TSTD 297.10 Advanced Topical Studies -- Applied Strategic Planning
Spring 2006
Time: Wednesdays, 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Location: 1776 G Street, N.W., downstairs in Room 104
Instructor
Dr. Douglas C. Frechtling
Professor of Tourism Studies
Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
2201 G Street, N.W., Funger Hall Room 301Q
Telephone: 202-994-4456
Fax: 202-994-1630
Email: frechtli@gwu.edu
Office hours: 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays
Course Description
Required capstone experience for tourism administration students who do not
select the thesis or MBAD 295 Consulting Practicum options. Analysis of case
situations involving policy formulation or management decision making;
emphasis on applied strategic planning and management approaches.
Required Textbook
Leonard D. Goodstein, Timothy M. Nolan, J. William Pfeiffer, Applied Strategic
Planning: How to Develop a Plan That Really Works, San Diego: Pfeiffer &
Company, 369 pp. , ISBN 0-07-024020-5
Web Related
http://www.bplans.com/st/ - Wizard for basic business planning; also, resource
materials and software for more complex business plan development
http://www.cssp.com/ - This is an informative site containing resources and
tools focused on strategic planning.
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/ - This is an extensive resource that you can use for
every step of the ASP process. It is recommended that you use the needs
assessment checklist as you begin work with your organization. Although the
steps are designed for small and medium size business in Canada, they can be
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used with adaptation to other country SME applications and, to some extent, for
non business organizations. You should refer to the step relevant to each unit in
the outline section as you progress through the ASP process. In particular, you
can use the diagnostic tools and the resources to assist you and your client in
dealing with the ASP issue being addressed.
http://www.businessbookmall.com/Small%20Business%20Internet%20Library.
htm
Resources available on the Internet for business planning.
http://www.businessbookmall.com/Free%20Business%20Books.htm
Free books on business accessed by the Internet
Item Web Library Resources
WTOelibrary_login.pdf (165.262 Kb)
The above file is a guide to downloading publications from the World Tourism
Organization's eLibrary. Please do not share these instructions with anyone
outside GW.
http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/guides/sm.html
This leads useful guides to Tourism/hospitality Management, Event
Management and Sport Management information sources that our Gelman
Library Resource Specialist, Mr. Shmuel ben Gad, maintains.
Item Requirement
Students are expected to actively participate in all course activities. To achieve
the objectives for this course, students will follow the instructions for preparing
an applied strategic plan described in the text and exercises and further
amplified in the lectures and class discussion.
Course Objectives
As a result of this capstone course, students should attain competencies which
will enable them to:
1. Select and present the rationale for addressing a critical issue facing an
organization willing to participate in the applied strategic planning
process
2. Analyze the organization’s current situation in terms of its internal,
competitive, industry and macro environment, mission, major
stakeholders and related factors
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3. Assess the major driving forces influencing the organization’s capacity to
manage change
4. Formulate an organization’s desired future (vision, expected results,
goals) using collaborative approaches
5. Evaluate an organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats in terms of its capacity to achieve the desired future.
6. Propose alternative solutions or actions necessary to reach the desired
future.
7. Argue the pros and cons of each alternative and recommend actions that
are realistic, practical and responsive to organizational realities.
8. Propose responses to best and worst case contingency scenarios
9. Apply strategic planning principles and practices to addressing a critical
issue resulting in the presentation of findings and recommendations to a
client in oral and written formats.
Method of Instruction
The instructional approach is a blend of lectures, class discussions and
independent research, using collaborative processes. Concentration advisors
should be asked by students for help in selecting an organizational sponsor and
to provide advice throughout the ASP process if needed. Students will choose an
organizational sponsor and identify a critical issue related to their scholarly or
professional interests, with approval of the professor. A detailed outline of
topics, class schedule, and text assignments is included in this description.
The course will include the following:
Seminars on the case study approach and applied strategic planning techniques,
including quest lectures. Group discussion of applied strategic planning methods
their application to cases selected by students.
Extensive student fieldwork to conduct strategic planning activities with client.
Students should document direct client contacts with a log describing the activity
, date and amount of time. The client log should document a minimum of 10
hours of client contacts. The log should be attached to the draft final report.
Progressive case study reports to sponsoring organization, class members and
professor.
Review of practice oral presentation for client.
Oral presentation and final report to client and professor for review and critique.
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Two “open book” tests.
This course will be periodically enhanced to take advantage of the interactive
mediated learning support made possible through Blackboard. PowerPoint
slides and lecture notes are provided for each session. You should download the
slides and open to the notes view and review before each class. Other materials
or instructions may be added before each class. Please check this Blackboard
course prior to each class session for updates.
Method of Evaluation
Your grade will be determined on a base of 1000 points by your performance as
follows:
Exam 1 - 200 points
Exam 2 - 200 points
Client Contact Log - 80 points
Critique of ASP presentation by organizational client representative(s) – 120
points
Final written ASP report – 300 points
Class participation - 100 points (10 points for each required class for attendance
and participation)
Letter grades are assigned based on the distribution of total points for the course:
A = 920 - 1000
A- = 900 - 919
B+ = 880 - 899
B = 820 - 879
B- = 800 - 819
C+ = 780 - 799
C = 720 - 779
C- = 700 - 719
F = Below 700
Academic Dishonesty Policy
This course will abide by the George Washington University Code of Academic
Integrity. The Code is printed in the Schedule of Classes and is also available on
the GW website at http://www.gwu.edu/~ntegrity/code.html Note carefully
the definitions of "cheating" and "plagiarism" under this Code. A case of
academic dishonesty in this course will lead to an "F" on the assignment in
question at a minimum, and may lead to failure of the course. In this course, the
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tutorials and the exams are individual efforts. For the cases which are designated
group efforts, giving and receiving assistance is fine. Please accord your
professor and your fellow students complete respect and abide by the Code.
Note Carefully
If it appears that snow, ice or extreme cold might affect the University class
schedule, call (202) 994-5050 for a taped message about whether classes are
canceled or not, or click on the “Campus Advisories” link on the front page of
the GW Web site, http://www.gwu.edu/
Item Spring, 2006 Class Schedule
Required Sessions/Dates:
1: January 18
2: January 25
3: February 1
4: February 8
February 15: No class--client consultation
5: February 22
6: March 1
March 8: No class--client consultation
March 15: No class--Spring Break
7: March 22
8: March 29
9: April 5
10: April 12 -- Practice Presentations
11: April 19 -- Practice Presentations
12: April 26
Oral Presentation to the Client -- To be scheduled by students with clients after
practice presentation.