SYLLABUS
GM 105 – Strategic Management
Section 16 Mon/Wed 4:30-5:45
Library 128
California State University, Sacramento
College of Business Administration
Steve Scott
Office: Tahoe Hall Room 2075
Phone: 916-278-7120*
Office Hours: Mon/Wed 2:30-4:00
Email – SacState 9.1
& by appt.
* no voicemail
REQUIRED TEXT
*No Voicemail
Strategic Management: Concepts & Cases by Frank T. Rothaermel (1st edition),
* No voicemail
McGraw Hill Publishing. ISBN: 978-0-07-760286-4.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
There is no set recipe for business success. Firms that thrive over the long term
are guided by President Eisenhower’s maxim, “Plans are nothing; planning is
everything.”
This course is designed to provide you with the tools and concepts needed to
devise, implement, monitor and revise business plans that seek to maximize the use
of resources and value creation. Concepts and tools will be introduced that will help
you learn how to analyze internal and external business environments and plan for
future contingencies.
GM 105 – Strategic Management
California State University, Sacramento
Page 1
You will be expected to think holistically about all of the significant factors
affecting firm performance. You will use that understanding to critique past
business strategies using case studies. Working in teams, you will formulate a
future business strategy and implementation approach for a company of your
choice.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, you will:
 Appreciate the need for continuous business planning for all business
entities
 Understand the major internal and external issues in formulating a business
strategy
 Learn to take an integrated strategic management approach
 Leverage your prior business expertise to devise a coherent business
strategy
 Gain an awareness of the social and ethical implications of business strategy
 Develop your ability to work in teams as a team member, leader or subject
matter expert
 Develop your business communications skills
 Gain a clear understanding of how business managers and leaders use
strategy to drive company success.
GM 105 – Strategic Management
California State University, Sacramento
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PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND GRADING
Your grade will be based on the following distribution of points:
Participation
200
Multiple Choice Exams (2)
50
Individual Assignments (2)
100
Case Analysis (2)
150
Strategy Term Project
250
Final Exam
250
MAXIMUM POINTS POSSIBLE – 1000
Points
Grade
900 – 1000
A(+/-)
800 - 899
B(+/-)
700 - 799
C(+/-)
600 - 699
D
Below 599
F
GRADE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
1) Within seven days, send or give me a written appeal. After seven days, I will
treat the grade as final.
2) The written appeal should be based on factual evidence addressing specific
points of disagreement backed up by citations of assigned readings, lecture
material or class discussions.
3) I will evaluate your appeal and notify you in writing of my decision.
4) If you are not satisfied, you may use the College of Business Administration
and the University grievance procedures.
GM 105 – Strategic Management
California State University, Sacramento
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STRUCTURE OF THE CLASS
The course will use the textbook as a guide to business strategy formulation and
implementation. Much of the course is in lecture/discussion format. Material
sources other than the text will be presented and discussed. You are expected to
keep up with the reading material and stay informed of significant business news
events. A major portion of your grade is based on class participation. Be prepared
to discuss the subject matter for each class and to add you own insights to the
material and what is happening in the business world.
Another major segment of the course is the Team Project. This will be a pragmatic
exercise involving the close analysis of the business strategy developed and
executed by a major corporation of your choice with my approval. As a team, you
will act as consultants to your chosen company. You will be expected to gain a
comprehensive
understanding
of
the
company’s
strategy
and
to
make
recommendations for the future. There will be two opportunities for your team to
report out to the rest of the students on your progress. Those presentations and a
final paper will comprise the Team Project portion of your grade.
The remainder of the course consists of individual written assignments, case
analyses and exams. The final exam will be comprehensive and will contain both
multiple choice and essay questions.
COMMUNICATION
Information about the class including details on assignments and deadlines will be
posted on SacCT 9.1. Use the SacLink email system for regular communications
with me. I will be checking it regularly. My office phone does not have voicemail.
A NOTE ON CLASS PARTICIPATION
Twenty-percent of your grade is based on class participation. To receive the full
complement of the participation points, you must come to class, on time, armed
with a good understanding of the material and having devoted ample time to reflect
on the concepts. This does not mean you are expected to have a mastery of the
GM 105 – Strategic Management
California State University, Sacramento
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subject. You are expected to be prepared to engage in a thoughtful conversation
and respectful debate.
