Online Course Syllabus MSM631 Strategic Management and Financial Reports Analysis Important Notes:

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1 Online Course Syllabus MSM631 Strategic Management and Financial Reports Analysis Important Notes: This document provides an overview of expectations for this online course and is subject to change prior to the term start. Changes may also occur during the term due to faculty or SPS Distance Learning course updates. Some links may only be active once the term starts. For this course you must check the Regis Bookstore: for the most current online course material information. Course Description Course Outcomes Required Course Materials Grading Criteria Equal Access Grading Scale Social Justice And Service Learning Assignments Course Description Learners identify strategic management areas for organizations and evaluate these in terms of changing environments. Skills are developed in strategic planning and the alignment of mission, vision, strategies, goals, and objectives. Financial statements are evaluated as part of a competitive analysis. These processes are examined in terms of future opportunities. The realities of strategic management are examined through current applications. Course Outcomes Upon completion of this course, learners will demonstrate competence through oral and written assessments in the following outcome areas: Describe current generic strategic models, and define the basic process and players involved in strategic planning, Practice analyzing and constructing strategic Vision and Mission statements,

2 Demonstrate familiarity with the basic financial reporting instruments of a business firm i.e., a balance sheet and income statement and calculate the basic financial ratios used to assess a firm s strategic position. Describe and apply the basic market dimensions of strategy product fit, pricing, distribution, and promotion in the larger social context in which the marketing of a particular product or service takes place within the implementation of a company s strategic plan, Apply strategic analysis models and tools for assessing the internal and external environments of a firm, Develop an ability to plan strategically while integrating an understanding of the strategic planning process and how it impacts leadership and management practices, and Evaluate management behavior and a company s social responsibility in terms of published vision and mission statements. Required Course Materials Required Reading Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B. Strategic Management: Formulation, Implementation, and Control of Competitive Strategy (10th ed.). Homewood, IL: Irwin/McGraw-Hill. Companion Web site Sherman, E.H. (2000). Finance and accounting for nonfinancial managers. New York, NY: AMACOM. Note: This book is available online at no cost through Dayton Memorial Library's "Books24x7" service ( You must have a RegisNET account to access the book from an off-campus location. See the Electronic Reserve section below for instructions on how to obtain an account. United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2004). Beginners' guide to financial

3 statements. Electronic Reserve Refer to the course content for information regarding articles on Electronic Reserves. Grading Criteria Grades in the course are based on points earned by the student and will be awarded according to the following components: Forum participation and related activities = 40% Written assignments = 40% Final project (position paper) = 20% TOTAL = 100% Notes Regarding Assignments and Workload The class will "meet" online for a total of eight weeks. The highly accelerated pace requires learners to take a great deal of responsibility for their own learning outcomes. Learners are expected to actively participate in online discussions and dedicate a minimum of 15 hours per week of study, homework assignments, and/or group projects. Note that although all initial postings to the Forum for a given week must be completed by Sunday midnight of that week, Forum discussions for that week will continue into the next week. Written Assignments An important component of this course is the completion of written assignments. All written work is expected to meet graduate level standards. Assignments will be graded for content and for basic writing skills. It is strongly recommended that all learners purchase and become familiar with the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 5th edition. Papers required in this and other MSM courses are expected to follow these APA guidelines. The page limits mentioned for papers due in this course refer to a maximum. There is no

4 minimum. However all assigned tasks must be included in the material you submit. Written assignments are to be typed, double-spaced, with APA margins, page numbers, running heads, and appropriate headings to divide topic sections as identified in the directions for written assignments. Attendance Although this course is conducted online, students are expected to participate in all activities and submit all assignments for a given week by the deadlines indicated. Failing to participate in Forum discussions, group activities, etc. can result in a student being dropped from the course. If the student will not have access to the course Web site for a period of time, the facilitator should be advised prior to such. Arrangements will be made at that time for completing assignments and activities. However, points for participation may reflect this absence. Optional Online Chats This course features a number of optional online chats that will be held throughout the eight weeks. For more information about the specific online chats offered for this course, see the Activities pages in the Week-by-Week. In addition to the chats outlined above, your facilitator will schedule an optional online Chat session with a Regis Dayton Memorial Library reference librarian to discuss the topic, "Selecting Resources for Financial Analysis." Check the Forum during the first two weeks of the term to determine the date and time the chat will be offered. Equal Access to Classes and Learning Accomodations Equal access to education means equal opportunity to learn. Under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, students with verified disabilities who are otherwise qualified have a right to equal access to classes at Regis University. If you are a student with a disability and you need accommodations for this class, please document your disability and discuss necessary accommodations with the Director of Learning Support Services (Lowell Campus, Carroll Hall 225, phone ), and schedule an appointment the first week of the session. Grading Scale

5 The facilitator will provide a syllabus with evaluation and grading criteria in Week 1. The following grading scale applies to all MSM courses: A 4.00 A B B 3.00 B C C 2.00 There is no bell curve or expected distribution of final grades. Social Justice and Service Learning Components Insofar as Jesuit education is both practical and value-oriented, educating men and women to be concerned with the common good and the promotion of justice, the mission of Regis University supports a concern for social justice and service learning. Social justice is integrated into the curriculum by addressing moral and ethical issues pertinent to the student's area of study. Service learning is integrated into the curriculum as a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and personal development. Service can take many forms including direct service, advocacy, consciousnessraising, and community-based research. Online Course Assignments MSM 631

