New Works 12/02

Assessment

Frequency

% Toward Final Grade

Discussions

11

25%

Written Assignments

11

25%

Quizzes

8

20%

Simulation Reports – Weeks 10, 11,

& 13)

3

30%

Total

100%

A

100-93

A-

92-90

B+

89-87

B

86-83

B-

82-80

C+

79-77

C

76-73

C-

72-70

D

69-60

F

59 and below

Assignment

Calculation

Hours

Getting Started

Week 1: Review of course syllabus, agree

to terms, introduction post, becoming acquainted with the course

1

Required Reading

376 pages x 14 hours/100 pages

53

Videos

19 videos at varying lengths

5

Discussion Boards

11 boards, 3 hours per board

33

Weekly Written Assignments

11 at 2 hours each

22

Course Quiz

9 at 1.0 hours each

9

Individual Simulation Reports

3 papers at 1.5 hours each

4.5

StratSim Quiz

1 at 0.5 hours

0.5

StratSim Team Meetings

10 at 1 hour each

10

Residency Live Sessions

8 at 1 hour each

8

Self-Directed Research

Assessments & Research

10

Total, including residency

153 @ 45/credit hour

Day 1

Monday

Day 2

Tuesday

Day 3

Wednesday

Day 4

Thursday

Day 5

Friday

Day 6

Saturday

Day 7

Sunday

Week 1: What is Strategy and Why is it Important (August 23rd – August 29th)

Estimated Time on Task

Getting Started Tasks

Time has been included in week 1 for you to review the syllabus and the Blackboard Course layout. It is recommended that you establish a schedule to plan out how you will be successful in completing the course requirements.

1 hours

Week 1 Overview

Welcome to Week One of MG6615, Operational Planning and Policy. During our first week of studies, we will establish a conceptual framework for defining organizational strategy and understanding its importance. Our goal will be to acquire the ability to identify a company's strategy and interpret how well it is being executed. We will evaluate the purpose of mission and

vision statements. You will learn about the early stages of the

strategy-making process with developing a vision statement, developing a mission statement, and setting objectives.

The topics and concepts we learn about during Week One will serve as an important foundation as we transition throughout the course.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Describe the importance of strategic management and how

companies’ set strategic direction.

· Evaluate company’s vision and mission statements.

· Identify the most basic strategic approaches for setting a company apart from its rivals.

· Demonstrate an understanding of key strategic

terminology.

Week 1 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s readings cover what is strategy, why it is important, and why it needs to differ from competitors’ strategies. The readings also cover the importance of vision, mission, and objectives as it relates to strategy.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 1: "What is Strategy and Why is it Important"

· Chapter 2: "Charting a Company’s Direction"

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week. PPT Presentation: Chapters 1-2

2.5 hours

3.4 hours

Week 1 Videos

Videos:

How to Write a Mission Statement (3:29) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1xs4I349cdc

How to Write a Vision Statement (3:47) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7yBUBmciQBk

3:29 mins

3:47 mins

Week 1 Non- graded Discussions Prompt

1. Confirmation of Attendance

Please confirm that you have read and understood the syllabus and agree to its terms. By responding to this post, you will officially be checking into this course. To respond, please click on the blue text to the left (Confirmation of Attendance) to open it. You will see a button labeled Create Thread located at the top left of

screen, type in your name and a sentence stating that

have read, understood, and agree to the terms outlined in the course syllabus.

2. Introduction

Welcome to our class! In 250 words or less, please introduce yourself to the class and include the following:

1. Something unique about yourself

2. What State do you live in?

3. Why are your pursuing this degree?

4. What do you find interesting about this subject matter?

To create a post, please click on the word "Introductions" above, select "Create Thread", and type your name in the

subject. Then, add your introduction, and when ready to post, scroll down and click the "Submit" button on the lower

right. Once you have posted your introduction, please welcome two other students to the course by replying to their introduction post.

Week 1 Graded Discussion Prompt(s)

Consider your company or one that you know well and evaluate the words of their mission and vision statements. You must include the company’s mission and vision statements in your initial post. You are not evaluating the company.

Using the information in Table 2.2 from our text, critique the adequacy and merits of their vision statement identifying effective elements and shortcomings.

Using the below criteria and our text, evaluate the adequacy and merits of the mission statement.

Mission Statement Criteria:

1. Identifies the company’s products and/or services.

2. Specifics the buyer needs that the company seeks to satisfy and the customer groups or markets that it serves, and

3. Gives the company its own identity.

4. What recommended changes (identify at least one change for each statement) would you make for each statement and why?

Your Response Postings: Responses to classmates must serve to advance the conversation related to the discussion topic. For

3 hours

your response postings this week, comment about your perception of how the recommended change to either the vision or mission statements of your classmates initial posting brings that statement closer to meeting our course criteria. Explain by incorporating our text material.

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least one course (our text) and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting. Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Incorporate a minimum of our course text and at least one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source with each of your response postings. Sources require

in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on two separate days of the week from each other and

from your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

Week 1 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 1 Quiz - 10 questions (true or false), (Chapters. 1-2) Wk 1 Written Assignment #1 - Apple’s Strategy. Refer to

Assurance of Learning Exercise #1 (Apple) in Chapter One. Read

“Apple Inc: Exemplifying a Successful Strategy” in Illustration

Capsule 1.1.

Incorporate our course (Thompson text) work for the week and develop your analysis by responding to the following questions:

· Does Apple’s strategy seem to set it apart from rivals?

· Does the strategy seem to be keyed to a cost-based advantage, differentiating features, serving the unique needs of a niche, or some combination of these? Explain why?

