Draft – 14 March 2022 BAE238 – CPA Preparatory Courses DISCUSSION FORUM Objective: Involve students in their learning and foster critical thinking weekly. Description: Discussion forums aim to engage students in their learning and foster and develop critical thinking. They will also allow students to develop evidence-based analysis and present solid arguments. The students shall share an initial thought or respond to another student’s post, and the discussion shall remain within the given topic. The discussion forum is not a place to make summaries. Assume that everyone has done the readings. It is a means to share and critique thoughtful reflections. Students are reminded that the discussion forums are an open space where maintaining a professional ethic is required. Opinions may differ, and debates are encouraged. Students must maintain an evidence-based approach when providing critique or posing their arguments. Due dates: Students must participate in the discussion forum before delivering the following module. See course outline for specific dates. Evaluation: Students will have to participate in the discussion forum before the following modules are presented (6 modules in total – 5% each). The participation content will be evaluated according to the reflection's relevance, quality, and depth. EVALUATION MATRIX Quantity of arguments: The response contains sufficient relevant information to support the stated arguments. Quality of the arguments: The arguments presented to align with the proposed problem or scenario and leave no doubt about their relevance. The content is logical, justified, and appropriate to the theme. Depth of analysis: For each question, the explanations and justifications demonstrate an in-depth analysis by referring to the evidence from the course manual or other evidence-based material. The depth of reflection can take the form of justifying or comparing a theory using real-life examples, raising a new theory, or raising a concept that has not been considered in the readings. Quality of the language used: The explanations and justifications are presented precisely and comprehensively. The grammar used conforms to university expectations. Total /1 /1.5 /1.5 /1 /5 Draft – 14 March 2022 BAE238 – CPA Preparatory Courses DISCUSSION FORUM TOPICS AND QUESTIONS UNIT 1: Comprehensive strategic-management model In the course textbook, the authors compare business and military strategy. Discuss how corporate governance is represented in CAF. Here are some questions to lead your discussion: How are they similar or different? How and where does the corporate governance fit in the strategic-management model? How will governance in CAF influence strategic management? UNIT 2: What is Disney’s vision for the future and mission for the present (Mini-Case, p.56) Discuss the vision, mission, and CSR of Disney. Here are some questions to lead your discussion: Provide a critique of the stated vision and mission (see p. 56). Provide a critique of the CSR Report. (see Disney 2021 CSR Report: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-releases-2021-corporate-social-responsibilityreport/#:~:text=Supporting%20Its%20Communities,Disney%20VoluntEARS%20around %20the%20world) How do the vision and mission correspond to the CSR report and vice-versa? UNIT 3: Audit Think about the organization you currently work for (or another known company). Discuss the audit process. Here are some questions to lead your discussion: How would you go about doing an internal audit? How does your organization divide its functions? Do all organizational functions carry the same weight? How would a strategic plan help seize the opportunities and mitigate the threats? UNIT 4: Nonprofit and governmental firms “Strategic management provides an excellent vehicle for developing and justifying requests for needed financial support” (p.154) Discuss the relevance of the strategy applied in governmental settings. Here are some questions to lead your discussion: How would the strategies in governmental agencies differ (or not) from a for-profit firm? How will organizational culture influence the strategy formulation in governmental settings instead of for-profit? Draft – 14 March 2022 BAE238 – CPA Preparatory Courses UNIT 5: Yeah, or Neah? The process of Six Sigma includes five steps: (1) Define the process, (2) Measure key capabilities, (3) Analyze the information, (4) Improve the process or alternatives, and (5) Establish controls. “Six Sigma is a quality-boosting process improvement technique that entails training several key persons in the firm in the techniques to monitor, measure, and improve processes and eliminate defects. Six Sigma has been widely applied across industries from retailing to financial services. […] Six Sigma was criticized in a Wall Street Journal article that cited many firms whose stock price fell for a number of years after the adoption of Six Sigma. The technique reliance on the special group of trained employees is problematic […] ” (p.222) “Fifty-three percent of Fortune 500 companies now have a Sigma Six program in place, and more than 83% of the Fortune 100 have it in place despite the manufacturing origins […] The newer version is called Lean Six Sigma and […], it is becoming increasingly popular in companies” (Wheelen & Hunger, 2018, p.284) Discuss how Lean Six Sigma may or may not be a good strategy for the organization you currently work for (or any know organization). Here are some questions to lead your discussion: What are the anticipated benefits and pitfalls of the use of this strategy? How would you prepare for resistance to change? What course of action may be required? UNIT 6: Aurora College releases strategic plan to begin transition to polytechnic university CBC News (Oct 13, 2020): https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/aurora-college-strategic-planpolytechnic-university-1.5761003 Aurora College Strategic Plan 2020-2023: http://www.auroracollege.nt.ca/_live/documents/content/AuroraCollege-StrategicPlan.pdf Provide a critique of the strategy evaluation. Here are some questions to lead your discussion: What are the controls, and how are they (or should) being measured? What measuring problems (if any) would you anticipate? Is the strategy evaluation in line with the vision and mission? What is the role of governance in the organizational effectiveness of the strategies?
