MGT 498 On Campus
Strategy & Policy
Overview
This course explores the links between firm performance and corporate/business strategy and presents the basic concepts and tools of strategic analysis.
Text and Required Materials
Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage.2009. Gamble, John E. & Thompson Jr., Arthur A. McGraw-Hill Irwin. ISBN# 0-07-353030-1.
CaseTutor® Software (included with text)
Capstone Strategic Management Simulation® (This must be purchased online for approximately $45 and is not available through the WKU book store).
Business Core Learning Objectives
MGT 498 addresses the following core learning objectives of the Gordon Ford College of Business.
Objective 1: Students will demonstrate communication skills in written and oral forms. Students will be evaluated on coherence and organization, delivery, grammar and syntax, and proper use of materials and mechanics in their communication samples.
Objective 2: Students will demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues in business and society.
Objective 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to strategically employ information technology.
Objective 4: Students will demonstrate the ability to solve problems through critical, reflective, and integrative thinking.
Objective 5: Students will demonstrate an awareness of the global business environment.
Objective 6: Students will demonstrate knowledge in each of the basic business disciplines including accounting, business statistics and quantitative methods, economics, finance, information systems, management (organization and management, operations, legal environment) and marketing.
Assessment
Chapter tests = 50%
Case preparation and discussion = 10%
Team strategic management simulation = 20%
Final exam = 20%
The following sections provide an overview of each assessment method. Additional details will be provided in class.
Chapter Tests
Chapter test dates will be announced in class. Although chapter tests can be made up in case of absence, there is a 10% late deduction regardless of the reason for the absence. The grade becomes a permanent 0 if the test is not made up within one week.
Cases
Case dates will be announced in class. Much of the learning from cases is derived from class discussion. Therefore, case grades cannot be made up at a later date.
Cases are graded on a pass-fail basis. Either one of the following conditions will result in a 0 for case grades:
1) Absence from a case discussion for any reason.
2) Inadequate case preparation. Case questions will be assigned in advance. Hard copies of case preparation questions must be turned in at the beginning of class. Case preparation questions must be detailed and fully complete to receive credit for the case.
3) Inadequate case discussion. Students must make substantial and meaningful contributions to the case discussions to receive credit. Being present for the class without substantial and meaningful contribution discussion results in the same grade as being absent from the class.
Team Strategic Management Simulation
The simulation will help us gain competence by applying course concepts Specifically, student teams will compete with other teams on 10 performance metrics:
• Profits
• Margins
• Productivity
• Forecasting
• Market share
• Working capital
• Wealth creation
• Financial structure
• Customer satisfaction
• Avoidance of emergency loans
The team with the highest cumulative score on these metrics receives a 100% for the simulation grade, the second place team receives 93%, the third place team receives 86%, the fourth place team receives 79%, the fifth place team receives 72%, and the sixth place team receives 65%.
Final Exam
The final exam may not be made up after the university-scheduled exam date. Absence from the final exam results in a grade of 0.