· What is there about Apple’s strategy that can lead to

sustainable competitive advantage?

Submission Details:

1 hours

2 hours

· Your analysis should be 500 words or less.

· Incorporate a minimum of at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper. All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines. Must be double-spaced.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday.

Week 1 Estimated total weekly time on task

13 Hours

Week 2: External Environment (August 30th - September 5th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 2 Overview

Welcome to Week Two. This week’s learning activities focus on analyzing a company’s external environment. To do cutting-edge strategic thinking about the external environment, leaders and managers must know what questions to ask and tools to use or apply.

Important learning activities include analyzing a company’s macro-environment using the six components (political, economic conditions, sociocultural forces, technological factors, environmental factors, and legal and regulatory factors), the Five Forces Framework, the value of strategic group analysis, competitor analysis and the SOAR Framework, key success factors, and the industry outlook for profitability. Clear, insightful, and detailed diagnosis of a company’s external situation is an essential first step in crafting strategies that are

well matched to industry and competitive conditions.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Analyze a company’s external environment.

· Analyze the elements of an effective external environmental analysis.

· Demonstrate an understanding of key strategic

terminology.

Week 2 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on the factors in a company’s broad macro-environment that may have strategic significance. The reading also covers analytical tools used to diagnose the

competitive conditions in a company’s industry, map market positions of key groups of industry rivals, and the ability to determine whether an industry outlook presents a company with sufficiently attractive opportunities for growth and profitability.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 3: "Evaluating a Company’s External Environment"

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week.

PPT Presentation: Chapter 3

5.3 hours

Week 2 Videos

Videos:

PESTEL Analysis EXPLAINED | B2U | Business To You (9:48) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bYn4CyL3r5w

Porter's 5 Forces EXPLAINED | B2U | Business To You (16:38) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfp23xSqpdk

9:48 mins

16:38 mins

Week 2 Graded Discussion Prompts(s)

Consider a company you have worked for or one that you know well. What are the strategically relevant factors for the industry and your company within this macro-environment? What strategic moves are rivals likely to make and why? What factors are driving changes in this industry and why? Keeping in mind the role that interpreting environmental factors will play in analyzing a case, what do you see as the most important external data you would want this organization to have in any strategic planning process, and why? How does this discussion board relate to our coursework this week? Be specific.

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course text and one non- course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting.

Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Within your response postings, comment regarding a component of the macro-environment that you also believe impacts the particular industry of your classmate’s selected company posting. Incorporate a minimum

of one scholarly source with each of your response postings. It

3 hours

may be our text or an outside scholarly source to support your initial post.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on different days of the week from each other and from

your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

Week 2 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 2 Quiz - 10 questions (true or false), (Chapter 3).

Wk 2 Written Assignment #2 - PESTEL & Five Forces. Read Chapter 3 and view the required videos on PESTEL Analysis and the Five Forces Framework.

Select one of the cases from Part 2 of the Thompson (2022) textbook to analyze the six components of the Macro- Environment and the Five Forces Model.

For this assignment:

· Prepare a brief PESTEL Analysis for your selected case from Part 2 of our Thompson (2022) text. You must address all six elements.

· Prepare a brief Five Force Analysis as presented in our Thompson (2022) text for your selected case. Address all five forces.

NOTE this Requirement: The Standard & Poor NetAdvantage Database provided in the NEC Online Library is a required source (and will be extremely helpful). The Standard & Poor Database is located under the general Library database listing. Once you have accessed the Standard & Poor site, the tabs at the top allow you to click on companies or industries. If you choose industries, it then provides a box and drop-down menu showing the various industrial reports which are available. Access the relevant report, and then review the details in the report to support this assignment. The information is incredible relevant and provides a detailed analysis of the entire industry including a listing of the key companies in the industry. See Course Content tab for a 2020 document noting how to find this database.

Submission Details:

· Your analysis must be driven by facts, research, and data.

· Your analysis should be between 1000 and 1500 words.

· Incorporate at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper.

1 hours

2 hours

· Create Leve1, 2 and Level 3 APA headings for each portion of the analysis.

· All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, double-spaced and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday

Week 2 Estimated total weekly time on task

11 hours

Week 3: Resources, Capabilities, and Generic Strategies (September 6th - September 12th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 3 Overview

Welcome to Week Three. This week’s learning activities focus on evaluating a company’s resources, capabilities, and competitiveness, and generic strategies. During this week, we will evaluate how well a company’s present strategy is working,

what are the company’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to the market opportunities and threats, and what are the company’s most important resources and capabilities.

We will also learn about the types of generic competitive strategies. A company’s competitive strategy lays out the specific efforts of the company to position itself in the

marketplace, satisfy customers, ward off competitive threats, and achieve a particular kind of competitive advantage. The five generic competitive strategies you will learn about this week include: (1) Broad Low-Cost, (2) Focused Low-Cost, (3) Broad Differentiation, (4) Focused Differentiation, and (5) Best-Cost.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Evaluate Generic Strategies, and a Company’s Resources,

Capabilities, & Competitiveness.

· Describe how resources and capabilities are critical to competitive advantage.

· Examine the five generic strategies.

· Demonstrate an understanding of key strategic terminology.

Week 3 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s readings focus on evaluating a company’s resources, capabilities, and competitiveness which are indicators as to how well a company’s strategy is working. The readings also cover the five generic competitive strategies which represent distinctly different methodologies for competing in the marketplace.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 4: "Evaluating a Company’s Resources,

Capabilities, and Competitiveness"

· Chapter 5: "The Five Generic Competitive Strategies”

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week. PPT Presentation: Chapters 4-5

Articles:

Smallwood, N. & Ulrich, D. (2004). Capitalizing on Capabilities.

