WEEK 1
8/26 Monday
INTRODUCTION
Overview of the course
Chapter 1: Strategic Management
8/28 Wednesday Chapter 2: Analyzing the External Environment
Chapter 11 and 12: Effective Strategic Leadership
WEEK 2
9/02
NO CLASS-LABOR DAY
9/04 Wednesday Case Write-up 1 DUE: Giuseppe’s Original Sausage Co. (C-74), Cases in
Strategic Management
Questions:
1) What is Giuseppe Sausage Company’s strategy?
2) What are the company’s strengths and weaknesses?
3) What problems do you see at this company?
4) What must Giuseppe’s do to be successful in the specialty sausage
industry?
WEEK 3
9/09 Monday
Chapter 3: Assessing the Internal Environment
Chapter 4: Firm’s Intellectual Assets
9/11 Wednesday Case Write-up 2 DUE: Peapod, Inc. and the Online Grocery Business
(C-174), Cases in Strategic Management
Questions:
1) What is competition like in the online grocery business? Do a five-forces
analysis to support your conclusion.
2) Draw a strategic group map of the online grocery industry. (use range of
product selection on the Y-axis and extent of geographic coverage on the Xaxis) Is Peapod well positioned?
3) What does a SWOT analysis reveal about Peapod’s situation? Is the
company in an attractive position? Why or why not?
4) Based on you analysis of the industry and Peapod’s situation, what
problems and issues does Peapod’s top management need to address?
WEEK 4
9/16 Monday
Chapter 5: Business Level Strategy
9/18 Wednesday Case Write-up 3 DUE: Campbell Soup Company in 2000 (C-423), Cases
in Strategic Management
Questions:
1) Describe Campbell Soup’s corporate strategy under Gordon McGovern’s
tenure. What key changes did David Johnson make? What about Dale
Morrison?
2) Why did Gordon McGovern fail?
3) What recommendations would you make to a new CEO regarding
Campbell soup’s strategy and management of the business portfolio?
WEEK 5
9/23 Monday
Chapter 6: Corporate Level Strategy
Chapter 7: International Strategy
9/25 Wednesday Case Write-up 4 DUE: Steve Case, America Online, and Time Warner
(C-17), Cases in Strategic Management
Questions:
1) What is your assessment of Steve Case’s performance as chief strategist at
AOL?
2) What is Steve Case’s strategic vision for AOL? Why does a merger with
Time-Warner make sense?
3) Has AOL experienced problems with questionable ethical standards and
practices? Why has AOL had to deal with so many lawsuits and
investigations?
4) Will the proposed merger fundamentally change AOL’s strategy? What
challenges does a merger with Time-Warner present to the new managers?
WEEK 6
9/30 Monday
10/02
Wednesday
WEEK 7
10/07
Chapter 8: The Internet and E-Commerce
Chapter 10: Organizational Design
Case Write-up 5 DUE: Dell Computer Corporation: Strategy and
Challenges for the 21st Century (C-132), Cases in Strategic Management
Questions:
1) What are the elements of Dell’s strategy?
What does a SWOT analysis reveal about the attractiveness of Dell’s
situation? What is Dell’s competitive advantage?
2) How does Dell stack-up against its competitors? Which competitor enjoys
the strongest position?
3) What is your assessment of the company’s financial performance over the
past five years?
4) What are Dell’s chances of becoming the global market share leader in
PCs?
CORE CURRICULUM ASSESSMENT
Mid-semester evaluations
Meet with groups regarding Presentations
10/10
Wednesday
MIDTERM EXAM DUE
Meet with groups regarding Presentations
WEEK 8
10/14 Monday
10/16
Wednesday
WEEK 9
10/21 Monday
10/23
Wednesday
WEEK 10
10/28 Monday
10/30
Wednesday
NO CLASS-FALL RECESS
Case Presentations
Case Presentations
Introduction to the Business Strategy Game
PRACTICE SIMULATION #1
PRACTICE SIMULATION # 2
WEEK 11
11/04 Monday
IN CLASS SIMULATION EXAM
11/06
Wednesday
OVERVIEW OF PRACTICE SESSION
***Simulation Strategic Plan Due*** (one per team)
WEEK 12
11/11 Monday
SIMULATION - YEAR 11
11/13
Wednesday
WEEK 13
11/18 Monday
SIMULATION - YEAR 12
SIMULATION - YEAR 13
11/20
Wednesday
WEEK 13
11/25 Monday
SIMULATION - YEAR 14
11/27
Wednesday
NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK
SIMULATION - YEAR 15
WEEK 14
12/02 Monday
Work on Simulation Report
12/04
Wednesday
***Simulation Peer Evaluations ***
***Simulation Report and Presentation ***
Final Exam
Period
***Simulation Peer Evaluations ***
12/11
***Simulation Report and Presentation ***
Wednesday 1:00
to 3:00 p.m.