AEC 422-001 Topical Outline and Selected Assignments
(Topics and Assignments Subject to Change)
Fall 2014
Aug 27
Class organization
Introduction: Strategy and Economics
Discuss role and procedure of case studies
Application and use of case studies using Nest Fresh Eggs
Sept 1
Labor Day
Sept 3
Unit 1: Applying Microeconomics to the Firm*
Review Besenko, Introduction: Economics Primer, pp. 9-31
Horizontal Boundaries of the Firm: (Chapter 2)
Guidelines for Agribusiness Markets and Competition Analysis
Sept 8
Preliminary memo due on Nest Fresh Eggs
In-class discussion of Nest Fresh Eggs case
Sept 10
Horizontal Boundaries (continued)*
Exercise 1 due
Sept 15
Vertical Boundaries (Chapter 3)*
Read Basenko Ch 3
Sept 17
Vertical Boundaries (continued)*
Read Basenko Ch 4
Exercise 2 due
Sept 22
Competitors and Competition (Chapter 5)*
Sept 24
Competitors and Competition (continued)*
Exercise 3 due
Sept 29
Case Study: Diamond Foods
Preliminary memo due on Diamond Foods
Oct 1
Unit 2: Financial Decision Making*
Handouts on financial decision making
Final memo due on Diamond Foods
Financial Decision Making (continued)*
Oct 6
Financial Decision Making (continued) *
Oct 8
Case Study: Monforte Dairy (or to be determined)
Preliminary memo due on Monforte Dairy (or TBD)
Oct 13
Unit 3: Industry Analysis
Industry Analysis (Chapter 8)*
Exercise 4 due
Oct 15
Industry Analysis (Ch 8)*
Final memo due on Monforte Dairy (or TBD)
Oct 20
Case Study: Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Preliminary memo due on Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Oct 22
Unit 4: Value Chains and Competition
Strategic Positioning for Competitive Advantage (Chapter 9)*
Final memo due on Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Oct 27
Strategic Positioning for Competitive Advantage (continued)*
Oct 29
Case Study: Robert Mondavi and the Wine Industry
Preliminary memo due on Mondavi
Nov 3
Unit 5: Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage
Sustaining Competitive Advantage (Chapter 11)*
Nov 5
The Origins of Competitive Advantage: Innovation, Evolution, Environment
(Chapter 11)*
Final memo due on Mondavi
Nov 10
Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage (continued)*
Nov 12
Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage (continued)*
Exercise 5 due
Nov 17
Case Study: Monsanto: Helping Farmers Feed the World
Preliminary memo due on Monsanto
Nov 19
Unit 6: Special Topics in Agribusiness
Multinational Agribusinesses and Sustainability*
Final memo due on Monsanto
Nov 24
Case Study: Nestle: Sustainable Agriculture Initiative
Preliminary memo only for Nestle case
Nov 26
Thanksgiving Break
Dec 1
Project Consultation Day
Dec 3
Team project oral reports (two teams)
Team Agribusiness Project Analysis written reports due from all teams
Class evaluations
Dec 8
Team project oral reports (three teams)
Dec 10
Team project oral reports (three teams)
Wrap-up discussion on team projects and reports
Dec 15
No final exam – Reserve option to have oral reports at this time (1.00-3.00)
*- likely QUOD