06/26/13
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
H. Wayne Huizenga School
of Business and Entrepreneurship
Masters Programs
MGT 5090 – Entrepreneurial and Strategic Thinking
Appendix C: Online Format
Note # 1: The syllabus for this course consists of 2 parts: (a) Core Syllabus, and (b) The
Appendix that pertains to the format of your class as follows: Appendix A = Weekend
format; Appendix B = Day format; Appendix C = Online; Appendix D = Week night
Note # 2: Each class, regardless of format, has a Course Website which can be
accessed at www.nova.edu. Click on Shark Link, then Blackboard and use your NSU
email credentials to access your class.
VI.
GRADE COMPONENTS
Deliverable & %
of Grade
Business
Strategy Game
company
performance:
TEAM
BSG Peer
evaluations:
INDIVDUAL
BSG Quiz 1:
INDIVIDUAL
BSG Quiz 2:
INDIVIDUAL
Final BSG
Presentation:
INDIVIDUAL
Case Study 1:
Date Due
Weekly
actively;
BSG
schedule on
BSG
website
End of
Week 6 &
Week 10
End of
Week 2:
BSG
Website
End of
Week 9:
BSG
Website
End of
Week 9
End of
1
10 Week
Format
20%
Maximum
Points
400
Total
Points
400
10%
100 x 2
200
5%
100
100
5%
100
100
5%
100
100
5%
100
100
TEAM
Case Study 2:
INDIVIDUAL
Case Study 3:
TEAM
Case Study 4:
INDIVIDUAL
Group Exercise
Discussion
Questions:
INDIVIDUAL
Total
Week 4
End of
Week 6
End of
Week 8
End of
Week 10
3X during
term
15%
300
300
5%
100
100
15%
300
300
15%
30 per
submission*
300
9x30 = 270
100%
2000
* Each team member is expected to pull together at least three reports. Each author is
awarded 10 points for authoring a report giving a total of 300 points for Discussion Questions.
VII. SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
A. Weekly Schedules
All Assignments are due on the Sunday of the week at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Assignments marked BSG should be done within the BSG website.
Assignments marked BB should be uploaded in the Assignment Section of Blackboard.
Week One
Learning Objectives
1. Become familiar with classmates and class requirements
2. Understand the role of business strategies
3. Begin familiarizing yourself with the Business Strategy Game (BSG)
Major Topics
1. The role of Business Strategy
2. Foundations of Strategy
3. The Business Strategy Game
Week 1 Assignments
1. Register for the Business Strategy Game (BSG)
2. Read and understand the BSG Player’s Guide – at least 2x (BSG)
3. Read Chapter 1 in Thompson/Strickland /Gamble/ Text (T/S/G/)
4. Get to know BSG teammates through the team building exercise.
5. SUBMIT Short biographical sketch (Individual; Blackboard (BB))
6. SUBMIT Week 1 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment) See note below
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Schedule for Business Strategy Game assignments is available at the BSG-online website
Week Two
Learning Objectives
1. Develop an awareness of the four (five?) strategic approaches for gaining sustainable
competitive advantage.
2. Become aware of the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors
3. Understand the importance of and distinctions between Mission and Strategic Vision.
4. Continue familiarizing yourself with the Business Strategy Game (BSG)
Major Topics
1. Leadership in strategic management
2. Board of Directors and more
3. Mission and Vision
4. The Business Strategy Game
Week 2 Assignments
1 Read BSG Players Manual – again
Understanding the BSG is critical to 20% of your grade.
2 Read Chapter 2 in Thompson/Strickland /Gamble/ Text (T/S/G/)
3 Get to know BSG teammates
4 SUBMIT BSG Team Vision and Mission Statement (Team; BB)
5 SUBMIT Quiz 1 (Individual; BSG Website)
6 SUBMIT Practice Year 11 decisions (Team; BSG Website)
7 SUBMIT Week 2 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment)
Schedule for Business Strategy Game assignments is available at the BSG-online website
Week Three
Learning Objectives
1. Gain command of the basic concepts and analytical tools widely used to diagnose a
company’s industry and competitive conditions.
2. Recognize the factors that cause competition in an industry to be fierce, normal or
relatively weak.
Major Topics
1. Analyzing the Macroenvironment
2. Industry Analysis
Week 3 Assignments
1. Read Chapter 3 (T/S/G/)
2. Begin to prepare Case # 1 (Team; BB)
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4 SUBMIT Week 3 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment)
5 SUBMIT Year 11 Company Decisions (Team; BSG)
Schedule for Business Strategy Game assignments is available at the BSG-online website
Week Four
Learning Objectives
1 Understand how to evaluate a company’s internal situation and capabilities.
2 Grasp how and why internal activities combined with the actions of suppliers and forward
channel allies affect competitive factors.
