Business Policy and Strategy

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Understand the strategic issues and policy decisions facing businesses and how current management concepts address these issues.
• Understand and describe the strategic management process and the difference between strategic analysis, strategy formulation and strategy implementation.
• Acquire an understanding of how to use new and existing knowledge to analyze "real world" cases and by so doing, to understand the complexity of strategic issues.
• Elaborate on how strategic plans and policies are integrated, implemented and controlled and to comprehend the culture and ethical factors that influence these management activities.
• Analyze new knowledge and use existing knowledge to conduct strategic and competitive analysis using various tools (e.g., five forces model, SWOT analysis, Portfolio matrix models) in a variety of industries.
• Evaluate the formulation of business and corporate level strategies, the different business and corporate strategic types, alternative actions, and make sound strategic decisions using what-if analysis.
• Discuss the managerial task associated with implementing and executing company strategies, and the action managers can take to promote competent strategy execution.
• Assess the role of government policy in creating incentives and disincentives for a variety of competitive condition for both domestic and international competition.
• Demonstrate how the various pieces of the knowledge they have acquired in their functional-oriented business courses fit together and discuss why the different parts of a company's business need to be managed in strategic harmony for the company to operate successfully.
• Synthesize and apply the concepts and analytical tools exposed to in the course by participating in managing a company through a business simulation game or conduct a strategic and competitive analysis of a company.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Class participation	10%
Chapter quizzes	15%
Case assignments (2x10%)	20%
Examinations (2x15%)	30%
Final case analysis	25%

Grading scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
93.4-100	A
90-93.3	A-
86.7-89.9	B+
83.4-86.6	B
80-83.3	B-
76.7-79.9	C+
73.4-76.6	C
70-73.3	C-
66.7-69.9	D+
63.4-66.6	D
60-63.3	D-
Below 60	F

Attendance/Participation:

Because this is an in-person course, part of the assessment will be based on in-class participation. While there is no official attendance policy, to receive credit for class participation, students will be required to attend class.

Additionally, students are expected to participate by completing all assignments, discussions, reflections, and other required course activities by the stated deadlines. Due dates are listed in the Course Overview document and on Canvas. Students are responsible for meeting these deadlines.

The instructor reserves the right to modify course schedules or deadlines at their discretion, and any changes will be communicated through Canvas. Participation and timely completion of course requirements will be reflected in each students final course grade.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

McGraw-Hill Connect(® Access for “Dess, G. G., McNamara, G., & Eisner, A. B., & Sauerwald, S. Strategic Management: Text and Cases (DMES), 11th Edition, 2024. ISBN13: 9781265999001 (Connect(® Version of the textbook); ISBN13: 9781264124329 (Hardcopy Version of textbook).