Harvard Business Review.

5.0 hours

4.2 hours

Week 3 Videos

Videos:

Five Competitive Strategies (2:50) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xUW6_Nbe8d0

Resources and Capabilities (4:47) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s0_37_yASao

2:50 mins

4:47 mins

Week 3 Graded Discussion Prompt(s)

Choose any company that you have admired as a consumer and discuss what you believe to be their competitive strategy using the features of the 5 generic strategies presented in your Thompson (2022) text.

What one generic strategy is the company using and why? Provide support for your choice of generic strategy from an external scholarly/peer reviewed source and from our week’s coursework (text).

Additionally, choose a rival company and describe what generic strategy they are using.

What other strategy might the company you selected use to improve their competitive sustainability? Explain why?

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course text and one non- course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting.

Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in

3 hours

approximately 150-200 words. Within your response posts, use one of the Value Drivers from Fig 5.3 in our text to note how your peer’s company creates a differentiation advantage.

Incorporate a minimum of our course text and at least one scholarly/peer reviewed source with your initial response posting.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on two different days of the week from each other and

from your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

Week 3 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 3 Quiz - 10 questions (true or false), (Chapters. 4-5) Wk 3 Written Assignment #3- Organizational Resources &

Capabilities. A company’s resources and capabilities are integral

to achieving sustainable competitive advantage. Refer to your Thompson (2022) readings and the required videos. For this assignment, consider a company you worked for or one that you know well.

Develop your analysis by responding to the following questions:

· What are the company’s most important resources and why?

· What are the company’s most important capabilities and why?

· How do the company’s most important resources and

capabilities create lasting competitive advantage?

· Relate your response to each of the above to our coursework (Thompson text) from this week.

Submission Details:

· Your analysis must be driven by facts, research, and data.

· Your analysis should be 1000 words or less.

· Incorporate a minimum of at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper. All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, double-spaced and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday

1 hours

2 hours

Week 3 Estimated total weekly time on task

15.5 hours

Week 4: Vertical and Horizontal Integration (September 13th - September 19th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 4 Overview

Welcome to Week Four. This week’s learning activities focus on vertical and horizontal strategies. Vertical integration is a competitive strategy by which a company attempts to take complete control over one or more stages in the production or distribution of a product or service.

For example, a company may choose to vertically integrate to achieve full control over the supply of the raw materials to manufacture its products. It may also employ vertical integration to take over the reins of distribution of its products. You will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of a vertical integration strategy.

In contrast, horizontal integration is another competitive strategy that companies use. Horizontal integration is the acquisition of business activities that are at the same level of the value chain in similar or different industries. In simpler terms, horizontal integration is the acquisition of a related business: for example, a fast-food restaurant chain merging with a similar business in another country to gain a foothold in foreign

markets.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Describe how to strengthen a company’s competitive position.

· Examine the pros and cons of extending a company’s

scope of operations via vertical integration.

· Describe the benefits of expanding horizontally through mergers and acquisitions.

· Demonstrate an understanding of key strategic

terminology.

Week 4 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on how a company strengthens its competitive advantage by examining strategic moves, timing, and scope of operations. The reading places specific emphasis on the pros and cons associated with vertical and horizontal integrations.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 6: "Strengthening a Company’s Competitive

Position"

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week. PPT Presentation: Chapter 6

4.2 hours

Week 4 Videos

Videos:

Business Growth Strategy - Horizontal and Vertical Integration (5:22)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uOO4ClVUrkw

Live Nation Entertainment CEO: The Experience Economy | Mad Money | CNBC (8:19) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=el3BnX7t2uk

5:22 mins

8:19 mins

Week 4 Graded Discussion Prompts(s)

Provide an example of a vertical or horizontal integration strategy that a firm applied based on the reading from our Thompson text and the associated other material. How did the integration aid the company in building competitive advantage? Explain what the advantages and disadvantages of applying that integration strategy are in the context of the company and given our course work during the week.

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course text and at least one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting. Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Within your response posts, describe an additional Thompson (2020) text disadvantage that applies to your classmate’s initial post and describe why.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on

different days of the week from each other and from your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

3 hours

Week 4 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 4 Quiz - 10 questions (true or false), (Chapter 6.) Wk 4 Written Assignment #4 – Live Nation. Horizontal

Integration is a type of strategy pursued by a company in order

to strengthen its position in the industry.

Within your Thompson (2022) text, read the Chapter 6 Assurance of Learning Exercise #1 related to Live Nation

1 hours

2 hours

( https://www.livenationentertainment.com/ ) and respond to the following questions:

· How has the company used horizontal mergers and acquisitions to strengthen its competitive position?

· Are these moves primarily offensive or defensive? Please explain.

· Has either Live Nation or Ticketmaster achieved any type of advantage based on the timing of its strategic

moves?

· Relate your response to each of the above to our coursework (Thompson text) from this week.

Submission Details:

· Your analysis must be driven by facts, research, and data.

· Your analysis should be between 1000 and 1500 words.

· Incorporate a minimum of at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper. All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday

Week 4 Estimated total weekly time on task

11 hours

Week 5: Strategies for Competing in International Markets (September 20th - September 26th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 5 Overview

Welcome to Week Five. This week’s learning activities focus on the strategic options a company undertakes for expanding beyond domestic boundaries and competing in the markets of a few or many countries. Competing in international markets allows a company to gain access to new customers, achieve lower costs through economics of scale, learning, and increased purchasing power, gain access to low-cost inputs of production, further exploit its core competencies, and gain access to

resources and capabilities located outside the company’s

domestic market.

