Course Design Guide STR/581 Version 4

Course Syllabus
School of Business STR/581 Version 4 Strategic Planning & Implementation
Copyright 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description This capstone course integrates concepts from all prior courses in the program. Students apply the concepts of strategic planning and implementation to create sustainable, competitive advantage for an organization. Other topics include environmental scanning, strategic analysis, corporate social responsibility, implementation and evaluation, and risk management. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Barney, J. B. (2007). Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Mintzberg, H., Ghoshal, S., Lampel, J., & Quinn, J. B. (2003). The strategy process: Concepts, contexts, cases (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Pearce, J. A., II, & Robinson, R. B. (2011). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (12th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Mission, Vision, and Values

Details
Objectives 1.1 Identify major components of a strategic management process. 1.2 Evaluate the organizations motivation, innovation strategy, and people strategy. 1.3 Explain the role of ethics and corporate social responsibility in strategic planning. Read The Strategic Management Process to Emergent Strategies in Ch. 1 of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Read Ch. 13 & 14 of Strategic Management.

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Read Five Ps For Strategy to Strategies for Change in Ch. 1 of The Strategy Process. Read What Is Strategy? to Reflecting On The Strategy Process in Ch. 1 of The Strategy Process. Read Ch. 12 of The Strategy Process Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participation Individual Discussion Question Nongraded Activities and Preparation Participate in class discussion. Respond to DQ #1 and DQ #2 posted in the Main Forum. All week Days 3 & 5 2 2

Choose an organization as the focus for the Strategic Plan, due in Week Six. The organization can be an existing company, nonprofit organization, religious organization, or governmental agency. Avoid an organization that is so large that historical data would be difficult to apply. Firms in the Russell 2000 index may fit well, whereas firms in the Dow 30 Industrial index probably do not. The organization can be a start-up that you or a significant other may create in the future. For a start-up, focus on an entrepreneurial idea that is of substantive interest, so this project leaves you with a product you may leverage in the future. Write a paragraph to justify selecting this organization. Include the following: The organizations name The purpose for this organizations existence Why this organization is of interest to you Availability of organizational data: Avoid selecting an existing organization for which there is no publicly available historical data. Your facilitator will formally approve this choice, or recommend reconsideration, prior to your Research Proposal assignment.

Final Examination Preparation

The final exam in this course is a comprehensive exam that covers content from the core courses in the MBA program. The Sample Exam in this week should prepare you for the final exam that you will take in Week Six. You are encouraged to complete this exam as practice prior to completing the final exam. Use the Ethics Awareness Inventory and Ethical Choices in the Workplace assessments to revisit your values. Write a paper of no more than 700 words in which you do the following: Explain the role of ethics and social responsibility in developing a strategic plan, considering stakeholder needs. Explain how your ethical perspective has evolved Monday Day 7 5

Individual Ethics Reflection Paper

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throughout the program. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Learning Team Weekly Summary PowerPoint Presentation Week One Create a 6-10 slide presentation on the main topics of the week Post the teams presentation in the PowerPoint Presentations thread in the Main Forum online. For additional participation, reply constructively or comment substantively on the presentations of other teams work. Monday Day 7 2

Week Two: External Environmental Scanning

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Objectives 2.1 Analyze an organizations remote environment. 2.2 Analyze an organizations industry environment. 2.3 Analyze an organizations external operating environment. Read Ch. 3 & 4 of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Read Ch. 4 & 5 of Strategic Management. Read Ch. 9 of The Strategy Process. Participate in class discussion. Respond to DQ #1 and DQ #2 posted in the Main Forum. All week Days 3 & 5 2 2

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Participation Individual Discussion Question Nongraded Activities and Preparation Individual Research Proposal

Begin to perform an external environmental scan for your organization. You will complete this work for your External and Internal Environmental Analysis assignment. Write a proposal of no more than 750 words, outlining the research approach you will use for the Strategic Plan, due in Week Six. Include the following: How you intend to validate the organizational vision, mission, and values statements Sources you expect to use to perform an external environmental analysis Sources you expect to use to perform an internal environmental analysis Monday Day 7 7

Learning Team Innovation Strategy Paper

Write a paper of no more than 1,050 words that describes and evaluates an organizations innovation strategy. Use publicly available information, including Securities and Exchanges Commission filings. Be sure to choose an organization that isintroducing new products or services.

