Pepperdine University
Business Administration Division
Current Issues in Management
Spring 2008
Course No.:
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Home
Office
Fax:
E-Mail:
BA 492.01
Mike Mullen
CCB 316
Office Hours:
Monday & Thursday 10:00 – 12:00 p. m. 4:00 – 5:00 p. m.
Wednesday 1:30 – 5:00 p. m.
1 805 495 2760
1 310 506 6814
1 805 495 2777
mmullen1@gmail
mmullen@pepperdine.edu
:
Course Description from Catalogue
A seminar which addresses contemporary management issues as reflected in current
periodicals, papers, and books. The course explores managerial implications. Heavy
emphasis is placed upon case studies, simulations, and student-led discussions, presentations,
and papers.
Course Objective
My goal is to help you understand the challenges and responsibilities of managing in a
dramatically changing business environment. To do so I will utilize several different
educational strategies.
1. Simulation
Everyone in this class will have an opportunity to manage a start-up business. Teams of
students will discuss and decide the appropriate strategies to run a firm in a computerbased simulation “Launching a High-Risk Business.” You will arrange financing, hire
department heads, develop marketing research strategies, plan manufacturing activities,
and allocate resources. Working as a team will give you the chance to pool your
knowledge and share ideas and also help each other understand concepts. Team members
will develop winning strategies to keep this venture afloat for five years and actually do
well. Those teams who stay afloat the longest or make the most money will get higher
grades than those who crash the business.
2. Case Studies
Through case studies we will examine management roles and responsibilities. We will
look at the many stakeholders who have an interest in the activities of a business
enterprise. I hope to challenge many of the beliefs you may have developed regarding
employer/employee relationships, management rights, corporate governance, and social
responsibility.
1
3. Group Presentation
You will be part of a team working on a project involving research and assessment
activities. Your will share the results of your efforts with the entire class by way of a ¾
hour formal presentation. The team will decide on the appropriate methodology and each
team member will be expected to participate in presentation and research activities..
Sample projects will be provided during the first two class sessions. A written report must
accompany the presentation.
4. News Items
During the semester there are bound to be major business news which could be expected
to have a significant influence on a business sector or a major corporation. We will focus
on the issues surrounding these developments and discuss the long-range implications.
Academic Performance
Participants will be accountable for the course content in the following ways:
Exams: (50% of grade) A mid-term and a final examination will be given. Exam content
will come from case study readings, class discussions, group presentations and the
simulation learning experience. The exam will consist of short essay questions.
Simulation: (15% of grade) At the end of the game teams will be ranked from highest to
lowest in terms of profits and how long you managed to stay in business. The top fifth of
the class will receive a grade of 100 The second fifth of the class will receive a grade of
90. The third fifth a grade of 85. The fourth fifth a grade of 80. The bottom fifth will
receive a grade of 75. Any team failing to meet minimum thresholds will receive a grade
of 60.
Participation: (20% of grade) Learning is not a spectator sport. One must participate in
order to receive the full benefits of the classroom experience. Thus, students will be
assessed on their classroom participation. Participation is defined as capably answering
questions asked by the instructor or voluntarily adding content to the day’s discussions via
comments, stories or news items. Pushing, prodding, and challenging the instructor and
your classmates are additional examples of effective participation.
Group Presentation: (15% of grade) The use of project teams and the concept of team
management is a growing phenomenon in Corporate America. Therefore it is appropriate
to experience this technique in a practical setting. Understanding how decisions are made,
tasks assigned, reaching a consensus, sharing frustrations, and building upon the
knowledge of others is best learned through experience. The Group Presentation will
provide this awareness. All team members are expected to participate fully and equally.
Each team will evaluate the contributions made by fellow team members and the Group
Presentation grade will be adjusted for individuals who fail to participate fully.
2
Grading Policy
Final grades for all class participants will be assigned as follows:
93 – 100%
90 – 92.99%
87 – 89.99%
83 – 86.99%
80 – 82.99%
77 – 79.99%
A
AB+
B
BC+
73 – 76.99%
70 – 72.99%
67 – 69.99%
63 – 66.99%
60 – 62.99%
0 – 59.99%
C
CD+
D
DF
Module 1
Review syllabus, course introduction and student input.
Module 2
Mission, values, vision and goals. How successful companies
manage to align the energies of employees to accomplish goals.
Module 3
Changes in management practices. What worked yesterday may
not work today. Some practices and policies are increasingly at
odds with reality and therefore counterproductive.
Module 4
Too Many Management Books?
Module 5
IPO’s. Examine and discuss the growth in the number
of entrepreneurs, the rise in corporate spin-offs. What are some
of the problems encountered in a start-up business? Simulation
Exercise: “Launching a High risk Business.”
Module 6
What makes a leader? An examination of the traits and abilities
of various corporate leaders. What leaders really do? What are
the changing differences between a manger and a leader?
Module 7
Is there room for religion and spirituality in the workplace?
An examination of how several corporations have addressed
this issue and the impact on the various stakeholders.
Module 8
Employee empowerment; still just a fad?.
Module 9
Turnaround specialists, scandals, corporate layoffs, failed
leadership, outsourcing, and downsizing. A look at Citicorp, the
sub-prime mortgage industry, and other contemporary business
issues
Module 10
The Celtic Tiger, The India Tiger, The Baltic Tiger, the China
Tiger, and The U.S.A..
Special Modules
Throughout the semester we will invite leaders from various
Industries to share their views and experiences.
3
4