Specifically, we will examine the primary modes of entry into international markets. The modes of entry include export, licensing, franchising, foreign subsidiary, alliances, and joint ventures.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Evaluate strategic options for competing across national borders and entering international markets.

· Describe the reasons companies choose to compete in international markets.

· Examine the primary modes of entry into foreign

markets.

· Demonstrate an understanding of key strategic

terminology.

Week 5 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading highlights strategies for competing in international markets. The reading emphasizes the primary reasons companies choose to compete in international markets and a comparative examination of the five primary modes of entry into foreign markets.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 7: "Strategies for Competing in International Markets

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week. PPT Presentation: Chapter 7

5.3 hours

Week 5 Videos

Videos:

2-2 -- Why Do Companies Expand Internationally (13:53) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k8o7-zd8j7k

Global Market Entry Strategies Explained (7:40) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GSyYo4ph3hM

13:53 mins

7:40 mins

Week 5 Graded Discussion Prompts(s)

The mode of entry a company chooses to enter international markets depends on a variety of factors including the nature of the company’s strategic objectives. Select a well-known company that competes in the international markets.

· What was the company’s mode of entry?

· What was the entry designed to achieve?

· Finally identify two advantages and two disadvantages to the entry mode chosen by the company.

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course Text and one non- course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting.

Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into

the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

3 hours

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Within your response posts, provide another advantage as noted in our Thompson text that supports the international market move that your classmate wrote about and describe why it is an advantage.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on different days of the week from each other and from

your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

Week 5 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 5 Quiz – 10 questions (true or false), (Chapters 7).

Wk 5 Written Assignment #5 – Walgreens. Modes of entry into an international market are the channels which organizations employ to gain entry to a new international market.

Within our Thompson (2022) text, read Chapter 7 Assurance of Learning Exercise #2 related to Walgreens’ mode(s) international market entry and respond to the following questions:

· What was Walgreens’ entry strategy designed to

achieve?

· Why would this make sense for a company like Walgreens?

· Provide two recommendations on what Walgreens might do differently going forward with their entry strategy? Make sure you support your recommendations?

· Incorporate our coursework (Thompson text and other material) from this week into your above responses.

Submission Details:

· Your analysis must be driven by facts, research, and data.

· Your analysis should be between 1000 and 1500 words .

· Incorporate a minimum of at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper. All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, double-spaced and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday

1 hours

2 hours

Week 5 Estimated total weekly time on task

12 hours

Week 6: Diversification Strategies (September 27th - October 3rd)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 6 Overview

Welcome to Week Six. This week’s learning activities focus on diversification strategies in particular, related and unrelated diversification strategies. Our learning activities move up one level in the strategy-making hierarchy, from strategy making in a single business enterprise to strategy making in a diversified enterprise. We begin with a description of the various paths through which a company can become diversified and provides an explanation of how a company can use diversification to create or compound competitive advantage for its business units. We also examine the techniques and procedures for assessing the strategic attractiveness of a diversified company’s business portfolio and surveys the strategic options open to

already-diversified companies.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Examine the driving forces behind business diversification.

· Evaluate related and unrelated diversification strategies.

· Demonstrate an understanding of key strategic terminology.

Week 6 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on diversification and the multi- business company. The reading details when and how business diversification can enhance shareholder value. The reading also compares and contrasts related versus unrelated diversification and describe the benefits and risk of each strategy.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 8: "Corporate Strategy”

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week. PPT Presentation: Chapter 8

5.9 hours

Week 6 Videos

Videos:

Module 5- Diversification - related and unrelated.mov (7:30) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t0sEZVRDQgg

7:30 mins

Week 6 Graded Discussion Prompts(s)

Select a company of your choosing. Assume that the company has the opportunity to diversify into other products or businesses of your choosing, would you opt to pursue related diversification, unrelated diversification, or a combination of

3 hours

both? Explain why? Identify one pro and one con associated with your choice(s) of diversification.

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course text and one non- course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting.

Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Within your response posts explain another advantage of diversification for your classmate’s company as noted in our Thompson text and why you believe it to be an advantage.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

Week 6 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 6 Quiz - 10 questions (true or false), (Chapter 8).

Wk 6 Written Assignment #6 – Related Diversification. Related Diversification is the most popular distinction between the different types of diversification and is made with regard to how close the field of diversification is to the field of the existing business activities. Related Diversification occurs when a company adds to or expands its existing line of production or markets.

For this assignment, consider your own company or one that you know well. Assume your company opted to pursue a strategy of related diversification and respond to the following questions.

· What industries or product categories could it diversify into that would allow it to achieve economies of scale?

· Identify at least two or three such industries or product categories?

· Describe the specific kinds of cost savings that might accrue from entry into each?

· Incorporate our coursework (Thompson text and other

material) from this week into your above responses.

1 hours

2 hours

Submission Details:

· Your analysis should be between 1000 -1500 words.

· Incorporate a minimum of at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper.

· All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, be double-spaced, and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday

Week 6 Estimated total weekly time on task

12 Hours

Week 7: Ethics, CSR, & Environmental Sustainability

(October 4th - October 10th)

Estimated Time

on Task

Week 7 Overview

Welcome to Week Seven of the course. During Week Seven, we concentration on whether a company, in the course of trying to craft and execute a strategy that delivers to both customers and shareholders, also has a duty to (1) act in an ethical manner; (2) be a committed corporate citizen and allocate some of its resources to improving the well-being of employees, the communities in which it operates, and society as a whole; and

(3) adopt business practices that conserve natural resources, protect the interests of future generations, and preserve the

well-being of the planet.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Analyze ethics, corporate social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and strategy.