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Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Week Three: Internal Capabilities and Resources

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Objectives Readings Participation Individual Discussion Question Individual External and Internal Environmental Analysis 3.1 Analyze an organizations internal environment. 3.2 Assess an organizations competitive position and possibilities. Read Ch. 5 of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Read Ch. 6 of Strategic Management. Participate in class discussion. Respond to DQ #1 and DQ #2 posted in the Main Forum. All week Days 3 & 5 Monday Day 7 2 2

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Points

Complete the external environmental scan for your organization. Perform an internal, competitive environmental scan for your organization. Write a summary of no more than 1,400 words that does the following: Identifies and analyzes the most important external environmental factor in the remote, industry, and external operating environments Identifies and analyzes the most important internal strengths and weaknesses of your organization: Include an assessment of the organizations resources. Assesses the organizations competitive position and possibilities Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Learning Team

Weekly Summary PowerPoint Presentation Weeks Two & Three Create a 6-10 slide presentation on the main topics of the week Post the teams presentation in the PowerPoint Presentations thread in the Main Forum online. For additional participation, reply constructively or comment substantively on the presentations of other teams work.

Monday Day 7

Week Four: Strategic Choice and Evaluation

Details Due Points

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Objectives

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4

Evaluate potential generic strategies for an organization. Evaluate potential value disciplines for an organization. Evaluate potential grand strategies for an organization. Evaluate potential multibusiness strategies for an organization

Readings

Read Ch. 6, 7, & 11 of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Read Ch. 79 of Strategic Management. Participate in class discussion. Respond to DQ #1 and DQ #2 posted in the Main Forum. All week Days 3 & 5 Monday Day 7 2 2

Participation Individual Discussion Question Individual Strategic Choice and Evaluation Paper

Write a paper of no more than 1,400 words that evaluates alternatives your organization must consider to realize growth. Identify the best value discipline, generic strategy, and grand strategy for your organization. Recommend a strategy or combination of strategies the organization should implement. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Weekly Summary PowerPoint Presentation Week Four Create a 6-10 slide presentation on the main topics of the week Post the teams presentation in the PowerPoint Presentations thread in the Main Forum online. For additional participation, reply constructively or comment substantively on the presentations of other teams work.

Learning Team

Monday Day 7

Week Five: Implementation, Strategic Controls, and Contingency Plans

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Objectives 5.1 Create an implementation plan. 5.2 Develop organizational change management strategies. 5.3 Analyze the key external environmental assumptions and internal metrics that must be monitored when implementing a business plan. 5.4 Create a risk management plan. Read Ch. 8 of Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Read Ch. 10 & 13 of Strategic Management. Read Ch. 6 & 8 of The Strategy Process. Participate in class discussion. Respond to DQ #1 and DQ #2 posted in the Main Forum. All week Days 3 & 5 2 2

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Readings

Participation Individual Discussion Question

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Individual Implementation, Strategic Controls, and Contingency Plans

Write a draft of no more than 1,800 words of the strategic plan for your organization, including the following: Implementation plan o o o o o o Objectives Functional tactics Action items Milestones and a deadline Tasks and task ownership Resource allocation

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Any required organizational change management strategies that would enhance successful implementation Key success factors, budget, and forecasted financials, including a break-even chart Risk management plan, including contingency plans for identified risks Format your plan consistent with APA guidelines. Learning Team Weekly Summary PowerPoint Presentation Week Five Create a 6-10 slide presentation on the main topics of the week Post the teams presentation in the PowerPoint Presentations thread in the Main Forum online. For additional participation, reply constructively or comment substantively on the presentations of other teams work. Monday Day 7 2

Week Six: Create and Sell Your Business Plan

Details
Objectives Readings Participation Individual Discussion Question Individual Strategic Plan and Presentation 6.1 Construct a strategic plan for an organization. 6.2 Communicate a strategic plan effectively to stakeholders. Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion. Respond to DQ #1 and DQ #2 posted in the Main Forum. All week Days 3 & 5 Monday Day 7 2 2

