SALEM STATE COLLEGE Bertolon School of Business Spring 2010 Course Syllabus I.

Course: Time and location: Instructor: Office: Telephone: email: web page: Office hours: Prerequisites: Course Data BUS 870 Business Policy and Strategy 3 credit hours Section S1 Tuesday 7:00 - 9:30 pm Dr. Edward W. Desmarais CC 230 978-542-7304 [email protected], [email protected] [email protected], http://w3.salemstate.edu/~edesmarais/ I am in my office before every class. I encourage you to stop by or to call if you have any questions. You can also contact me by email. MGT 780, MKT 790N, ECO 715, BUS 802N, FIN 710 and 36 completed credit hours (All prerequisites must be completed before taking this class.)

Reading material required: Thompson-Strickland-Gamble: Crafting and Executing Strategy: Text and

Readings, 17th Edition ebook, Readings, ebook,

Commanding Heights Collins, James. 2001. Good to Great. Harper Collins. Goleman, Daniel. 1998. Working with Emotional Intelligence. Bantam. II. Course Description The Business Policy and Strategy course integrates and applies all prior courses in the School of Business academic program. It is the capstone course and endeavors to address the perspectives, understanding and decisions required of general managers (e.g., CEO). At the end of this course, you should be able to formulate and recommend corporate level or business level strategy based on: the relationship of businesses and their domestic and international environments, industry and competitor analysis, organizational vision, mission and objectives; company situation analysis, the roles of organizational structure, systems and culture in formulating and implementing strategy, and control mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of strategic decisions during implementation.

III. Course Objectives Learning is the primary objective for this course. Through this course you will: learn the course content, learn new skills or improve upon existing skills, integrate and apply concepts and skills learned in prior courses to problems businesses face, practice interpersonal, team, and communication skills that are essential ingredients in the formulation and implementation of business strategy, and think about how this course and your academic program will prepare you to achieve your personal and professional aspirations. IV Teaching Method (Pedagogy) My web page includes a section titled Teaching Method and Philosophy. This section describes why we will use case discussion and application as the two primary activities to guide the learning process. I also have notes on the web site that explain these activities in more detail. The learning and objectives and activities also match the traits that employers seek in employees. (Once again refer to the web for a list of these desired traits.) I expect each student to read the assigned chapter and reading(s) and, prepare the case. You may choose to use the BUS 470 chapter worksheets as a guide to preparing for each class. Please come to each class with at least one prepared question about the material we will cover. If you have questions about the chapter material, please send them to me via email prior to coming to class. I expect each student to know the facts of the case and to be able to explain and apply (from your perspective) the chapter material to the case. This is the minimum level of preparation needed to learn in this class. Throughout the semester, the questions we discuss will require you to integrate material from earlier chapters (and courses) and to extend your analysis with conclusions, recommendations and predictions. Upon completing this course, you should be able to conduct and present a detailed analysis of a firm. This will analysis will include: identifying the issues the firm faces, analyzing the external forces impacting the firm, recognizing the company's current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; and preparing recommendations and implementation plans. Your analysis, presentation and written report, develops and reinforces essential skills for top employees. This course emphasizes three (writing, listening, speaking) of the four communication skills: writing, listening, speaking, and reading. Class participation and the case discussions are opportunities to develop, practice, and reinforce these important communication skills. V. Available Resources The web page also provides tips for success, written report instructions, guidelines for making presentations, and information sources for conducting a company analysis and many other tidbits. The text also provides a web site for your use. Also refer to the performance matrix for additional resource suggestions. VI. Performance measurement (Course and Grading Policies) This course uses the "Principles of Good Practice for Assessing Student Learning" (American Association of Higher Education, 1992). The web page lists the principles. The web page also lists factors that

influence your performance. You will have password, protected access to your grades. You cannot access other students grades. I evaluate your performance based on the following components. Each component has the following weight: Class participation Final report 50 % 50 % 100 %

Participation The web page provides the criteria used to determine your individual class participation grade. During the semester we can meet to discuss your class participation. I may also choose to send you email or speak with you before or after class. If you miss class, you cannot earn the participation point(s) for that day, and if you come to class but do not participate (per the criteria on the web page), you do not earn the participation point(s). If you are going to miss class, please send me an email or leave a voice mail. I do accept valid reasons for an absence (e.g., medical, business trip). Vacations and similar examples are not valid reasons for an absence. You have the opportunity to conduct class participation self-assessments. I include concept questions sent via email or during "office hours" in your individual participation performance measurement grade. I also reserve the right to reward exceptional effort on the final project that reflects a level of learning (Refer to Bloom's taxonomy.) greater than you demonstrated in class. Semester project strategy compilation project A separate handout provides a complete description of the final project. Your final report should address the assigned sections of the project. You will have to coordinate your section of the project, as necessary, with other students. VII. Academic integrity Salem State College assumes that all students come to the College with serious educational intent and expects them to be mature, responsible individuals who will exhibit high standards of honesty and personal contact in their academic life. All forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses against the College Community. The College will apply sanctions when student conduct interferes with our primary educational objectives. I also encourage you to read the Responsibility Statement stated on page 229 of the current Graduate School Catalog. I expect you to fully comply with all of the academic policies listed in the current Graduate School Catalog. VIII. Nondiscrimination policy Salem State College is committed to the non-discrimination of Handicapped persons as specified in section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students who qualify as handicapped persons under the definition of this act should notify the instructor at the beginning of the course so that reasonable modifications in course requirements may be made when necessary. IX. Last Day to Withdraw from the Course Refer to the Withdrawal from Courses policy to determine the last day to withdraw from the course with a W grade.

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Class schedule Refer to the web site for the course schedule.