This is an advanced business class. You have acquired skills and experience that can
be put to good use in the class discussions.
ATTENDANCE
Learning is an exercise of active participation. You are expected to attend class
regularly. Absence and tardiness will significantly impact your grade.
ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY
You are expected to be fully engaged in the classroom activities. Use of any
electronic device while the class is in session will not be tolerated. The only
exception will be those times when you are working as a team on your team project.
ADA COMPLIANCE
THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION COMPLIES WITH THE
AMERICANS
WITH
DISABILITIES
ACT
IN
MAKING
REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATION FOR QUALIFIED STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY.
IF YOU HAVE AN ESTABLISHED DISABILITY AS DEFINED IN THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST
ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE NOTIFY ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
NOTE: UNIVERSITY POLICY REQUIRES THAT STUDENTS NOTIFY THEIR
INSTRUCTOR
WITHIN
THE
FIRST
WEEK
OF
CLASS
THAT
AN
ACCOMMODATION WILL BE NEEDED.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY POLICY
The CSUS Code of Student Conduct and Discipline provides penalties for
misconduct by students, including academic dishonesty.
Academic dishonesty
includes cheating and plagiarism.
The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to, (1) use of any unauthorized
assistance in taking quizzes, tests or examinations; (2) dependence upon the aid
GM 105 – Strategic Management
California State University, Sacramento
Page 5
of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers,
preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or (3)
the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material
belonging to a faculty member or staff of the university.
The term “Plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paragraph or
direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person
without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use
of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of
term papers or other academic materials.
(Source: Code of Conduct and
Discipline at the Sac State University.)
If you engage in academic dishonesty and any behavioural misconduct related
to this class, you will receive a failing grade on the test or assignment, and a
failing grade in the course. In addition, the case will be referred to the
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Program, Dr. Seung Bach.
GM 105 – Strategic Management
California State University, Sacramento
Page 6
GM 105 - STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
CLASS SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Week
1
Date
Jan 28
Topic
Course Introduction
Activity
Overview of course & syllabus
1
2
2
3
3
4
Jan 30
Feb 4
Feb 6
Feb 11
Feb 13
Feb 18
Chap 1 - What is Strategy?
Chap 2 - Strategic Management
Chap 2 - Strategic Management
Chap 3 – External Analysis
Chap 3 – External Analysis
Chap 4 – Internal Analysis
Team Project Company Selection
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
4
5
5
6
Feb 20
Feb 25
Feb 27
Mar 4
Chap 4 – Internal Analysis
Team Project
Team Project
Chap 5 – Competitive Advantage
6
Mar 6
Chap 5 – Competitive Advantage
Multiple Choice Exam
Report Out
Report Out
Lecture/Discussion
Ind. Assignment 1 Due
Lecture/Discussion
7
7
8
Mar 11
Mar 13
Mar 18
Chap 6 – Business Strategy
Chap 6 – Business Strategy
Chap 7- Innovation Strategy
8
Mar 20
9
9
10
10
Mar 25
Mar 27
Apr 1
Apr 3
Chap 7 – Innovation Strategy
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
HOLIDAY
11
11
12
12
13
13
Apr 8
Apr 10
Apr 15
Apr 17
Apr 22
Apr 24
Team Project
Team Project
Chap 9 – Strategic Alliance/M&A
Chap 9 – Strategic Alliance/M&A
14
14
15
Apr 29
May 1
May 6
Chap 10 – Global Strategy
Chap 10 – Global Strategy
Chap 11 – Implementation
15
16
May 8
May 13
Chap 11 - Implementation
Team Project
16
17
17
May 15
May 20
May 22
Team Project
Final Exam
Chap 8 – Vertical Integration
Chap 8 – Vertical Integration
GM 105 – Strategic Management
California State University, Sacramento
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Ind. Assignment 2 Due
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Case Analysis 1 Due
Lecture/Discussion
Multiple Choice Exam/Team Time
Report Out
Report Out
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Lecture/Discussion
Case Analysis 2 Due
Lecture/Discussion
Report Out
Report Out
Team Project Paper Due
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