THE TSENG COLLEGE OF EXTENDED LEARNING
______________________________________________________________________
Strategic Management
MPA 632B
Class: # 18300
_______________________________________________________________________
KALYAN CHAKRAVARTY
http://www.csun.edu/~kchakravarty/
Email: kalyan.chakravarty@csun.edu
Telephone: (818) 677-2435
SPRING 2011
March 2 – April 20 2011
Location: LAUSD Cohort #24
333 S. Beaudry Street Los Angeles CA 90017
6 - 9:45p
SYLLABUS
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
MPA632B
Course Description
In the twenty first century competitive landscape, the need and importance of
strategic management in public administration cannot be overemphasized.
Limited resources, conflicting priorities and the ever changing needs in the
fiercely demanding environment are provoking public administrators to offer
innovative solutions to deliver a set of desired outcomes. When done well, the
process tends to satisfy all stakeholders alike.
Course participants critically examine how local government managers guide the
creation of goals, set priorities, coordinate disparate activities, and cope with the
pressures of the external and internal environment. While exploring a few key
concepts and models of strategic management practiced across firms, public or
private, the participants will be required to prepare and present a strategic plan of
a local government organization in order to understand the underlying principles
of strategic planning processes.
This is an integrated and interdisciplinary course providing a broad view of the
local government organization, its internal and external environment, that
includes host communities, employees, unions, suppliers, competitors, and the
government – while taking a general management perspective throughout the
curriculum. The emphasis of the course will be on sharpening the analytical and
decision-making skills necessary for strategy formulation, strategy
implementation and appropriate controls at local government organizational
levels.
Course Objectives
1. To identify the key issues faced by a local government organization and
analyze its internal strengths and weaknesses in the context of current
environmental forces impacting the organization.
2. To see the organization as a whole while examining critically how policies
in each function like finance, marketing, administration and human
resources can be synthesized and integrated into an overall competitive
strategy.
3. To be able to recommend a set of viable strategies that a local
government organization might pursue and communicate this analysis in a
concise and persuasive fashion.
4. To understand key implementation issues that local government manager
needs to deal with, while making relevant strategic recommendations for
sustained results.
Syllabus: Strategic Management MPA632B Class: # 18300
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Required Texts
o Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations, 3rd Edition
John M. Bryson,
ISBN: 978-0-7879-6755-0
JOSSEY- BASS, A Wiley Imprint
o Creating and Implementing Your Strategic Plan, 2 nd Edition
John M. Bryson and Farnum K. Alston
ISBN: 0-7879-6754-8
JOSSEY-BASS, A Wiley Imprint
Course Work
The course will have a judicious blend of a few teaching methodologies and aids
with a strong focus on group work and experiential exercises including the
analysis of a number of cases, articles, etc. The participants are expected to
prepare themselves thoroughly before coming to the class in order to derive
maximum mileage from each session.
The evaluation and grading will be based on the components of the course work
described below that are designed, both independently and collectively, to
achieve the course objectives. Each component is important both by itself and as
a key part of the overall system (so any major omission may have an adverse
effect on the final grade).
Individual Worksheet Assignments (comprises 60% of grade)
Throughout the course, there will be individual worksheet assignments (each
set of worksheet assignments comprises 20% of grade) to be prepared in
advance of the class.
They are intended to provide an opportunity to actively experience the reality and
complexity of the issues faced by practicing local government managers today.
Among other benefits, they would aid in the development of Team Strategic Plan
Project Paper, while building analytical, problem-solving and technical writing
skills of the participants.
Each participant will be required to submit the completed worksheet on those
days scheduled in the timetable, presenting a coherent and defensible analysis
based on essential management practices learnt. The completed worksheet
should be an individual effort and any attempt to share analyses and ideas
should be avoided. More details shall be provided later in the course.
Syllabus: Strategic Management MPA632B Class: # 18300
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Team Strategic Plan Project (comprises 30% of grade)
Participants will form groups of five or less, and each group will be required to
complete a significant project of creating a strategic plan for a local government
organization or agency or a specific government mandated program (a different
one for each group) during the course.
They may elect to create a plan for a chosen county’s transportation department
even though the county may have a strategic plan, or they may elect to produce
a strategic plan for a nonprofit organization even though they may have strategic
plans for some of their programs. The goal of this project is to understand the
complexities inherent in the creation of a strategic plan.
They will collect all possible external and internal environmental data, research
past actions undertaken by this organization, evaluate their strategies while
applying the models described in the class to analyze this specific organization.
While satisfactory completion of the worksheets shall collectively provide a basic
framework for the strategic plan paper, the final paper should go much beyond
mere compilation of the worksheets prepared throughout the course and should
focus on:
(1) The context of this organization including a description of its history and
legacy, what it does, how it does it, its internal organization, its distinctive
core competencies, key characteristics of the communities it operates in
(2) Reviewing and clarifying its mandates and their impact, identifying its key
stakeholders and their involvement or otherwise; Interplays and conflicts
in priorities among the major stakeholders impacting the organization,
(3) The general environment, the local city or county environment, the
community environment, SWOC analysis
(4) Identification of key strategic issues confronting this organization today
and formulation of the specific strategies to manage those issues so
identified
(5) Developing an effective implementation process for this local government
organization, and preparing an action plan prioritizing key programs,
services and projects for desired outcomes. What are the possible
outcomes/benefits, if followed through well?
(6) Processes: What did the team learn (learning experiences) about the
process of conducting research from this project? What would they like to
do differently if they were to work on this project all over again? Other
than time resources, what were the process roadblocks faced in its
completion?
Syllabus: Strategic Management MPA632B Class: # 18300
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The outcome of this paper should provide an insight into the unique
characteristics of the local government organization in particular and the ability to
understand broad issues relevant to strategic management in general.
