Course Overview

Business Policy and Strategy is the capstone course for business administration majors. This advanced course is designed to provide students with a general management perspective of the total business enterprise. Students learn new strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation concepts and techniques. Students use this new knowledge, coupled with knowledge acquired from other courses, to chart the future direction of different types of organizations. The course builds on previous courses in diverse functional areas to offer insights and analytical tools which a general manager needs to plan and implement successful business policies and strategies. The course emphasizes the practical application of business theory to business problems.

Project Introduction

Purpose

You will select a company and then identify and analyze a strategy for its growth into an overseas market.

Course Objectives

Discuss the nature of strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation activities.

Describe the nature and role of vision and mission statements in strategic management.

Discuss ten major external forces that affect organizations: economic, social, cultural, demographic, environmental, political, governmental, legal, technological, and competitive.

Discuss the importance of gathering competitive intelligence.

Explain how to determine and prioritize a firm's internal strengths and weaknesses.

Explain how to develop a SWOT Matrix, SPACE Matrix, BCG Matrix, IE Matrix, and QSPM.

Identify important behavioral, political, ethical, and social responsibility considerations in strategy analysis and choice.

Explain market segmentation and product positioning as strategy implementation tools.

Discuss the nature and role of research and development in strategy implementation.

Explain how computer information systems can determine the success of strategy implementation efforts.