point? Be specific.

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