There are two projects, each combining theory, cases and critical thinking and analysis. Projects will cover reading materials assigned to the class, even those readings that are not directly discussed in the class.
Projects 1 & 2: Student will establish their own company and apply course readings and theories to their cases. Students will work to complete the project and prepare it for presentation/submission once in the middle of the semester and once at the end. Students must use IT technology and slides to present their cases. Students who are taking the course online, must submit their projects at the assigned times.
Make-up time will be allowed only if: (1) the instructor is notified in advance of an adequate, university sanctioned absence before the time of project initiation, or (2) the instructor is provided with a note indicating that a serious issue prevented the students from presenting or submitting the project as scheduled.
Projects 1: Apply concepts from chapter 1-6 of the Strategic Management and Competitive Strategy books. The following questions must be addressed in this project:
1. Strategic leadership, the process of strategic planning
2. Introducing a business model for the company formed
3. SWOT analysis of the company
4. How to develop competencies, and competitive advantage?
5. How to develop competitive advantage at the functional and business level
6. How to develop strategy at the industry level?
7. How Michael Porter's model applies to the company
Project 2: Apply concepts from chapters 7-13 of the Strategic Management and The Fifth Discipline to this part of the project and submit it with the first part. The following questions are addressed in this project:
1. How technology is used in relations to strategic planning
2. How strategic planning addresses the changes and challenges of the global market
3. How strategic planning addresses the questions of horizontal, vertical integration and outsourcing
4. How diversification as part of strategic planning is addressed
5. How corporate governance, performance and ethics are addressed in the company
6. How the company compete in a single industry or across different industries
7. How the concepts of the Fifth Discipline apply to your company?
Book Review and Application of Concepts:
Students will review the two books, the Fifth Discipline and the Competitive Strategy during the course of the semester at the assigned times and submit their reviews at the day that the discussions of these two books begin. Students go beyond the content analysis of the books and critically evaluate themes that are making significant contribution to the authors' main argument. Cases from Harvard Business Review and the Text are chosen to be used for the application of the concepts and theories of these two books. Students are asked to apply the concepts of these two books to the chosen cases. Some of the Harvard Business Review cases are introduced at the beginning of your syllabus. Students can choose any Harvard Business Review case that they would like to explore. These cases must be in the areas of Strategic Management.