· Evaluate company’s ethical practices.

· Examine a company’s environmental sustainability

strategy.

· Demonstrate an understanding of key strategic terminology.

Week 7 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on ethics, corporate social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and strategy. All are important for being a upright and respectful corporate citizen – company’s responsibility toward society.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 9: "Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Stability, and Strategy

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week.

4.2 Hours

PPT Presentation: Chapter 9

Week 7 Videos

Videos:

What is Corporate Social Responsibility? (2:30) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MiIv5u59qPs

Environmental Sustainability and Decent Work (1:58) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWVqmm7jvRo

Insight into Dell’s Sustainability Initiatives (9:17) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_aVYZMnKem4

2:30 mins

1:58 mins

9:17 mins

Week 7 Graded Discussion Prompts(s)

Research a recent ethics scandal using the NEC Danforth Library resources. Using our Thompson text and other course material around ethical considerations, discuss the following:

1. Company background.

2. Conditions that gave rise to the unethical business strategies and behavior.

3. Overview of the costs to the company resulting from the

company’s business ethics failure.

4. Two ethical principal recommendations to put into practice.

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course text and one non- course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting.

Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Within your response posts, bring into the discussion another perspective from our Thompson text that relates to your classmate’s initial post comments and explain why.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on

different days of the week from each other and from your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

3 Hours

Week 7Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 7 Quiz - 10 questions (true or false), (Chapter 9).

Wk 7 Written Assignment #7 – Dell’s Environmental Sustainability. Environmental sustainability is defined as responsible interaction with the environment to avoid depletion or degradation of natural resources and allow for long-term environmental quality. The practice of environmental sustainability helps to ensure that the needs of today's population are met without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Within our Thompson text, read Chapter 9 Assurance of Learning Exercise #1 related to Dell.

Now, click on the website link provided in the learning exercise description from our Thompson text, which will provide you with information to respond to the following:

· Prepare a list of 5 specific policies or programs that help Dell achieve its vision of driving social and environmental change while still remaining innovative and profitable.

· Describe how Dell’s environmental sustainability strategies provide valuable social benefits?

· Finally, explain how Dell’s strategies fulfill customer needs in a superior fashion while simultaneously sustaining competitive advantage?

Submission Details:

· Your analysis should be between 1000 to 1500 words.

· Incorporate a minimum of at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper.

· All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, be double-spaced, and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday.

1 Hours

2 Hours

Week 7 Estimated total weekly time on task

11 Hours

Mid Term Break October 11th - October 17th

Week 8: People, Capabilities, & Structure (October 18th - October 24th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 8 Overview

Welcome to Week Eight. During Week Eight, we explore what managers and leaders must do to execute good strategy which encompasses people, capabilities, and structure. We examine

the process of executing an organizational strategy with an

emphasis on the conversion of a strategy into actions and good results for organizations. We also explore how executing strategy is an operations-driven activity that revolves around the management of people and business processes. It denotes that successfully executing a strategy depends on doing a good job of working with and through others, building and strengthening competitive capabilities, motivating and rewarding people in a strategy-supportive manner, and instilling a discipline of getting things done.

You will also start your Simulation program. Be certain you have registered for the program via the e-mail sent to your NEC

account.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Describe effective strategy execution with people, capabilities, and structure.

· Examine centralized versus decentralized decision making.

· Evaluate why hiring, training, and retaining the right people constitute a key component of effective strategy execution.

· Demonstrate an understanding of key strategic

terminology.

Week 8 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focus on how to build an organization capable of good strategy execution with an emphasis on people, capabilities, and structure.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 10: "Building an Organization Capable of Good

Strategy Execution.”

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week. PPT Presentation: Chapter 10

Interactive Simulation: Read the student manual and watch the video. Complete the two Practice periods with the system.

4.5 Hours

2 hours

Week 8 Videos

Videos:

Centralization vs Decentralization (6:14) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jviFsd4hhfE

History of Facebook (2:00) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U3RvX42zeis

6:14 mins

2:00 mins

Week 8 Graded Discussion Prompts(s)

How would you describe the structural organization of your company’s top-management team? Is some decision making decentralized and delegated to individual managers? If so, explain how the decentralization works. Or are decisions made more by consensus, with all co-managers having input? What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of the decision- making approach your company is employing? Be certain to incorporate our coursework (Thompson text and other material) from this week into your initial posting.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course text and one non- course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting.

Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on two different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Within your response posts and utilizing material from our Thompson text, describe another potential disadvantage to the decision-making model described by your classmate in their initial posting and state why it is a disadvantage.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

3 Hours

Week 8 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 8 Quiz: 10 questions (true or false), (Chapter 10). Wk 8 Written Assignment #8 – Facebook’s Career Page.

Facebook, Inc. is an American online social media and social

networking service company based in Menlo Park, California. It was founded by Mark Zuckerberg along with other fellow Harvard College students. As of the end of 2018, the number of Facebook employees reached 35,587 full-time staff. It is considered one of the Big Four technology companies along with Amazon, Apple, and Google.

From our Thompson text, read Chapter 10 Assurance of Learning Exercise #3 related to Facebook’s Career page and click on the website link to provide you with information to use in your response to the following:

1 Hours

2 Hours

· How do Facebook’s internal management training programs integrate the traits and stated goals on the Careers page into specific and tangible construction of employee capabilities? How does this apply to our reading of the week?

· How does the internal training Boot Camp program

prepare Facebook employees of all types to “move fast and break things”? How does this apply to our readings of the week?

· What does this case have to do with overall organizational Strategy?