Major Topics
1 Analyzing company capabilities
2 The Resource-Base View of the Firm
3 Financial analysis
Week 4 Assignments
1 Read Chapter 4 (T/S/G/)
2 View Video 5 on Course Website
3 SUBMIT Case Study #1 (Team; BB)
4 SUBMIT Week 4 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment)
5 SUBMIT Year 12 Company Decisions (Team; BSG)
Schedule for Business Strategy Game assignments is available at the BSG-online website
Week Five
Learning Objectives
1. Gain command of how each of the five generic competitive strategies can lead to
competitive advantage.
2. Gain an understanding of how strategic alliances and collaborative partnerships can
improve competitive capabilities and resource strengths.
3. Gain an understanding of the strategic benefits of mergers and acquisitions.
4. Evaluate when companies should consider a vertical integration strategy.
5. Recognize the conditions that favor outsourcing value chain activities
6. Recognize the market conditions that affect business strategy choices.
7. Gain command of tools of financial analysis to assess company capabilities and resource
strength.
Topics
1. Five generic competitive strategies
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Alliances, partnership, mergers and acquisitions
Timing strategic moves
Vertical integration strategy and outsourcing
Financial analysis revisited
Week 5 Assignments
1. Read Chapters 5 and 6 (T/S/G/)
2. Prepare Case #3 (Individual; BB)
3. SUBMIT Week 5 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment)
4. SUBMIT Year 13 Company Decisions (Team; BSG)
Schedule for Business Strategy Game assignments is available at the BSG-online website
Week Six
Learning Objectives
1. Evaluate the strategic importance of entering foreign markets
2. Gain an understanding of the principal ways multinational companies build competitive
advantage.
3. Compare and contrast emerging markets with developed markets
Topics
1. Strategies for entering foreign markets
2. Strategies for the multinational
Week 6 Assignments
1. Read Chapter 7 (T/S/G/)
2. SUBMIT Week 6 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment)
3. SUBMIT Year 14 Company Decisions (Team; BSG)
4. SUBMIT BSG peer evaluations (Individual; BSG)
5. SUBMIT Case Study #2 (Individual; BB)
Week Seven
Learning Objectives
1. Compare and contrast diversification strategies
2. Gain command of analytical tools to assess a company’s diversification strategy
3. Understand the principle drivers of unethical business behavior
4. Apply effective frameworks to analyze ethical dilemmas
5. Gain familiarity with the various approaches to managing a company’s ethical conduct
Topics
1. Diversification
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2. Business ethics for Strategic decision making
Assignments Due
1. Read Chapters 8 and 9 (T/S/G)
2. Prepare Case Study #3 (Individual; BB)
3. SUBMIT Week 7 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment)
4. SUBMIT Year 15 Company Decisions (Team; BSG)
Schedule for Business Strategy Game assignments is available at the BSG-online website
Week Eight
Learning Objectives
1. Gain command of what managers must do to promote successful strategy execution.
2. Compare and contrast decentralized versus centralized organization structures.
3. Understand the importance of best practices in superior strategy execution.
4. Assess the effect of reward systems on strategy execution.
5. Understand what constitutes effective managerial leadership in achieving superior strategy
execution and operational excellence.
Topics
3. Strategy execution
4. Organization structure
5. Best practiced and continuous improvement
Week 8 Assignments
5. Read Chapters 10 and 11 (T/S/G/)
6. SUBMIT Case #3 (Individual; BB)
7. SUBMIT Week 8 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment)
8. SUBMIT Year 16 Company Decisions (Team; BSG)
Schedule for Business Strategy Game assignments is available at the BSG-online website
Week Nine
Learning Objectives
1. Identify a company corporate culture.
2. Evaluate the role of culture in driving strategy execution.
3. Understand what constitutes effective managerial leadership in achieving superior strategy
execution and operational excellence.
Topics
1. Corporate culture
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Assignments Due
1. Read Chapter 12 (T/S/G)
2. Prepare Case Study #4
3. SUBMIT BSG Quiz 2 (Individual, BSG)
4. SUBMIT Week 9 Linking Questions (Individual; BB Assignment)
5. SUBMIT Final BSG presentation (Individual; BB)
Week Ten
Assignments Due
1. SUBMIT Case Study #4 (Individual; BB) Nature view Farms
2. SUBMIT BSG peer evaluations (Individual, BSG)
3. Submit Presentation
B. Further Details on Course Assignments
1. The Business Strategy Game (BSG): See information in Master Syllabus. All
activities related to the BSG, BSG decision rounds and BSG assignments take place in
the BSG website. It can be accessed at bsg-online.com. The schedule of BSG activities
can be found on the BSG website.
