BUSINESS POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT
BSAD 497 – SPRING 2013 - DR. LITTLE
Semester:
Time:
Place:
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Phone:
E-mail:
Spring, 2013
2:00 -3:15 Tues. & Thurs.
MLIBRY AV1
Dr. John Little
LIGTHL 104A
10:00 – 11:00 TR
1:00 – 2:00 TR
4:30 – 5:30 T
4:30 – 5:30 W
Office: 538-6403
Home: 534-1572
l1ttlej@yahoo.com
Text: Strategy, Thompson, Strickland, and Gamble, 18th Edition, McGraw Hill Irwin
Course Description: The integration of various functional and management areas in a
context of policy–level decision making; emphasizes independent analysis through case
problems. Prerequisites: Second semester senior standing or permission of instructor and
completion of all business core courses.
Course Objectives:
1) Integration of functional business areas at policy level.
2) Development of quantitative and qualitative analytical skills.
3) Analysis of complex business problems.
4) Development of written and oral communication skills.
Grading:
Discussion/Quizzes
Simulation
Case Analysis:
Business Plan
Midterm/Final Exam
Bus. Major Exam
10%
10%
20%
20%
20%
20%
Case Analysis: Case analyses will be typed , single-spaced, one page in length,
consisting of : 1) A one sentence statement of the case background 2) The model you
will use for this analysis, 3) The main problem (stated in one sentence), 4) Your
recommended solution (stated in one or two sentences), 5) The logic supporting your
solution ( the bulk of your analysis). All case analyses must be bases on a strategy model.
See the list of models provided by the instructor. Please be very specific in your analysis.
All case analyses are to be done individually without help from class mates or other
people.
Business Plan: Each student, alone or with another student, will write a business plan for
an imaginary startup here in Silver City or elsewhere. A guide for the business plan is
attached. The written plan and a power point presentation of the plan will be due towards
the end of the semester.
Discussion/Quizzes: Students are expected to read the assigned material and come to
class prepared to discuss it. Quizzes will be given most Thursdays on the assigned
readings. Attendance is important; excessive absence will result in a lower grade.
Simulation: Students will be assigned to teams to compete in a business simulation.
Grades will be assigned based on performance: 1st place receives an A, second place
receives a B, etc.
Midterm/Final Exams: Exams will consist of 5 essay questions and 1 finance- related
question. Answers to essay questions will be graded based on the breadth and depth of
understanding of each issue. Students may retake this exam (different questions) during
final exam week.
Business Major Exam: All business majors must take this exam, which tests for
knowledge in nine functional areas of business: accounting, finance, marketing,
management, economics, quantitative, information technology, international business,
and business law. Students will be graded based on their particular major. Accounting
majors will not be graded as rigorously on international business, for example, because
they are not required to take this class. This exam provides important feedback to the
faculty on where we need improvement in course content and/or design.
General: Please turn off cell phones and do not text message in class.
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
Date
Day
Assignment
January 10
Thursday
Course Overview
January 15
Tuesday
Accounting Review
What is Strategy?
January 17
Thursday
Accounting Review
January 22
Tuesday
Chapter 2, Vision and Mission
Finance Review
January 24
Thursday
Finance Review
January 29
Tuesday
Case #1, Carl’s Canoes (Handout)
January 31
Thursday
Chapter 3, The External Environment
February 5
Tuesday
Case #2, Mystic Monk Coffee, C-2
February 7
Thursday
Chapter 4, Internal Evaluation
February 12
Tuesday
Case #3, Whole Foods, C-6
February 14
Thursday
Chapter 5, Business Level Strategy
February 19
Tuesday
Case #4, Redbox, C-104
February 21
Thursday
Chapter 6, Specific Strategies
February 26
Tuesday
Case #5, Starbucks, C-333
February 28
Thursday
Chapter 7, International Strategies
March 5
March 7
Tuesday
Thursday
Spring Break
Spring Break
March 12
Tuesday
Case #6, Norton Lilly, C-368
March 14
Thursday
Chapter 8, Corporate Level Strategy
March 19
Tuesday
Case # 7, Sara Lee, C-243
March 21
Thursday
Chapter 9, Ethics and Social Responsibility
March 26
Tuesday
Case #8, Cash Connection, C-112
March 28
Thursday
Chapter 10, Organization Structure
April 2
Tuesday
Case #9, Southwest Airlines, C-276
April 4
Thursday
Chapter 11 and 12, Corporate Culture
Review for Midterm/Final
April 9
Tuesday
Midterm/Final
April 11
Thursday
Major Field Test
April 16
Tuesday
Business Simulation, Bring Laptops
Rough Draft of Business Plan Due
April 18
Thursday
Business Simulation
April 23
Tuesday
Business Plan Presentation
Simulation Game
April 25
Thursday
Business Plan Presentations
Business Simulation
April 30
Tuesday
Business Plan presentations
Business Simulation
May 2
Thursday
TBA
May 9
Thursday
Final Exam (second chance)
12:30-2:30