Submission Details:

· Your analysis should be between 1000 and 1500 words .

· Incorporate a minimum of at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper. All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, be double-spaced, and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday.

Wk 8 Simulation Quiz

1 hour

Week 8 Estimated total weekly time on task

12.5 Hours

Week 9: Managing Internal Operations – IT & Resource Allocation (October 25th - October 31st)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 9 Overview

Welcome to Week Nine. Our focus this week is managing internal operations through actions that promote good strategy execution. We take a look at the five additional managerial actions that facilitate the success of a company’s strategy execution efforts. These include (1) allocating ample resources to execution-critical value chain activities, (2) instituting policies and procedures that facilitate good strategy execution, (3) employing process management tools to drive continuous improvement in how value chain activities are performed, (4) installing information and operating systems that enable company personnel to carry out their strategic roles proficiently, and (5) using rewards and incentives to promote better strategy execution and the achievement of strategic and financial targets.

We will begin our actual simulation this week with periods 1 & 2.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Develop management actions that promote effective strategy execution.

· Evaluate the roles resource allocation play in promoting

good strategy execution.

· Describe the roles information systems play in

promoting good strategy execution.

Week 9 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on why resource allocation should always be based on strategic priorities and the role of information systems and operating systems play in enabling company personnel to carry out their strategic roles proficiently.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 11: “Managing Internal Operations”

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint

presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week. PPT Presentation: Chapter 11

3.4 Hours

Week 9 Videos

Videos:

Allocating Resources (2.43). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVnSY4hT3i8

2:43 mins

Week 9 Graded Discussion Prompts(s)

Company strategies cannot be executed well without a number of support systems to carry on business operations.

Using the NEC Danforth Library resources , search for recent (five years) article that discusses how a company has used real-time information systems to aid the cause of effective strategy execution. Explain their use of the information and how it relates to our coursework from this week. Based on our readings (Thompson text and other material) from this week, what one enhancement or addition would you recommend the company make and why?

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course text and one non- course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting.

Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Within your response posts, comment about how one incentive or motivational practice as noted in our Thompson text might help your classmate’s

3 Hours

company succeed even more with their strategy execution efforts and explain why?

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates' posts on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

Week 9 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 9 Written Assignment #9: Allocating Resources. A company’s strategic priorities must drive how capital allocations are made and the size of each unit’s operating budget.

Using the NEC Danforth’s library resources search for recent (most recent five years) article that discusses how a company has revised its pattern of resource allocation and divisional budgets to support new strategic initiatives. How do the revisions fit within the context of the material we have covered in our coursework (Thompson text and other material) from this week?

Submission Details:

· Your analysis should be between 1000 to 1500 words.

· Incorporate a minimum of at least our course text and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your paper. All written assignments must include a coverage page, introductory and concluding paragraphs, reference page, be double-spaced and proper in-text citations using APA guidelines.

· Due by 11:59 pm ET on Day 7, Sunday.

Wk 9: StratSimManagement - Decisions 1 and 2.

2 Hours

1 hours

Week 9 Estimated total weekly time on task

9 Hours

Week 10: Strategic Management Simulation (November 1st - November 7th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 10 Overview

Welcome to Week Ten. This week’s learning activities will focus on the Strategy Management Simulation. For this week, meet with your team to complete Decisions 3 and 4. Finally, each student will independently prepare a brief summary for the

week's simulation efforts.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Apply strategic business decisions using Interactive Strategy Management Simulation.

· Apply strategic business decisions through strategic simulation for the auto industry.

Week 10 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles,

websites, etc).

· Interactive Simulation

Week 10 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 10: StratSimManagement - Decisions 3 and 4.

Wk 10: Individual Submission Report #1. Each student, independently of the team will prepare a brief summary for the week’s simulation efforts. This report will include the following information:

1. What was your one corporate generic strategy as reviewed from our text for the week? Break this down by your target market and your competitive advantage. Why? Did your overall strategy change since week 1? Why?

2. What was your strategic action plan going into the rounds detailed in Blackboard including the reasons for the moves and how it relates to your overall strategy? What are your objective and measurable goals for the moves? Did you have to make operationally reactive moves not related to your strategy? Why?

3. What was the objective, fact-based results compared to your intended moves and the reasons of these moves generally? How did your moves advance your one Generic Strategy? Be specific. Did you get the objective results you expected? Why/why not? Share any objective measures from the simulation program that are pertinent to the strategic implementation results and note any purely operational moves. How did your competition and the external environment impact your moves? What is your analysis of this data results compared to your intended results?

4. What do you think the next set of objective and measurable moves you will have to consider, and what will you suggest to your partners regarding next week’s moves?

5. What have you learned and how does this relate to other lessons in this course and to your career?

6. Provide a log regarding the specific dates and times that

you accessed the simulation system including specifically

1.5 Hours 2 Hours

when and how you and your teammate reviewed and discussed the simulation system data and decided on your moves to make. A sample is provided in week 1.

Your report this week should cover periods 1 thru 4 inclusively with fact-based objective data that you analyze from all 4 periods.

Your grade for each of the simulation report papers will be based on your analysis and critical thinking around the selection and implementation of the corporate strategy for your company. Your analysis must be increasingly more thorough with each paper as you become more familiar with the simulation program and with the concepts from our course. The grade will also include a portion based on your team’s current position and your team’s work together. Review the required components in the grading rubric for the simulation paper.

Submission Details:

Your assignment will be between 1000 and 1500 words and follow APA Guidelines. Include a cover page and at least your course text as a reference. The Simulation Report is due by Day 7 at 11:59 PM ET on Sunday.