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Points

Resource: Implementation, Strategic Controls, and Contingency Plans assignment with facilitator feedback Complete a 2,800- to 3,500-word strategic plan for your organization. Update your plan to incorporate facilitator feedback from the draft

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versions submitted in previous weeks. Include the following: Table of contents Executive summary, with a 2-page maximum

Company background, organizational mission, vision, and value statements Note. For a start-up, this should focus on the backgrounds and accomplishments of key anticipated management personnel. The goal is to convince the investor that these individuals are trustworthy and successful. Environmental scan

Review of Week Four strategies and a recommendation for the best strategy for your organization Implementation plan: Include objectives, functional tactics, action items, milestones, tasks, resource allocation, and a deadline. In addition, analyze key success factors. Include a budget and forecasted financials, including a break-even chart. Risk management plan, including contingency plans for identified risks Prepare a 6- to 10-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes. Your audience will play the board of directors or a venture capital firm. The focus is to sell your recommendations to the board or venture capital firm, and obtain approval for funding your plan. Format your plan and presentation consistent with APA guidelines. Individual Final Examination Resource: Assigned weekly readings Click the link to the Final Examination on your student website available from the end of Week Five through the end of Week Six. Complete the Final Examination. You are allowed one attempt to complete the exam, which is timed and must be completed in 3 hours. Results are auto graded and sent to your instructor. Weekly Summary PowerPoint Presentation Entire course (use as a review of the material) Create a 6-10 slide presentation on the main topics of the week Post the teams presentation in the PowerPoint Presentations thread in the Main Forum online. For additional participation, reply constructively or comment substantively on the presentations of other teams work. Monday Day 7 10

Learning Team

Monday Day 7

Optional Discussion Questions

Course Design Guide STR/581 Version 4

Week One Discussion Questions What is the difference between a vision and a mission? Where have you seen misleading organizational mission, vision, and values statements? How did that affect the organization? Go to a public corporations website and read their statements on corporate social responsibility. What aspects of their ethics do you agree or disagree with? Why? Why is a people strategy strategic? Provide an example to validate your answer.

Week Two Discussion Questions Locate an organization in the news. Is the organization validating its values by its actions? Use the organizations website or other published information to define the values and explain your answer. Locate an organization in the news. How is this organization trying to create value and competitive advantage in its sector? When evaluating an organization, what political and ethical factors must be taken into account? Why?

Consider the restaurant industry and explain how recent, current, and forecasted economic trends have affected the industrys attractiveness. What firms have exited the industry? What firms have entered or increased investment in the industry? Consider a specific sector of the transportation industryairlines, railroads, trucking, shipping, or multimodal. How have external operating environment factors affected the sectors performance? Week Three Discussion Questions How might an organizational evaluation be beneficial? How might it be detrimental?

How might a resource-based view of internal capabilities complement a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis? Provide an example. How might the value, rarity, imitability, and organization analysis of internal capabilities complement a SWOT analysis? Provide an example. Week Four Discussion Questions Identify an existing organization that established sustained market leadership by successfully leveraging a generic strategy. How did the organization successfully leverage this strategy? Identify an existing organization that established sustained market leadership by successfully leveraging a value discipline. How did the organization successfully leverage this discipline? Identify an existing organization that established sustained market leadership by successfully leveraging a grand strategy. How did the organization successfully leverage this strategy? What are the challenges in managing a portfolio of companies? Identify an organization that has been consistently successful. What critical success factors have they emphasized? Week Five Discussion Questions

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Although objectives, functional tactics, and action items are included in many implementation plans, why do some organizations have a difficult time reflecting the plans they create? What problems have you faced when creating your implementation plan? In your experience, where do risk management plans fall short?

Consider an organization you have worked for or are familiar with. What are the most important metrics used in the strategic control process? Why? Week Six Discussion Questions Do you think the Nichepreneur strategy might work for your future career plans? Explain why.

Provide an example of an industry experiencing a red ocean. In your opinion, how might the industry be converted into a blue ocean? Copyright
University of Phoenix is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Final exams contain third-party copyrighted materials. Portions are: Copyright 2010 University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Copyright 2010 McGraw-Hill/Irwin. All rights reserved. Copyright 2010 Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix editorial standards and practices.