TROY UNIVERSITY
MASTER SYLLABUS
SORRELL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
MBA 6611
Business Strategy
Prerequisites
Completion of a minimum of 24 GSH in the MBA program with a B average or better, including
ACT 6691, MBA 6651, MBA 6631, MBA 6661, and MBA 6640 or MBA 6641, or program
director approval. Students should be in the last term of their program when completing this
course.
Description
This course is the capstone course in the MBA program. It integrates the skills and knowledge
developed in earlier courses and emphasizes case analysis. Formulation and implementation of
strategies are stressed. The course includes an end-of-course comprehensive examination. A
grade of “B” or better is required to complete this course successfully. The course may not be
transferred into the MBA program. Prerequisites: Completion of a minimum of 24 semester
hours in the MBA program, with a “B” average or better, including the following courses: ACT
6691, MBA 6651, MBA 6631, MBA 6661 and MBA 6640 or MBA 6641; or approval of the
department chair. Students should be in the last term of their program when completing this
course.
Objectives
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Describe the strategic-management process, citing appropriate theories and research, and
specifically including strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.
2. Identify and critically evaluate mission statements, strategic objectives, and organizationlevel strategies.
3. Identify and justify company strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
4. List and describe the major competitive challenges facing organizations today.
5. Apply industry competitive analysis and company situational analysis to a manufacturing or
service industry case study scenario to craft a strategic plan that optimizes the conditions for
sustainable competitive advantage, correctly using quantitative tools, matrices, and models.
6. Apply management, marketing, finance, and information strategies to business objectives in
an apt scenario, effectively bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Master Syllabi are developed by the senior faculty in each business discipline. This Master Syllabus must be used as the basis for developing the
instructor syllabus for this course, which must also comply with the content specifications outlined in the Troy University Faculty Handbook.
The objectives included on this Master Syllabus must be included among the objectives on the instructor’s syllabus, which may expand upon the
same as the instructor sees fit. The statement of purpose seeks to position the course properly within the curriculum and should be consulted by
faculty as a source of advisement guidance. Specific choice of text and other details are further subject to Program Coordinator guidance.
1 August 2005
Master Syllabus: MBA 6611
2
Purpose
To examine how and why a well conceived and well executed strategy enhances a company’s
long-term performance, to integrate the knowledge gained in the core curriculum, and to enable
the application of the strategic-management process in actual business settings. The course
centers on the theme that a company achieves sustained success if and only if its leadership can
implement proficiently an astute, time-strategic game plan for running the company. MBA
capstone. It adheres closely to the capstone examination preparation guidelines prepared for the
MBA program.
Approved Texts
Textbooks for this course are standardized by major unit (by campus in Alabama, by region in
UC, and within TROY eCampus). Instructors are directed to ascertain with their major-unit
Department or Program Chairs which of the following materials have been approved for their
major unit.
David, F. R. (2005 or current). Strategic management: Concepts and cases (10th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Harrison, J. S., & St. John, C. H. (2005 or current). Foundations of strategic management (3rd ed.).
Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western.
Rothaermel, F. (2012 or current). Strategic management: Concepts and cases. (1st ed.). Boston,
MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. [eVersions available in numerous formats. Connect Plus
available with 1st and subsequent editions, LearnSmart available for 2nd and subsequent
editions.]
Thompson, A. A., Strickland, A. J., & Gamble, J. E. (2005 or current). Crafting and executing
strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases [with online content
and premium content card] (14th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.
Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, J. D. (2004 or current). Strategic management and business policy (9th
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Supplements
Bartlett, C. A., & McLean, A. N. (2005 or latest revision). GE’s talent machine: The making of a
CEO [Case #9-304-049]. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School.
Eisenmann, T., Bakshi, S., Briens, S., & Singh, S. (2005 or latest revision). Google, Inc. [Case
#9-804-141]. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School.
Troy University Faculty Handbook (2010): Section 3.9.2.8 [extract] — essential elements of the syllabus (somewhat modified for space):
1. Course title
2. Course number +
section
3. Term
4. Instructor
5. Prerequisites
6. Office hours
7. Class days, times
8. Classroom
location
9. Office location +
e-mail address
10. Office telephone
11. Course
description,
objectives
12. Text(s)
13. Other materials
14. Grading methods, 16. General supports
criterion weights,
(computer works,
make-up policy,
writing center)
mid-term grade
17. Daily assignments,
reports
holidays, add/drop
15. Procedure, course
& open dates, dead
requirements
day, final exam
18. ADA statement
19. Electronic device
statement
20. Additional
services,
statements
21. Absence policy
22. Incomplete-work
policy
23. Cheating policy
24. Specialization
requirements
(certification,
licensure, teacher
competencies)
Master Syllabus: MBA 6611
3
Ghemawat, P., Bradley, S. P., & Mark, K. (2004 or latest revision). Wal-Mart stores in 2003
[Case #9-704-430]. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School.
Thompson, A. A., Stappenbeck, G. J. (2002 or current). Business strategy game player’s
package V7.20 [manual, download code sticker, CD] (7th ed.). Boston, MA: McGrawHill.
Troy University Faculty Handbook (2010): Section 3.9.2.8 [extract] — essential elements of the syllabus (somewhat modified for space):
1. Course title
2. Course number +
section
3. Term
4. Instructor
5. Prerequisites
6. Office hours
7. Class days, times
8. Classroom
location
9. Office location +
e-mail address
10. Office telephone
11. Course
description,
objectives
12. Text(s)
13. Other materials
14. Grading methods, 16. General supports
criterion weights,
(computer works,
make-up policy,
writing center)
mid-term grade
17. Daily assignments,
reports
holidays, add/drop
15. Procedure, course
& open dates, dead
requirements
day, final exam
18. ADA statement
19. Electronic device
statement
20. Additional
services,
statements
21. Absence policy
22. Incomplete-work
policy
23. Cheating policy
24. Specialization
requirements
(certification,
licensure, teacher
competencies)