Week 10 Estimated total weekly time on task

3.5 Hours

Week 11: Strategic Management Execution (November 8th - November 14th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 11 Overview

Welcome to Week Eleven. This week’s learning activities will focus on the Strategy Management Simulation. For this week, meet with your team to complete Decisions 3 and 4. Finally, each student will independently prepare a brief summary for the

week's simulation efforts.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Apply strategic business decisions using Interactive Strategy Management Simulation.

· Apply strategic business decisions through strategic simulation for the auto industry.

Week 11 Reading/PowerP oints (from text,

This week’s reading focuses on the Strategy Management

Simulation.

· Interactive Simulation

articles, websites, etc).

Week 11 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 11: StratSimManagement - Decisions 5 and 6.

Wk 11: Individual Submission Report #2. Each student, independently of the team will prepare a brief summary for the week’s simulation efforts. This report will include the following information:

1. What was your one corporate generic strategy as reviewed from our text for the week? Break this down by your target market and your competitive advantage. Why? Did your overall strategy change since week 1? Why?

2. What was your strategic action plan going into the rounds detailed in Blackboard including the reasons for the moves and how it relates to your overall strategy? What are your objective and measurable goals for the moves? Did you have to make operationally reactive moves not related to your strategy? Why?

3. What was the objective, fact-based results compared to your intended moves and the reasons of these moves generally? How did your moves advance your one Generic Strategy? Be specific. Did you get the objective results you expected? Why/why not? Share any objective measures from the simulation program that are pertinent to the strategic implementation results and note any purely operational moves. How did your competition and the external environment impact your moves? What is your analysis of this data results compared to your intended results?

4. What do you think the next set of objective and measurable moves you will have to consider, and what will you suggest to your partners regarding next week’s moves?

5. What have you learned and how does this relate to other lessons in this course and to your career?

6. Provide a log regarding the specific dates and times that you accessed the simulation system including specifically when and how you and your teammate reviewed and discussed the simulation system data and decided on your moves to make. A sample is provided in week 1.

Your report this week should cover periods 5 and 6 inclusively with fact-based objective data that you analyze from both periods. DO NOT copy from your first

1.5 Hours

2.0 Hours

paper. Each paper must be written in your own words with proper APA referencing.

Your grade for each of the simulation report papers will be based on your analysis and critical thinking around the selection and implementation of the corporate strategy for your company. Your analysis must be increasingly more thorough with each paper as you become more familiar with the simulation program and with the concepts from our course. The grade will also include a portion based on your team’s current position and your team’s work together. Review the required components in the grading rubric for the simulation paper.

Submission Details:

Your assignment will be between 500 and 1000 words and follow APA Guidelines. Include a cover page and at least your course text as a reference. The Simulation Report is due by Day 7 at 11:59 PM ET on Sundays.

Week 11 Estimated total weekly time on task

3.5 Hours

Week 12: Strategic Management Execution (November 15th - November 21st)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 12 Overview

Welcome to Week Twelve. This week’s learning activities will focus on the Strategy Management Simulation. For this week, meet with your team to complete Decisions 7 and 8. Finally, each student will independently prepare a brief summary for the week's simulation efforts.

Use your extra time this week to also work on your final paper.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Apply strategic business decisions using Interactive Strategy Management Simulation.

· Apply strategic business decisions through strategic simulation for the auto industry.

Week 12 Reading/PowerP oints (from text,

articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on the Strategy Management

Simulation.

· Interactive Simulation

Week 12 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 12: StratSimManagement - Decisions 7 and 8.

1.5 Hours

Week 12 Estimated total weekly time on task

1.5 Hours

Week 13: Strategic Management Simulation

(November 22nd - November 28th)

Estimated Time

on Task

Week 13 Overview

Welcome to Week Thirteen. This week’s learning activities will focus on the Strategy Management Simulation. For this week, meet with your team to complete Decisions 9 and 10. Finally, each student will independently prepare a brief summary for the week's simulation efforts.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Apply strategic business decisions using Interactive Strategy Management Simulation.

· Apply strategic business decisions through strategic simulation for the auto industry.

Week 13 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles,

websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on the strategy management

simulation.

· Interactive Simulation

Week 13 Graded Assessment(s)

Wk 13: StratSimManagement - Decisions 9 and 10. Wk 13: Final Individual Submission Report #3

Each student, independently of the team will prepare a brief summary for the week’s simulation efforts. This report will include the following information:

1. What was your one corporate generic strategy as reviewed from our text for the week? Break this down by your target market and your competitive advantage. Why? Did your overall strategy change since week 1? Why?

2. What was your strategic action plan going into the rounds detailed in Blackboard including the reasons for the moves and how it relates to your overall strategy? What are your objective and measurable goals for the moves? Did you have to make operationally reactive moves not related to your strategy? Why?

3. What was the objective, fact-based results compared to your intended moves and the reasons of these moves generally? How did your moves advance your one Generic Strategy? Be specific. Did you get the objective results you expected? Why/why not? Share any

objective measures from the simulation program that

1.5 Hours 2 Hours

are pertinent to the strategic implementation results and note any purely operational moves. How did your competition and the external environment impact your moves? What is your analysis of this data results compared to your intended results?

4. What do you think the next set of objective and measurable moves you will have to consider, and what will you suggest to your partners regarding next week’s moves?

5. What have you learned and how does this relate to other lessons in this course and to your career?

6. Provide a log regarding the specific dates and times that you accessed the simulation system including specifically when and how you and your teammate reviewed and discussed the simulation system data and decided on your moves to make. A sample is provided in week 1.