6 Week: Course Dynamics This course is organized around an eight-week program. Weekly outcomes, assignments, and critical information are organized week-by-week. Typically, each week includes a reading assignment, Forum submittals, and other activities as assigned. Online weeks correlate to a seven-day workweek. Each week's work begins on a Monday. Prior to the start of each week, before Monday, complete the reading assignments. On Monday of each week, read your weekly critical information found in the Week-by-Week section. (Note: Your timely understanding of critical information content may be required to complete your weekly assignment or final project.) Participate in the Forum discussions, read other student postings, and reply, when appropriate, by Sunday. WEEK 1: Course Overview, Introductions, Leadership, Mission, and Vision Read: Course Study Guide and Syllabus. Read: Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B., chapters 1, 2 and 3. Read :Week 1 Week-by-Week pages. Write a three- to four-page analysis of mission and direction paper. (See the full guidelines in section 1.1.) Introduce yourself in the Forum by Wednesday of this week. Forum discussion on relationship between mission and direction and an organization's strategic plan. (See section 1.2.) Forum discussion of the three levels of strategic planning. (See section 1.2.) Forum discussion of the Edison International annual report. (See section 1.2.)

7 WEEK 2: External and Global Environments Read: Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B., chapters 4 and 5, plus the chapter 5 appendix (pp ). Read: Week 2 Week-by-Week pages. Read: Porter, M. E. (2001). Strategy and the Internet. Harvard Business Review, pp and Access this article from the Electronic Reserves ( coursepage.aspx?cid=119). Write a three- to four-page paper that discusses the important, recent changes in the remote environment of U. S. business. (See section 2.1 for full assignment details.) Research an article as assigned in section 2.2. Forum discussion about a marketing-related issue associated with a company of your choice. (See section 2.2 for full details.) WEEK 3: Internal and Financial Analysis Read: Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B., chapter 6. Read: Week 3 Week-by-Week pages. Write a four- to six-page internal analysis of your company. (See guidelines in section 3.1.) Forum discussion of SWOT analysis summaries. (See section 3.2.) Forum discussion on key elements of the value chain. (See section 3.2.)

8 Complete an interview of a strategic planner or marketing professional and post a summary on the Forum. (See section 3.2.) WEEK 4: Long-Term Objectives and Strategic and Financial Analysis Read: Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B., chapters 7 and 8 and Appendix B (pp ). Read Week 4 Week-by-Week pages. Sherman, E.H. (2000). Finance and accounting for nonfinancial managers, chapter 3. This book is available through the "Books24x7" service ( sctn=lib&p1=empty#b). Write a three- to four-page paper about the Coke and Pepsi shareholder letters. (See section 4.1 for full assignment details.) Read the two annual report articles, "How to Spot Some Dirt in Rosy Annual Reports" and "Close to the Lunatic Edge," posted in the Regis Library Electronic Reserves ( Complete financial analysis of Falcon Equipment. (See section 4.2.) Optional facilitator-led chat on income statement and balance sheets. Refer to section 4.2 and the Forum for further details. Optional facilitator-led chat on company financial analysis and performance assessment indicators. Refer to section 4.2 and the Forum for further details. WEEK 5: Strategic Analysis and Strategy Selection

9 Read: Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B., chapter 9. Read Week 5 Week-by-Week pages. Write a letter to Martha and Fred with a recommendation to invest in either Coke or Pepsi. (See section 5.1 for full details.) Begin researching your company's strategic environment for a major written assignment due in Week 7. Forum posting about the quality and effectiveness of the Coke and Pepsi shareholder letters. (See section 5.2.) Forum posting summarizing your Week 4 and 5 written assignments regarding Coke and Pepsi. (See section 5.2.) Forum posting regarding grand strategies being used within the Coke and Pepsi organizations. (See section 5.2.) Optional facilitator-led chat on the strategic analysis process. Refer to section 5.2 and the Forum for further details. WEEK 6: Implementing Strategy Through Objectives Read: Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B., chapters 10 and 12. Read Week 6 Week-by-Week pages. Continue to research your company's organizational structure for short- and long-term strategies for the Week 7 assignment. Write a two- to three-page memo to your manager about your company following the guidelines provided in section 6.1.

10 Forum posting on long-term strategy. (See section 6.2.) WEEK 7: Implementing Strategy Through Leadership Read: Pearce, J. A., & Robinson, R. B., Read "Organizational Structure" section (pp Chapter 11). Read Week 7 Week-by-Week pages. Write and submit an eight- to 10-page position paper summarizing the strategic environment of the company you selected. (See the full assignment guidelines in section 7.1.) Forum posting of your analysis of leadership styles. (See section 7.2.) Forum discussion on strategy, structure, leadership, and culture. (See section 7.2.) Optional facilitator-led chat about leadership styles. Refer to section 7.2 and the Forum for further details. Forum posting with your suggestions for a final course activity and celebration. (See section 7.2.) WEEK 8: Strategic Leadership: an Ethical Perspective

11 Read Week 8 Week-by-Week pages. Reread chapter 3 of Pearce and Robinson Celebrate! Forum discussion about ethical perspectives. (See section 8.2.) Forum discussion about a current ethical issue facing a company. (See section 8.2.) Forum discussion on the "celebration" topic selected by the class. (See section 8.2.) Complete the online evaluation form located at the bottom of the course content Regis University. All Rights Reserved. Please contact techsupport@regis.edu with questions or to report problems with this Web site.