UNIVERSITY OF MARY
Graduate Course Syllabus
Spring 2011
Prefix/Course No.
Hours 4
Course Title
Mgt 701
MBA Capstone Course
Credit
On Line
Instructor/s
Course Format
Office Hours
weeks
Course Schedule 10
Contact Information
Phone
U-Mary Email Address
Office Location
Course Description: This is the capstone course for the MBA program at
the University of Mary. The course uses a business simulation over the 10
week period which will allow students to work in teams and compete for
winning strategies.
Case studies and exams are included for further assessment.
The course is designed to evaluate the knowledge and skills the student has
acquired in the MBA program.
Pre requisites include completion of the MBA program and the maintenance
of a passing grade average.
Relationship to the University of Mary Servant Leadership Experience
University of Mary Mission Statement:
The University of Mary exists to serve the religious, academic, and cultural
needs of people in this region and beyond. It takes its tone from the
commitment of the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery. These Sisters founded
the University and continue to sponsor it today. It is Christian, it is Catholic,
and it is Benedictine.
Program Mission Statement:
The MBA Capstone Course is designed to introduce students to the real life
world of business using simulation. Through team work and discussion with
course members, learning will be accomplished in a propitious and scholarly
manner utilizing a safe environment and fostering respectful interaction.
Servant Leadership Experience: Servant leadership experiences are based
on character building relationships integrated with a solid understanding of
what it is to be a servant leader with Jesus Christ as model and the
Benedictine values of community, hospitality, moderation, prayer, respect for
persons, and service. These values are foundational in character building,
ethical decision making, and the integration of the intellectual, spiritual,
emotional, and physical aspects of life
.
Relationship of the course to servant leadership:
Successful completion of the course requires respectful and scholarly
discussion. The decision making part of the class challenges the use
emotional maturity where the views of others must be respectfully
considered and consensus built.
Benedictine Experience:
Although communal life inspired by the Rule of St. Benedict stores a vast
treasury of Benedictine values, six of these are of particular importance for
our life here at the University of Mary . . . Father James P. Shea, President,
University of Mary
Community – Striving together for the common good and growing in
relationship with God, one another, and self
[Rule of Benedict 33 – “Let all things be common to all.”]
Hospitality – Receiving others as Christ with warmth and attentiveness
[Rule of Benedict 53 – “Let all be received
as Christ.”]
Moderation – Honoring all of God’s creation and living simply with
balance and gratitude [Rule of Benedict 31 –
“Regard all things as sacred and do everything with
moderation.”]
Prayer- Attending to the mystery and sacredness of life, abiding in the
divine presence, listening and responding to
God [Rule of Benedict 4 – “Listen intently to holy
readings. Give yourself frequently to prayer.”]
Respect for Persons – Recognizing the image of God in each person
and honoring each one in their giftedness and
limitations [Rule of Benedict 4 – “Honor everyone and
never do to another what you do not want
done to yourself.”]
Service – Meeting the needs of others in the example of Jesus the
servant leader [Rule of Benedict 35 – “The
members should serve one another.”]
Relationship of the course to the Benedictine values:
All participants in the class, irrespective of personal Faith, must consider the
Benedictine values an important part of the learning experience.
Competence Experience:
The University of Mary graduate programs offer its students preparation in
the following four areas of competence:
Professional Competence – Graduates engage in the art and science of
their profession with leadership and a
commitment to excellence.
Environmental Contexts – Graduate differentiate and evaluate relevant
environments in contemporary society, and
interact effectively with individuals and organizations
within the context of those environments.
Scholarship – Graduates access, analyze, evaluate, and process
information from a variety of sources to generate
new ideas, to influence change, and to disseminate new
knowledge.
Valuing – Graduates clarify and defend personal and social values, and
act as leaders in recognizing and
respecting multiple perspectives, cultural diversity, and
the complexity of human relations.
For students to acquire proficiency in these competences, continual
assessment of learning in an atmosphere of openness and free inquiry is
promoted.
Course Outcomes:
Students completing a Masters of Business Administration degree will be
able to:

Design organizational structures that maximize the resource
capabilities of an organization

Formulate and justify effective business processes

Assess the impact of domestic and global forces utilizing a strategic
process

Express ideas and concepts using written and oral formats in a
professional manner

Incorporate cost analysis into decision making and evaluations

Recommend appropriate courses of action based on quantitative
theories and techniques

