MGT 699 - Business Policy
and Strategy
WALTER J. FERRIER, Ph.D.
Tel: 257-5889
E-mail: wallyf@uky.edu
On-line Syllabus and Schedule:
www.uky.edu/~wallyf
Def.: Strategic Management -- The set of
commitments, decisions, and actions
required to achieve competitiveness.
Strategic Management in the News
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Low price leader / Price cutting
Differentiated player / Unique product or marketing
approach
Market pioneer / Innovator, first-mover / New
products, etc.
M&A / Restructuring / Turnaround
Alliances / Joint ventures
New international markets / off shore production
New plants / equipment / efficiency processes
Course Perspective:
A View from the Top
Top Management
Functional
Management
• Marketing
• Production
• R&D
• Logistics
• Acct./Fin.
Value-adding
Activities
Medium-Term Benefits at Big Inc.
Top Management
You
Comments from the Fortune 500
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Need to change culture … need big picture view
Keeping track of competitors / customers is
everyone’s job
Cross-functional integration
– Strategy
– Problem-solving
– Decision-making
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Good ideas get killed on their way bubbling up …
because they bubble straight up instead of
circulating around first.
Interested in Entrepreneurship?
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Small business management …
Start-ups …
YOU will be a top officer, strategist,
decision-maker:
– Pazzo’s vs. Joe Bologna’s vs. Domino’s
– Lexington Brewing Co. vs. Anheuser-Busch
– John’s Running Shop vs. Footlocker
– Pannell’s Swim Shop vs. Dick’s Sporting Goods
Managing Expectations
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What you will get from this course:
– Useful frameworks/heuristics
– How to manage information and
knowledge
– Ability to integrate
– Ability to anticipate and react
– “Big picture” perspective
Strategic Management: Course Content
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What is it? What do CEOs do?
Analysis of industries and competition
Business-level strategy: How to compete?
Competitive dynamics: Head-to head rivalry
Corporate-level strategy: Managing the
portfolio
Pedagogical Approach
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Real-world business cases & current events
Textbook readings
Videos
Oral case reports
Web-based strategy simulation
Class discussions/participation
Books and Readings
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Contemporary Strategy Analysis (Grant)
CAPSTONE™ Subscription (...details later)
XANEDU.COM on-line course pack:
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IBP and Meat Industry
Printer Industry
Apple
Starbucks
Cola Wars
Pet Food Industry
Newell Co.
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Dell
Pennzoil
Cooper Ind.
Anheuser-Busch
Virgin Group
Monsanto
XANEDU.COM
University of Kentucky MBA - MGT 699 Business Policy & Strategy
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CAPSTONE Simulation
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Web-based, interactive competition
simulation
Teams play role of CEO, CFO, COO, etc.
Teams compete against one another
Coordinate multifunctional strategy,
decision-making, etc.
Computer rankings, pre-game report, postgame report
LISTSERV
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Subscribe:
1. Send E-mail to: LISTSERV@lsv.uky.edu
2. Put the following text in the message body:
subscribe MGT699 Aaron Alvey
3. Reply to confirmation with ‘ok’ in body
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Sending Mail:
to: MGT699@lsv.uky.edu
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See instructions on MGT 699 web page
Assignments & Grading
ITEM
WEIGHT
Capstone Simulation Score
30%
Oral Case Report
30%
Case Analysis Summary #1
10%
Case Analysis Summary #2
Case Analysis Summary #3
Participation
10%
10%
10%