2. Case Studies: See instructions and rubric in Master Syllabus. Upload to the
Assignments link on your Course Website.
3. Peer Evaluations: Each student will evaluate his or her own performance as a team
member and the performance of each teammate twice during the term: at the mid point
and at the end of the course. The peer evaluation can be accessed in the BSG website
(www.bsg-online.com). You may examine the questions at any time, enter evaluations,
and edit those evaluations until each deadline. The average of those evaluations will
comprise your peer evaluation score. All evaluations are confidential. Only the LP and
IS see the scores and comments. See the BSG Decision Schedule for the due dates of the
peer evaluation assignments. Peer evaluations are 10% of your course grade.
4. Quizzes: There are two quizzes during the term; both are related to the BSG. See the
BSG Decision Schedule for the due dates of the quiz assignments. Quiz 1 is 5% of your
course grade; Quiz 2 is 5% of your course grade.
5. Final Presentation: Each person will make a final presentation about his or her
company in the BSG. Students are encouraged to be as creative as they wish in
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developing the presentation. Suggested content for the presentation can be found in the
BSG website (www.bsg-online.com). The final presentation is 10% of your course
grade. See Master Syllabus for Final Presentation Rubric.
6. Group Exercise Discussion Questions: Each week, in the Assignment section of
Blackboard, there will be a series of questions linking the Business Strategy Game
experience you and your co-managers are having with the material in the textbook. Each
week, one member of the team is responsible for leading the discussion of the questions
with his or her teammates, building consensus for a response, summarizing a response
and submitting the responses through Blackboard. At the end of the term, each student
should have three grades. The average score for the three Linking Questions totals 15%
of the course grade.
7. Discussion Questions: The discussion questions are designed to get you thinking about
your strategies, evaluating results and taking corrective actions. They are not a repetition
of the textbook material but are your opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the
content of the curse as it relates to your competitive situation.
Each member of the team must submit the same document to the Assignment Link
for each Discussion Question. By doing so I comment, grade and return the
document for your team quickly and insure that you get credit for the assignment.
When making any submission be sure to preface your file name with your Last
Name if it is an individual assignment or with the Team Name if it is a team
assignment.
The rubric for grading the Linking Questions follows:
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TITLE OF RUBRIC: Linking Questions
LEARNING OUTCOME/S: LC 1-4,6
PURPOSE: Apply theory to practice
VALIDITY: BSG Best practices
COMPANION REFERENCES: BSG Website
Performance
Criteria
Summarizes
responses
clearly
Applies
course
content to
BSG
Writes at the
Graduate
Level
Course: MGT 5090
Date: November 11, 2010
Name of LP:
Name of Student:
Earning maximum points in each box in ‘PROFICIENT’ column and / or
points in columns to the right of ‘PROFICIENT’ meets standard.
Earning MAXIMUM points in a column equals an overall rating of that column
<<<<<<<<<< less quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . more quality >>>>>>>>>>
Basic
Developing
Proficient
Accomplished
Exemplary
Score
Does not
Responds
answer
incompletely
questions
(2pts)
(1pt)
Does not relate Relates some
course content course content
to simulation. to simulation.
Presents
general
(2 pts)
statements
(4pts)
Does not use
designated
format or
standard
(1 pts)
Answers
questions
adequately
(3 pts)
Relates
course
content to
simulation.
Illustrates
conclusions
(6pts)
Does not write Uses effective
clearly or in
format, style,
an organized
grammar,
format
punctuation,
(2 pts)
and
references
(3pts)
Substantially
answers
questions
(4pts)
Substantially
relates course
content to
simulation.
Provides
substantial
support for
statements
(8pts)
Uses effective
format and
writes at the
graduate level
(4 pts)
Answers
comprehensively
and concisely
(5 pts)
Relates course
content to
simulation in an
insightfully and
thoroughly.
Provides
compelling
evidence in
support of
conclusions.
(10 pts)
Uses effective
format and
writes at the
publishable level
(5 pts)
OVERALL GRADE
Comments:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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%
8. Communicating between Classes. Contact Professor through the Course Messages
function of the Blackboard Course Website. Only use direct email in an emergency.
You may also contact your Instructional Team with any course-related questions.
Groups should communicate through the suite of group tools set up for your team on the
Course Website. This includes a discussion board, blog, journal, and chat room.
9. Chat Sessions. The Professor might hold optional chat sessions one or more times
during the course. Check announcements on your Course Website regularly
regarding this and other information,
Note on uploads to BB9 course website:
Because of compatibility issues with
certain browsers, only upload Word
files saved as 2003 .doc or pdf files.
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