Evaluate ethical issues and integrate ethical frameworks and
Benedictine values into business leadership practices
Methods for assessing student achievement of the outcome:
1. Students will assume a role in the business simulation BSG as a comanager.
2. Students will work in teams to compete for strategic positioning of
their team to maximize company performance.
3. Students will assessed on company performance and peer evaluation.
4. Students will also complete quizzes and multiple choice end of chapter
exams.
5. Students will work in teams to analyze the running case study.
Students will be assessed on the discussion and weekly written
analysis.
6. All written assignments will be assessed on APA style and content.
Major Assignments:
Assignment
Description
Completion
Grading
Time
weekly
Business
simulation
To maximize
company
performance
based on
investor
expectations
and Best in
industry
standards. A
thorough
explanation is
found in the
simulation
players
guide.
Teams will be
expected to
meet the 5
performance
targets for
their
company. A
full
explanation is
found in the
players
guide found
in the
simulation.
The simulation
is graded by
team on
meeting the 5
performance
targets and
the
completion of
the quizzes
and strategic
plan described
in the
simulation.
Peer
evaluation will
included.
10 hours.
Exam
A short
multiple choice
exam at the
end of each
chapter.
There is a
case study
based on a
contemporary
illustration in
the business
world. Each
week will
require teams
to complete a
written
assignment
and discussion
question.
100%
participation
required
Exam will be
completed
within the
week
assigned.
Submission of
written
assignment
and
discussion
board
questions.
Based on
performance.
0.5 hours
Please see
rubric for
discussion
board
grading.
3 hours.
Running Case
Study
Participation
By hours
logged on
line.
Weighted Grading
Assignment
Percentage of course grade
Business Simulation
60%
Case study
30%
Multiple choice
10%
Discussion Board Rubric.
Use this rubric to assist you in discussion board participation.
When making postings to the discussion board, remember to be as succinct
as possible and limit your submission to 300 words.
Mental
Model
Definition
Posting
Questioning
Reflecting/Connecting
Dialoguing
You post your
message as if you
were submitting
an assignment –
often repeating
what has already
been said – you
don’t respond to
others
You ask question
but often they
aren’t connected
with what others
have said – you
don’t engender a
response
You respond to what
others have said – using
their name or quoting
them – sharing your
personal experience or
metaphor to explain
further
You are present in
the discussion
board – listening,
asking for
clarification,
sharing
experiences,
affirming others,
extending the
conversation
Sometimes
2
4
5
7
Most of the
time
1
3
6
8
Grading Scale:
90%-100% =A
80%-89%=B
70%-79%=C
60%-69%=D
0%-59%=F
Required Texts and Resource Materials
BSG on line simulation can be accessed at http://www.bsg-online.com.
Students will be required to purchase a code from the University of Mary
Bookstore that they will need to register in the course. The materials include
an E book and many other resources such as instructional video
presentations.
Optional/Recommended Texts, Readings, Materials
The Case Study will require research on the company to be analyzed. Links
to information will be provided in the weekly assignments.
Expectations
Since this is an 3 semester credit graduate level course, you can expect to
spend approximately 10 hours per week instructional time and another 5
hours per week studying outside of instructional time. Instructional time
includes reading and responding in the discussion board.
Assignment & Exam Policy/ies
All written assignments must be in APA format. A good guide to the most
recent changes can be found at the Owl at Purdue website.
As graduate students, excellence in composition, grammar and syntax is
expected.
Statement on Academic Honesty:
The search for truth and the dissemination of knowledge are the central
missions of a university. The University of Mary pursues these missions in an
environment guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and our Benedictine
heritage. Integrity and honesty are therefore expected of all University
students. Actions such as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, forgery,
falsification, destruction, multiple submission, solicitation, and
misrepresentation are violations of these expectations and constitute
unacceptable behavior in the University community.
Please also refer to the most current University of Mary Student Handbook,
Section on “Selected Academic Policies: Academic Honesty” for additional
information. A student who is found to breach this policy while enrolled in a
course will be formally notified by the instructor and the action will be
recorded in the student’s file.
Channel for Communication Relating to this Course [provide the
name of the individual for each person in the channel]
Instructor > Dr. Shanda Traynor >Dr Kathy Perrin> Dr. Diane Fladeland
Statement Regarding Reasonable Accommodations
“In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other
legal mandates, the University of Mary is committed to working with students
with disabilities in determining appropriate and reasonable accommodations
for academic and physical needs. It is the responsibility of the student to
provide documentation regarding a disability and the need for reasonable
accommodation(s).” For assistance and additional information please contact
Sister Madelyn Louttit, Director of Student Accessibility Services, Room 112,
Benedictine Center for Servant Leadership (701) 355-8264.
Course Specific Policies/Procedures/Information
This course is in online format and incorporates the business simulation BSG
found at http://www.bsg-online.com.
Further exercises and case studies will be available on you’re my.umary
account and these will include a running case study, discussions, and written
assignments.
Please be aware that you will be working in teams and that a good part of
your final grade is from peer review, so be nice to each other!
For full discussion of course content, please go to the Course Content tab
in the left navigation frame.
Course Calendar
The Course Calendar contains information on content, assignments and due
dates.
Notes