BUSA 4980 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT/POLICY Spring 2006 Professor: Charles A. Nichols, C.P.M. Course: BUSA 4980 Office: RCB 1007 (shared PTI office) Office Hours: by appointment (best time MW 10 a.m. - Noon) EMail: mgtcan@langate.gsu.edu Web Address: http://www.gsu.edu/~mgtcan Telephone: (770) 514-7754 (H) (No calls after 9:00 pm) Course Objectives This course is designed to give the student an opportunity to develop conceptual skills as needed by high-level managers. Emphasis is given to the integration of subject matter from all business courses and other disciplines in the discussion and analysis of organizational problems. Subject matter stressed includes: (1) development of organizational strategy, (2) decision making within the framework of a strategy, (3) the planning process, (4) formulation of objectives and policies, and (5) the management of change. The objective will be accomplished through lectures, student contribution, guest speakers, literature review, and interactive learning methodologies. Prerequisites Students must have completed, with a grade of C or better, the entire Junior core: BUSA3000; MGT 3500, MK 3010, DSC 3120, FI 3300; plus four upper level major classes prior to taking the BUSA 4980 class. For students FIRST enrolled under the 2002-2003 GSU catalog, BCOM 3950 in an additional prerequisite. Students who do not meet these requirements will be administratively withdrawn by the Dean's Office. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THESE REQUIREMENTS. Required Text and Other Material Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D., & Hoskisson, R.E. [2005]. Strategic Management: Competitiveness

and Globilization. [6th Edition] United States: Southwestern College Publishing. (ISBN: 0-324-27528-5) The Business Strategy Game Player’s Guide Online Do not buy the thin, paperback Player’s Guide from the bookstore!!!

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Grades 1. Your grade will be determined based upon points earned as follows:

ASSIGNMENT POINTS

Examination #1 100

Examination #2 100

Examination #3 100

Written Cases (2) 100

BSG Presentation 100

BSG Journal 100

*BSG Project (see below) 100

Totals 700

2. Letter Grades will be assigned based upon points earned as follows: A = 700-626; B = 625-556; C = 555-486; D = 485-416; F< 415 * BSG Project: You will be running the Business Strategy Game (BSG) online. The software

will keep a running average of your performance and assign you a grade (0-100). This grade will be used to come up with your grade for all aspects of the BSG. The grade is weighted as follows: Quiz 1 = 5%; Quiz 2 = 10%; 3 Year Plan = 10%; Overall Company Performance = 70% (OCP weighted ICI = 70% and BII = 30%, see FIR); Self Evaluation = 1 %; Peer Evaluation = 4%

3. All written assignments should be typed, double spaced, using no less than a 12pt. font (New

Times Roman preferred). Grades will not be discussed over the phone, by email, or by any other method except in person. Grades will be posted on WebCT/Vista as soon as they are available.

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Examinations The first two on-line quizzes are based on the BSG manual and program material and are to be taken Online. The other examinations will be multiple choice and short answer questions based on the text, lectures, speakers and class discussion. It is the Student’s responsibility to keep up with daily assignments, including quizzes, BSG deadlines, related readings from text and other assignments, if any. All material in the text, whether directly covered during in-class lectures or not, is fair game for test. Policy on Late Assignments and Make-up Examinations Assignments are due at the time of the regular class session (see schedule). It is the student's responsibility to turn in assignments, in class, in person, on time. Late Assignments or those left in the Department of Management Office or any other campus location will not be graded. No make-up examinations or assignments will be given except in the most extraordinary circumstances, as considered by the Instructor. If you know in advance you will miss an exam, see me for alternatives. Academic Integrity: Cheating on examinations involves giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination. Also includes intentionally allowing another student to view one's own examination. Violations of this nature will result in student(s) receiving a "0" on the exam and subject to possible dismissal. Class Contribution Students are required to read assigned material (cases, articles, and chapters) prior to the scheduled class period and participate through active and relevant discussion. Books and articles in current periodicals will be used to focus contribution and to bring currency to specific issues related to the strategic process. Relevant discussion based upon current events and the experiences of the student is encouraged. Bringing articles/books to class as appropriate. Examples of periodicals include The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, etc.

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Attendance You are expected to attend everyday that class is scheduled and participate fully in the class. If you feel that you must miss a class, there is no need to notify me beforehand. If you attend class regularly, you will learn material that will be instrumental in your course success that cannot be achieved by reading the text alone. ATTENDANCE DURING PRESENTATIONS IS MANDATORY. EACH ABSENCE DURING THIS TIME WILL RESULT IN A LETTER GRADE REDUCTION OF YOUR FINAL GRADE! Written Case Analysis. (See Handout for more details) The Business Strategy Game (BSG) At the beginning of the semester, each student will be assigned to a team for the purpose of participating in The Business Strategy Game (BSG). The performance of your team over the entire semester will be evaluated based upon the performance of your company and peer evaluation by the other team members. The results of the peer evaluation can result in a change in the student's grade. In the course of running your company, a 3-year strategic plan must be developed using the BSG software. A printout of this plan will become a part of your journal. Remember, in doing a 3-year plan, you are in no way committed to follow the plan exactly. Changes can be made at any time. (see schedule on-line). Eight to Ten (8 to 10) sets of decisions (years) will be required. A two-three page summary describing the strategy and rationale for each decision must be completed and becomes a part of your journal. This also must include a look at actual vs. expected results for each year. NOTE: It is recommended that the student develop an overall concept of the strategy process

and the BSG during the first week of the semester.

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Guest Attendance Please do not bring your children to class with you. As adorable as they may be, even the most well behaved children are a distraction both to me and to your classmates. I would also ask that you not bring adult guests to class, either. This would include friends, spouses, significant others, relatives, etc. There are liability issues that neither I nor the school will assume. Seating is always at a premium in my classes. Thank you for your cooperation regarding this matter. Changes to this Syllabus Any changes to this syllabus, if any, will be announced in class. University and College Policies See the Georgia State University Bulletin and other official publications.