Your report this week should cover periods 7 thru 10 inclusively with fact-based objective data that you analyze from all four periods. DO NOT copy from your first

paper. Each paper must be written in your own words with proper APA referencing.

Your grade for each of the simulation report papers will be based on your analysis and critical thinking around the selection and implementation of the corporate strategy for your company. Your analysis must be increasingly more thorough with each paper as you become more familiar with the simulation program and with the concepts from our course. The grade will also include a portion based on your team’s current position and your team’s work together. Review the required components in the grading rubric for the simulation paper.

Submission Details:

Your assignment will be between 1000 and 1500 words and follow APA Guidelines. Include a cover page and at least your course text as a reference. The Simulation Report is due by Day 7 at 11:59 PM ET on Sundays.

Week 13 Estimated total weekly time on task

3.5 Hours

Week 14 Culture and Leadership (November 29th - December 5th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 14 Overview

Welcome to Week Fourteen.

A phrase originated by Peter Drucker goes as follows; “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” This week’s learning activities focus on corporate culture. Corporate culture is the character of a company’s internal work climate – the shared values, ingrained attitudes, core beliefs, and company traditions that determine norms of behavior, accepted work practices, and styles of operating. We will also turn our focus toward the Strategy Management Simulation.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Evaluate the key features and takeaways from effective leadership and corporate culture.

Learning Objectives:

· Describe the nature and condition of organizational culture on change and organizational strategy.

Apply strategic business decisions through strategic simulation for the auto industry.

Week 14 Reading/Power Points (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on identifying the key features of a company’s culture and the role of company core values and ethical standards in building corporate culture. The reading also focuses on how and why a company’s culture can aid the drive for proficient strategy execution.

Crafting and Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage. Concepts and Cases 23e.

Thompson/Peteraf/Gamble/Strickland. McGraw-Hill (2022).

· Chapter 12: Corporate Culture and Leadership

3.4 Hours

In addition to your reading refer to the PowerPoint presentations to clarify concepts discussed this week.

PPT Presentation: Chapter 12

Week 14 Videos

Videos:

Culture and Strategy (7:20).

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Culture+and+Strategy& &view=detail&mid=F2B5EF4A7B710BD2F0B7F2B5EF4A7B710BD2 F0B7&&FORM=VRDGAR

7.2 Mins

Week 14

Using the concepts in Chapter 12 of our textbook, describe the

3 Hours

Graded

corporate culture within your organization, or one that you know

Discussion

well. What effects do the nature and condition of your

Prompts(s)

organizational culture have on your organization’s strategy? What

would you like to see happen that would improve its contribution to the organization’s competitive advantage, and what mechanisms or measures would you recommend to your organization’s leadership for promoting such changes? Again, relate your analysis and recommendation to our coursework (Thompson text and other material) from this week.

NOTE: Make sure you choose a company that has not been selected by one of your classmates.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. You must have at least our course text) and one non- course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting.

Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post.

Please respond to at least two peers on two different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words. Within your response posts, relate your classmate’s initial post critical analysis of the organization’s culture to one of the key features of culture noted in our Thompson text.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates’ posts on different days of the week from each other and from your

initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

Week 14 Estimated total weekly time on task

6.5 Hours

Week 15: Strategic Execution (December 6th- December 12th)

Estimated Time on Task

Week 15 Overview

Welcome to week fifteen of our course studies. This week, we will examine the remaining managerial task that shape the outcome of efforts to execute a company’s strategy: creating a strategy – exerting the internal leadership needed to drive the implementation of strategic initiatives forward and achieve higher plateaus of operating excellence. Top executives have to be out front personally leading the implementation/execution process and driving the pace of progress for an enterprise to execute its strategy in a truly proficient fashion.

Course learning outcomes and Learning objectives

Evaluate the key features and takeaways from effective leadership and corporate culture.

· Describe what constitutes effective leadership in achieving superior strategy execution.

Week 15 Reading/PowerP oints (from text, articles, websites, etc).

This week’s reading focuses on what constitutes effective managerial leadership in achieving superior strategy execution.

John Kotter. 8 Step Process For Leading Change. 2018.

https://www.kotterinc.com/8-steps-process-for-leading- change/

4.8 Hours

Week 15 Videos

Videos:

Strategic Management in Execution. (3.44) https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=strategic+execution+i n+management&&view=detail&mid=CC3F8B08F930A6462BCD

CC3F8B08F930A6462BCD&&FORM=VRDGAR

3:44 mins

Week 15 Graded Discussion Prompts(s)

Please reflect on the simulation process of this course. How was that experience generally, what did you learn from it, what might we change and why? How do the concepts of effective leadership & change management apply? Also, was the team experience helpful in this process and if you could change something, what would it be.

Your initial response to the discussion question should be 250- 300 words. No references required.

Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post, in approximately 150-200 words.

Submission Details:

· Post your response to the following questions in the discussion forum by Thursday, Day 4 at 11:59 PM.

· Comment on at least two of your classmates’ posts on different days of the week from each other and from your initial post by Sunday, Day 7 at 11:59 PM.

3 Hours

Week 15 Estimated total weekly time on task

8 Hours

Week 8

Simulation practice rounds This allows students to experiment with the tool before committing decisions

during week 2

Simulation Case Quiz (5% of grade)

This tests student understanding of the case

Week 9

Round 1

Round 2

Week 10

Round 3

Round 4

Simulation Report (Rounds 1 thru 4, inclusive)

Week 11

Round 5

Round 6

Simulation Report (Rounds 5 and 6)

Week 12

Round 7

Round 8

Week 13

Round 9

Round 10

Simulation Report (Rounds 7 thru 10, inclusive)