The group will then make a formal presentation of the analysis in the class, with
each member of the group getting an opportunity to handle a section of the
presentation. The total time allotted for each group will not exceed 30 minutes.
Please practice prior to the presentation so that you will be able to finish the
report within the given time limit. The instructor shall evaluate presentation of
each group using predetermined criteria that include quality of presentation
(introduction, style, structure, preparation, and use of visual aids) and substances
specified above. Each group will also be required to submit a report. All
references must be specified on a separate page. We will also utilize electronic
submission for the project report. More structured guidelines shall be provided
later in the course.
The completed report must be turned in on the day the group makes its
presentation.
Punctuality, Attendance, Participation (comprises 10% of grade)
You are expected to attend each class meeting. In the unlikely event that you
must miss a meeting, you are accountable for the course materials and class
activities missed. Please notify the instructor in advance to make arrangements
to make up this work. Missing class meetings could result in an adverse effect on
your grade.
Please come to each class prepared to discuss the readings and assignments
and to play an active role in contributing to class discussions. A superior
participation score is given to one who demonstrates the ability to comment upon
the content and the process of our discussions. Some questions to help illustrate
the preferred mode are:
 Does the group become more energized after this person contributes? Is
this person more focused?
 Does this person listen to others and build upon their ideas?
Grading Summary
Worksheet Assignments (Individual)
Strategic Plan Project (Team)
Punctuality, Attendance, Participation
Total:
60 pts
30 pts
10 pts
100 pts
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Grading Scale
The final letter grade assigned to each participant will be determined by the
participants’ performance on the course components mentioned above.
Please remember that failing to provide citations for the words or thoughts of
another is considered plagiarism. Citations must be provided for direct quotes as
well as paraphrases.
CRITERIA APPLIED IN GRADING WRITTEN WORK
MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA
DEPTH: Analyze with astute insight, comprehension and intelligence.
SUBSTANCE: Give significant information. Validate, authenticate
consistently
THOROUGHNESS AND PROPORTION: Develop a balanced, comprehensive
report
PRECISION: Be exact; include specific examples and details
SECONDARY CRITERIA
PERTINENCE. Preserve relevance throughout.
COHERENCE. Maintain connectedness, cohesion. use of headings, etc.
FORMAT, ETC.
Demonstrate a clear, easy-to-follow style of writing.
Introduce and conclude your reports meaningfully.
Be concise. Get to the point directly.
Write with accurate grammar and spelling.
Number the pages
Double space
Note
The reading and homework schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the
instructor. Should any changes be necessary, every effort will be made to
communicate them quickly to current participants.
It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure he or she has the current schedule.
Participants must respect confidentiality of class discussions. The recommended
textbooks contain information critical to the class. Assigned readings will be
supplemented with supporting lectures.
Syllabus: Strategic Management MPA632B Class: # 18300
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MPA 632B SPRING 2011 – TIMETABLE
SESSIONS
TOPICS, TASKS, READINGS
Course Introduction, Syllabus Review, Project Descriptions
Clarifying Mutual Expectations;
1 (3/2)
What is Strategic Planning? The Competitive Landscape;
Models for Looking at Strategic Planning; Benefits of
Strategic Planning; The Strategic Management Process
Establish Presentation Teams
Structured Guidelines for the Team Assignment
Readings: Chapter 1 (Bryson)
Part 1 (Workbook pgs 3 -13)
In Class Team Working Sessions: Worksheets 1-5
2 (3/9)
The Context and Process of Strategic Change:
The Strategy Change Cycle: Theory Versus Practice
Keys to a Successful Strategic Planning Process
Readings: Chapter 2 (Bryson)
Part 1 (Workbook pgs 15 - 34)
In Class Team Working Sessions: Worksheets 6-14
3 (3/16)
Initiating and Agreeing on a Strategic Planning Process
Clarifying Organizational Mandates and Missions
Identifying and Understanding Stakeholders
Readings: Chapters 3 & 4 (Bryson)
Part 2 (Workbook pgs 37- 75)
Due: Individual Worksheet Assignments 10, 11, 12 & 13
In Class Team Working Sessions: Worksheets 17-21
4 (3/23)
Assessing the Environment: External and Internal
Identifying Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Challenges: A SWOC Analysis
Critical Success Factors: Distinctive Core Competencies
Readings: Chapter 5 (Bryson)
Part 2 (Workbook pgs 77- 83)
Syllabus: Strategic Management MPA632B Class: # 18300
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MPA 632B SPRING 2011 – TIMETABLE
SESSIONS
TOPICS, TASKS, READINGS
Due: Individual Worksheet Assignments 17, 18, 19 & 20
5 (3/30)
Identifying Strategic Issues Facing the Organization:
Formulating and Adapting Effective Organizational Strategies
In Class Team Working Sessions: Worksheets 22-28
Readings: Chapters 6 & 7 (Bryson)
Part 2 (Workbook pgs 85 -114)
Due: Individual Worksheet Assignments 22, 23, 24 & 25
Establishing an Effective Organizational Vision:
Implementing Strategies and Plans Successfully
6 (4/6)
In Class Team Working Sessions: Worksheets 31-36
Readings: Chapters 8 & 9 (Bryson)
Part 2 (Workbook pgs 115 -128)
Reassessing Strategies and Revisiting the Strategic
Planning Process
In Class Team Working Sessions: Worksheets 37-38, 29
7 (4/13)
Final Preparatory Work for Team Project Presentations
Readings: Chapters 10, 11 & 12 (Bryson)
Part 2 (Workbook pgs 129 -132)
Due: Team Strategic Plan Project Paper
8 (4/20)
1
STRATEGIC PLAN PROJECT:
TEAM PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS
The timetable is subject to change
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