Pennsylvania State University Commonwealth College COURSE SYLLABUS. BA 422 Contemporary Business Seminar

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1 Pennsylvania State University Commonwealth College COURSE SYLLABUS BA 422 Contemporary Business Seminar Semester: Spring 1999 Instructor: Tomas H. Parks, Ph.D. Day(s): Tuesday Office Hours: W 9-3, By Appt. Time: 6 8:40 PM Tel: (717) Office (717) Home Place: MCB txp13@psu.edu COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course serves as the capstone course in the Bachelor of Science in Business program. The course integrates content and material from foundational courses such as accounting, business logistics, finance, management, and marketing with analytical techniques and communications skills, both oral and written. The overarching goal of the course is to have students demonstrate their capacity to execute in actual or simulated business situations. The emphasis is on understanding and effectively communicating information on issues that affect businesses locally, regionally, and globally. COURSE GOALS: As the final course in a four course sequence, BA 422 W is intended to help perfect the students : Communication skills and individual effectiveness Diversity management skills and competencies Collaboration/Team-building skills Problem-solving/Critical thinking/empirical inquiry skills Technology and information/data management Leadership Specific Course Objectives: To apply and integrate essential business skills that are required in the contemporary business environment. To demonstrate oral and written communication skills in specific organizational situations. To sharpen critical thinking skills and problem solving techniques relevant to the analysis of business problems and the generation of feasible solutions. 1

2 To experience strategy development, implementation, and control through group interaction. To gain an understanding of the impact of internal factors on business. To gain an understanding of the impact of external factors, both local and global, on business. To assess the behavior of an organization in an ethical context. To achieve these objectives, this course will have the following components: technology, in-class face-to-face, and cooperative group learning Also, in this class, you will frequently use the technological skills that you learned (i.e., Power Point) from the previous BA courses. In-class face-to-face component will include lectures and discussion case studies. Cooperative learning component will include active participation in group discussion and completing projects collaboratively. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS 1. Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases, Thompson and Strickland, Tenth Edition, Irwin McGraw-Hills, The Business Strategy Game: A Global Industry Simulation, Thompson and Stappenbeck, Fifth Edition. Irwin McGraw-Hill, TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE 1/12 Introduction to class Refresh on Student Centered Discussion and Collaborative Learning techniques Introduce Strategic Management Concepts Chapter 1 The Strategic Management Process Chapter 2 The Three Strategy Making Tasks Review Guide to Case Analysis Assignments: Read TS Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4 Read America Online, Case 1, and prepare discussion notes 1/19 Chapter 3 Industry and Competitive Analysis Chapter 4 Evaluating Company Resources and Competitive Capabilities America Online case discussion Assignments: Read TS Chapters 5 & 6 1/26 Chapter 5 Strategy and Competitive Advantage 2

3 Chapter 6 Matching Strategy to a Company s Situation Overview of software, industry, and individual companies. Assignments: Group Planning Meeting Assign responsibilities for The Business Strategy Game Make certain that all group members are familiar with player s manual and prepared to make decisions. 2/2 Company Launch Meeting Make first set of Annual Decisions Assignments: Study for Midterm TS Chapters 1 6 2/9 First Decisions Due at Noon Test #1 TS Chapters 1 6 Assignments: Read TS Chapter 7 Read Bama Pie, Ltd., Case 25, and prepare individual case analysis 2/16 Decisions Due at Noon Chapter 7 Strategy and Competitive Advantage in Diversified Companies Bama Pie, Ltd. case discussion Assignments: Read TS Chapter 8 Read Cineplex Odeon, Case 5, and prepare individual case analysis 2/23 Decisions Due at Noon Chapter 8 Evaluating the Strategies of Diversified Companies Cineplex Odeon case discussion Assignments: Read TS Chapter 9 Read Bombardier, Ltd., Case 20, and prepare individual case analysis Complete Company Business Plan 3/2 Decisions Due at Noon Chapter 9 Implementing Strategy: Building Resource Capabilities and Structuring the Organization Bombardier, Ltd. case discussion Company Business Plan Due Company Board Meeting 3

4 Assignment: Read Whirlpool, Corp., Case 18, and prepare individual case analysis 3/9 No Class Spring Holiday 3/16 Decisions Due at Noon Guest Speaker Whirlpool, Corp. case discussion Assignment: Read TS Chapter 10 Read Acer Computer Products, Case 31, and prepare individual case analysis Complete Industry and Competitor Analysis 3/23 Decisions Due at Noon Chapter 10 Implementing Strategy: Budgets, Policies, Best Practices, Support Systems, and Rewards. Acer Computer Products case discussion Industry and Competitor Analysis Due Assignment: Read TS Chapter 11 Read Novotel, Case 26, and prepare individual case analysis 3/30 Decisions Due at Noon Chapter 11 Implementing Strategy: Culture and Leadership Novotel case discussion Assignment: Study for Final TS Chapters /1 Decisions Due at Noon 4/6 Decisions Due at Noon Test #2 TS Chapters 7 11 Assignment: Prepare PowerPoint Presentation Begin Work on Annual Report 4/18 Decision Due at Noon 4

5 4/13 Decisions Due at Noon Guest Speaker Group Preparation Meetings Assignment: Finish PowerPoint Presentation Role Play Presentation 4/15 Decisions Due at Noon 4/20 Decision Due at Noon Group Presentations Assignment: 4/22 Decisions Due at Noon 4/27 Decisions Due at Noon Group Presentations Assignment: 5/3 Annual Report Due GRADING CRITERIA TS Midterm 150 TS Final 150 Individual Case Individual Case Company Business Plan 100 Industry and Competitor Analysis 100 Final Presentation 100 Annual Report 100 Final Simulation Standing 100 Total 1,000 The final course grade will be assigned as follows A 92 B- 79 A- 89 C 70 B+ 86 D 60 B 82 5