BA 590
Strategic Business Concepts & Applications
Course Calendar
Click here to access the PDF course lecture notes.
Week 1: Introduction
- Course introduction
- Simulation introduction
- Reading assignment: Chapter 1
- Lecture notes: Pages 1-2
- Why did portfolio management
techniques such as the BCG matrix and the GE/McKinsey
matrix fail to have the desired results?
- Do you agree or disagree that SWOT analysis follows the same failings as the BCG matrix and the GE/McKinsey matrix? Why or why not?
Please complete the simulation rehearsal round before this class session. You can access it by logging in to Capsim with your username and password then clicking on the "Getting Started" tab.
- Simulation practice round
- Simulation "live" decision demonstration
- Reading assignment: Chapters 2 and 5 (pp. 95-105)
- Lecture notes: Pages 3-6 and 10-12
- Simulation year 1
- Choose a firm that has had a competitive advantage for at least the past year. What evidence is there that the firm has achieved a competitive advantage? Assess whether the firm is likely to sustain its competitive advantage over the next few years.
Discussion board leaders: Andrews Team (Jason, Helen, and Christopher)
- Reading assignment: Chapter 3
- Lecture notes: Pages 7-9
- Simulation year 2
- Develop a five-forces analysis of the online search industry. Be sure to identify all the major players as well as relevant industry boundaries. Does your analysis suggest that the online search industry is attractive to new entrants? Why or why not?
Discussion board leaders: Baldwin Team (Jennifer, Betsy, and Gretchen)
- Reading assignment: Chapter 6
- Lecture notes: Pages 13-18
- Simulation year 3
- Suppose Polaris Industries sells its Victory motorcycle division to Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Assuming Harley-Davidson does not overpay for the acquisition, discuss whether you believe this acquisition would have the the potential to pass the "better off" test and the "best alternative" test. Please explain your rationale.
- Indian Motorcycle Company is re-entering the U.S. market in 2008. The firm will compete in the "heavyweight" segment of the motorcycle cruiser market. Use the strategy implementation section of the lecture notes to outline a five-year implementation strategy for Indian Motorcycle Company. Include arenas, vehicles, staging, differentiators, and economic logic.
Discussion board leaders: Chester Team )Andrea, Jamie, and Steve)
- Reading assignment: None
- Lecture notes: Pages 19-25
- Simulation year 4
- Identify a (1) low-end innovation and a (2) new-market innovation that you believe will disrupt incumbents within the next 10 years. Please explain.
Discussion board leaders: Digby Team (Melinda, Penny, and James)
- Reading assignment: None
- Simulation year 5 (final team simulation round)
- Introduction to CompXM simulation exam
This session is reserved for the MBA Program Educational Testing Service Exam.
Application questions are due at the beginning of the session. In addition, the CompXM simulation must be completed by the end of the week.