Stetson School of Business and Economics

The Stetson School of Business and Economics (SSBE) promotes the advancement and integration of quality business education and practice.  In support of Mercer University’s mission, the School provides undergraduate and graduate programs that are designed to enable, enhance, and expand professional careers, civic responsibility and lifelong learning.

 

BAM 699 Strategic Management
 (DRAFT - Summer 2012)

Instructor - Office Hours - Course Description - Objectives - Materials
Performance Evaluation - Outline & Schedule

Course Description 
As a capstone course, this seminar provides students the opportunity to correlate, integrate and apply the concepts developed in the MBA program.  Special emphasis is placed on strategic management.

Course Design
Constructivist learning theory suggests that learning can be profound when students are able to build on prior knowledge and experiences, making linkages with earlier studies.  A capstone course is intended to provided that kind of learning experience.  It also provides an opportunity to assess students' performance vis-à-vis the educational objectives of the overall program of study.  This course is designed to follow the model of "learn, do, teach" by requiring the students to lead various class experiences and discussions regarding business management.  The extensive use of a computer simulation  is an integral part of this design, to enable students to experiment with different strategies, and experience systemic consequences.

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Course Objectives 
Upon the successful completion of this course, you should understand:

1. the changing paradigm of business
2. the environmental influences on an organization
3. managerial ethics and social responsibility
4. organizational planning, strategy formulation and implementation
5. the nature of leadership.

To be successful in this class, you are expected to:

• Attend and actively participate in class meetings
• Read weekly assignments
• Allow adequate time to prepare written materials
• Review notes and readings from previous course work
• Challenge yourself to extend your simulation in thoughtful ways.

Course Prerequisites: 24 graduate semester credit hours 

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Course Materials 
Required

Textbook:  Brennan, L.L. and Sisk, F.A. (2012). Strategic Management for Results: Practical Strategies for Sustainable Outcomes.  Cognella Publishers.

Simulation: To be determined.

You will also be assigned (based on your professional experience and interests) another book to read for the course.

Our class website can be found at  http://bb-mercer.blackboard.com. 

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Performance Evaluation

Grading
Your final grade will be based on several indicators of performance against each of the course objectives.  Each of the indicators is described in more detail below.

Points

	%
Simulation	40
Book Report	20
Discussion Leadership	15
Case Analysis	15
Participation	10
Final Assessment	*

 

Grade	Total Points
A	90 - 100
B+	88 - 89.9
B	80 - 87.9
C+	78 - 79.9
C	70 - 77.9

Simulation
Working in a team, you will manage a hypothetical business using a computerized simulation over several business cycles.  Your grade will be based on your team's simulation decisions (i.e., ten points are based on your final score in the simulation; the score is based on relative ratings and your selected weightings), your business' annual report (20 points), presentation (5 points), and your peer evaluations (5 points).  

Book Report
You will be assigned a book from the current literature about business management.  Working individually, you will present a concise -- and perhaps creative -- overview of the book in class.  Your one page executive summary, in printed form, should be distributed to the instructor and your classmates before your presentation.  For preparation guidelines, click here.

Discussion Leadership
You are expected  to lead a 30 minute class discussion on  assigned readings.  Your grade will be based on your preparation and the extent to which you facilitate meaningful class participation.  Guidelines for discussion leaders are available on the class web site.

Case Analyses
Our textbook contains several case studies.  Students will select one case study to analyze and debate before the class.  This is a group assignment.

Participation
This class is conducted in a seminar format; as such, your participation is critical to the course conduct. As part of your participation, you are expected to do the homework and readings assigned each week.  Your participation grade will be based on your contributions in class, on the class website, with the background case analysis and on the homework assignments.  Guidelines for effective class participation can be found on the class web site.

Final Assessment - Exam
Completion of a comprehensive, standardized test is required to complete the course, but will not affect your course grade.

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Honor Code
It is expected that you will adhere both to the letter and the spirit of the Honor System as it relates to procedures and assignments for this course.  You may discuss the written assignments with your classmates; however your work should be original. All work on the quizzes is to be done individually and is not to be discussed with other students.  Plagiarism is the use of ideas, facts, phrases, or additional information such as charts or maps, from any sources, without giving proper credit to the original author. Using direct quotations, paraphrases, or reproductions of any material that is not the student’s own authorship is also considered plagiarism. Failure to reference any such material used is both ethically and legally improper.  Violations  will result in referral of the matter to the Honor Council.

University Protocol for Electronic Submission of Course Work
Students bear sole responsibility for ensuring that papers or assignments submitted electronically to a professor are received in a timely manner and in the electronic format(s) specified by the professor. Students are therefore obliged to have their e-mail client issue a receipt verifying that the document has been received. Students are also strongly advised to retain a copy of the dated submission on a separate disk. Faculty members are encouraged, but not required, to acknowledge receipt of the assignment. 

University Protocol for Use of Cell Phones and Pagers
Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event. 

Disability Provisions
Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible.  If you are not registered with Disability Services, the instructor will refer you to the Student Support Services office for consultation regarding documentation of your disability and eligibility for accommodations under the ADA/504.  In order to receive accommodations, eligible students must provide each instructor with a “Faculty Accommodation Form” from Disability Services.  Students must return the completed and signed form to the Disability Services Coordinator on the 3^rd floor of the Connell Student Center.  Students with a documented disability who do not wish to use academic accommodations are strongly encouraged to register with Disability Services and complete a Faculty Accommodation Form each semester, also.  For further information, please contact Carole Burrowbridge, Disability Services Coordinator, at 301-2778 or visit the website at http://www.mercer.edu/stu_support/swd.htm.

Course Outline and Tentative Schedule
The course outline and a tentative schedule will be developed with the class during the first week and posted in Blackboard. 

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