MGMT 485 – Management Strategy and Policy

DETAILS Semester-hour credits: 3 Tuition: $417 Methods: DESCRIPTION This course is the capstone course of the undergraduate business program. This course deals with the concepts and analytical tools of strategic management and business policy in a rapidly changing economic, social, political and technical environment. It will examine business opportunities and threats from the point of view of the general manager/CEO. Whereas other courses often simplify the complexity of management’s overall tasks and responsibilities (so as to make learning about the subject much easier) this is a “big picture” course with much use of and reliance upon what you have studied in previous core business courses. You will learn how an organization deals with all the constraints and complexities of the real world, why they cannot be assumed away or ignored, and how they impact managerial decisions and actions. PREREQUISITES: Accounting I & II, Economics I & II, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Business Statistics, Computers and Information Systems, Organizational Behavior, and Production/Operations Management. REQUIRED MATERIALS & TEXTBOOKS Strategic Management Text and Cases, 2nd Edition. Dess, Lumpkin & Eisner; McGraw Hill; New York, NY, 2006.   COURSE REQUIREMENTS LESSONS: There are thirteen lessons, one for each chapter, each consisting of answering and submitting (A) answers to the four Application Questions Exercises at the end each chapter, and (2) select one Ethics Question to answer.  Be certain to provide specific information and detail your answers. Each lesson is worth 10 points for a total of 130 possible points. Two proctored short-essay exams will be administered during the course. All materials can provide information for test questions including Strategy In Action segments and Cases.  Each exam is worth 150 points. STUDENT PROJECT: You will function as an outside consultant hired to conduct strategic analyses of two companies.  These companies will be selected from the cases in the text.  You may select one and the other will be assigned to you after you select your preferred case.  In the case that is assigned, evaluate the case at the point where the case ends.  For example, if the last data is for 2003, evaluate the situation as presented, and provide recommendations for the next 5-10 years.  For the case you select, update the case to today’s environment.  You will need to gather as much current information as possible about the organization to make recommendations for the organization from today forward.  Each case is worth 285 points.   DISCLAIMER: Tuition, credits, medium, description, instructors, books, materials, homework assignments, grading scale, and availability are subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date status, please contact the Continuing Education staff.