Dr. Carol J.
Cumber Business
Strategy Game Computer Simulation homepage: http://www.bsg-online.com/
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course emphasizes sharpening your analytical and decision-making skills. The purpose of this class is to be the graduating senior 's capstone business-economics course, where you get a chance to take the skills and knowledge obtained in your other business courses, and apply it to some in-depth strategic decision making. In a nutshell, the premise of this course is to assist you in developing your skills in determining how businesses deal with challenges and opportunities, and how good strategic planning helps them not only survive but thrive in the long-run (in other words, how not to be an Enron)! With this in mind, the primary objectives of this course are to:
To realize these objectives, one of the first things you'll notice is that this will not be a "typical" class, not only in presentation style, but also in expected commitment of time. In addition to lecture, expect videos, supplemental materials, group work and discussion, use of BusinessWeek magazine to keep us current on business issues, exams and quizzes, and a business computer simulation. That's a lot! It's also varied enough so that it can tempt each one of you to enjoy the course to the extent that you will want to work hard, knowing that the outcome is not only that you leave at the end of the semester having learned a great deal, but also had an exciting, fun time doing it! Assignments are noted in this syllabus and detailed on the course web site, and become your responsibility. COURSE OUTLINE: This course provides both conceptual and experiential learning opportunities. You will become familiar with the strategic management process, utilizing the components of the strategic management model as a focal point for analysis. It is here that the business skills of planning and managing strategic activities will be emphasized. In addition to the review guides that will be distributed prior to exams, additional information and practice quizzes can be accessed through the textbook website at http://www.mhhe.com/pearce9e Chapter quizzes will be distributed at the beginning of class.
GRADING PROCEDURE:
There are two major grading categories in this class:
Letter Grade Breakdown:
EXPLANATION OF GRADING CATEGORY COMPONENTS: Category 1: Concept based Exams and Chapter Quizzes The exams are non-cumulative. An exam review guide will be distributed before each exam. You are expected to take the exams at the scheduled time. Make-ups will be considered only with prior approval, and may be essay in nature. The quizzes are over your required textbook reading and will be given at the beginning of the class period. The top five quiz scores will be used to determine your final quiz points; there are no make-ups given. BusinessWeek Discussion One of the items with gives our text a "competitive edge" is its close association with BusinessWeek. Through their partnering, we are able to receive BusinessWeek magazine, have on-line access to updates, etc. We'll take advantage of this association to access current information about what real businesses are facing by reading articles and discussing them in class. Your opinion is important, and will be actively solicited. You'll be expected to come to class with the articles read, a brief reaction paper written and ready to hand in, ready to engage in meaningful discussion of the issues with your classmates. Category 2: Business Simulation Through use of the Business Strategy
Game, you will have the opportunity to become active strategic
thinkers and planners.
Your company team will use the tools
and concepts of strategic analysis to assess the industry environment,
evaluate the strength of competitive forces, and monitor the actions of
rival companies.
You will be challenged to form a
strategic vision and to chart a basic direction for your
company. Quizzes on the Simulation There will be two open-book simulation quizzes. The first will focus on understanding what the simulation is all about; the second assesses your understanding of how to read reports that contain critical information about your company and its competition. Strategic Plan Through use of some practice decision cycles, and after a few years decisions have been made, your team should be comfortable with how the simulation and your company works. At that time, you'll be asked to plot a strategy by constructing a three-year strategic plan. You'll develop objectives for your company, plan your strategic direction, and identify and analyze issues within your own company and those of your competition. Your company will be evaluated, in part, based on how well it achieved its strategic objectives. Company
Performance
This component will be evaluated based upon the relative success of your company, and will be determined by performance scores. Performance scores will be equally weighted based upon an "Investor Expectation" standard and a "Best in Industry" standard. Stockholders
Report
Each team will prepare and
present a stockholders report covering a six-year period of Years 11-16.
There will be annual reports from real businesses and from simulated
businesses from previous semesters on reserve in the Economics Department
main office for you to review to get an idea concerning what might be
included. Adequate preparation and keeping up to date financial
records are essential for successful completion of this component.
Discussion of your strategy will strengthen your presentation.
Professional attire and the use of multi-media techniques are required.
Presentation time of 15 minutes (including questions) will be strictly
enforced. A copy of your presentation will be given to the
instructor and the other teams at the time of presentation.
Peer
Evaluation
At the end of the semester,
there will be a peer performance evaluation. The evaluation will be
individually completed and submitted to assure confidentiality.
Management
Audit During the final exam period,
all companies will turn in a management audit. PENALTIES TO AVOID: Due to the class structure and inflexibility of deadlines that are an unavoidable component of a computer simulation experience, there have to be a few "ground rules" to prevent chaos.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Attendance/Assignments: Regular attendance is necessary in both the lecture and lab sections. Due dates on class assignments refer to the beginning of the class period. If you must be absent on a day when an assignment is due, turn it in before that class period. No late assignments will be accepted. Take care to note submission deadlines for simulation decisions/materials. Academic Honesty: Students are expected to do their own work. Failure to do so will result in, at minimum, a zero grade for the material in question, with the possibility of an "F" in the course. Please refer to the official SDSU academic honesty policy for more information. Disability
Policy: If you
feel that you may need an accommodation for any sort of disability to make
this a successful learning experience, please come and talk to me as soon
as possible and make the appropriate arrangements with the Office of
Disability Services (ODS). The ODS office is located in 110 West
Hall.
To schedule an appointment call
605-688-4504 and request to speak with Nancy L. Schade, the Coordinator of
Disability Services. |
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This page was last updated 8/20/09 Website managed by Carol J. Cumber Email: carol.cumber@sdstate.edu |