BISHOP’S UNIVERSITY
WILLIAMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
BMG 311B
BUSINESS POLICY AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Dr. James L. Bowey
Fall 2008
GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
The objective of this course is to introduce students who have completed all their core courses of the BBA
programme to the Business Policy and Strategic Management areas. This course uses cases, readings and
lectures to provide an awareness of strategy formulation and implementation processes within companies.
It reviews the theories and models of strategic analysis and their application in concrete situations. The
course will integrate knowledge gained in other areas of the BBA programme. The course also aims to
refine analytical skills in complex business situations and to develop both written and verbal presentation
skills.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
1.
To understand and work with the concepts of corporate strategy formulation and implementation.
2.
To understand the role of the General Manager in the development and execution of strategy.
3.
To utilize the learning from the functional areas to help develop and execute corporate strategy.
4.
To develop the student’s ability to focus on critical issues of the firm and/or entire industries
i.e. growth, survival, acquisitions, rationalization.
PREREQUISITES:
All other core courses in the BBA programme.
TEXT:
Strategic Analysis and Action; 6th/ 7th edition, Mary Crossan, Joseph N. Fry and J. Peter Killing
Strategic Management: Custom Case Book, Prentice Hall, Dr. James Bowey
OFFICE HOURS:
Morris House
Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
By appointment (or adhoc)
STUDENT EVALUATION:
The distribution of the course grade will be as follows:
Student participation and contribution…………………………..
Individual assignment (1 case)…………………………………
Group assignment……………………………………………….
Mid-term (no supplemental exams)……..………...
25%
15%
40%
20%
TOTAL……………………………………………….. 100%
COURSE OUTLINE
TOPIC/SUBJECT
Sept.
3rd Course Introduction
Sept.
8th
Sept
10th Introduction to Strategic Management
Strategy & the General Manager
CASE
Robin Hood
Asiansports: Hockey Night in HK
Sept. 15th Strategy & the Environment
Lecture: Frameworks
Sept. 17th Strategy & the Environment
Matching Dell
Sept. 22nd Strategy & the Environment
TBA
Sept. 24th Strategy & the Environment
Whiskey & Water (Video)
Sept. 29th Resources & Value Chain
Meubles Canadel
Oct.
1st
Strategy and Resources
Grand & Toy*
Oct.
6th
Strategy and Resources
Starbucks
Oct.
8th
Strategic Acquisitions
Cooper Canada *
Strategy and Organization
Cooper Canada
Oct. 15th
Oct. 20th Strategy and Turnarounds
CanBec
Oct. 22nd Strategy, Organization & Acquisitions
Quebecor: The Videotron Decision
Oct. 27th
Strategy & Organization
TBA (Mr. Don Vale)
Oct. 29th
Strategy, Organization
Eisenhardt Video or Case: TBA Shoes
Maple Leaf Consumer Foods: Hot Dogs *
Nov.
3rd
Managerial Preferences, Turnarounds
Nov.
5th
Midterm (TBA)
Nov. 10th TBA (Case)
Nov. 12th Implementing Strategy
Silent Witness Ltd
Nov. 17th Implementing Strategy
Aikenheads *
Nov. 19th International Strategy
Hush Puppies Chile
Nov. 21st
Team meetings
Nov. 24th Presentations
Nov. 26th Presentations
Nov. 28th
Wrap up
* Hand-in
cases that must employ the Executive Summary Format.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Attendance is mandatory given the emphasis on classroom participation.
There will be no supplementary exams.
Suggested Readings
Porter, Michael E., Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and
Competitors. New York: The Free Press, 1980.
McGahan, Anita M., Industry Structure and Competitive Advantage, Harvard Business
Review, Vol. 72 (November-December), pp. 115-124.
Mintzberg, Henry, The Strategy Concept I: Five Ps for Strategy, California Management
Review, Vol. 30 (Fall 1987), pp. 11.
Mintzberg, Henry, The Fall and Rise of Strategic Planning Rising, Harvard Business
Review, Vol. 72 (January-February 1994), pp. 107-115.
Mintzberg, Henry, Crafting Strategy, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 65 (July- August)
pp. 66-76.
Porter, Michael E., What is Strategy? Harvard Business Review, Vol. 74 (NovemberDecember 1996), pp. 61-78.
Porter Michael E., From Competitive Advantage to Corporate Strategy, Harvard
Business Review, Vol. 65 (May-June), pp. 43-60.
Porter Michael E., How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy, Harvard Business Review,
Vol. 57 (March-April 1979), p.137.
Collis, David J. and Cynthia A. Montgomery, Creating Corporate Advantage, Harvard
Business Review, Vol. 76 (May- June 1998), pp. 78-83.
Ghemawat Pankaj, Sustainable Advantage, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 64
(September- October 1986).