Fall 2016

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Dr. Hatton

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SACRAMENTO

College of Business Administration
GM 105 Strategic Management
Sections 10, 11, & 12
DISCLAIMER: The syllabus and schedule of readings, assignments, and activities may be changed by the
instructor in order to maximize student learning needs and meet the objectives of the courses.

I. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor:
Contact Information:
Office Hours:
Course Web Site:
SacCT:

Dr. Lindle Hatton

Office TAH 2012, 916-278-6503, hattonl@csus.edu
Tuesday 4:00 6:00 pm, online, or by appointment

http://online.csus.edu
SacCT 9.1

Email access is essential in communicating with the instructor and your peers. Please activate your CSUS email account and log on to the SacCT course regularly

II. ACADEMIC LEARNING RESOURCES

Textbook: Wheelen and Hunger, Strategic Management and Business Policy: Globalization, Innovation

Sustainability, Prentice-Hall, 14th edition, 2015.

Fortune & Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones and Company, Inc.
Databases or Software: Resources as provided by the university and the college.
III. BUSINESS CONCEPTS (EXTRACT FROM CATALOG DESCRIPTION)
Keywords: Strategy, analysis, management

IV. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

Course Description: Strategic Management (GM 105) is a capstone course that focuses on the integration of

the functional areas of an organization and requires students to determine strategic direction, strategies,
tactics, and policies at all levels of management. Students address problems and issues faced by
organizations seeking to manage different elements within an organizations boundaries while integrating
functional disciplines to optimize performance.
Prerequisites: Refer to catalog.

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Course Learning Objectives:

1. Provide a means of integrating the knowledge you have obtained from various core courses and
your major area of study into a coherent understanding of the complex relationships existing in
the business enterprise and with its environment.
2. Develop your understanding of managements role in the success or failure of companies and
company strategy.
3. Develop your awareness of the broader social issues and environmental trends that are now and
will be confronting managers over the next few years.
4. Develop your awareness of the need for and importance of strategic planning in all sizes and
types of business.
5. Develop and refine your ability to analyze business problems in a logical and effective way.
6. Develop your ability to work effectively as a member or leader of a team. However, if any team
member does not contribute or participate in meetings and assignments then they should be
dropped from the team. Consequently, any team member that is dropped should be
informed by the team and the individual name should not be included in any team report.
7. Develop your ability to communicate the results of your analyses effectively, both orally and in
writing.
8. Develop an awareness of global strategy and its implications for international management
among all types of businesses.

V. CBA PROGRAM-LEVEL LEARNING GOALS

Goal 1 Fundamental Business Knowledge

Competence based on fundamental business knowledge.
1.1 Demonstrate understanding of fundamental business theories, concepts, and skills.
1.2 Ability to analyze business information in performing business related tasks.
Goal 2 Integrative Business Competence
Business competence integrated with other business knowledge areas and ethical responsibility.
2.1 Ability to identify factors contributing to a managerial problem from a variety of business
perspectives.
2.2 Enumerate the costs and benefits that potential solutions will have on the interdependent
stakeholders of a firm.
Goal 3 Effective Business Communication
Business communication utilizing contemporary and classic communication techniques and methods.
3.1 Convey information in a variety of business settings.
3.2 Evaluate the efficacy of business communications.

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Goal 4 Applied Business Capability

Ability to translate knowledge of business and management into practice.
4.1 Create effective business solutions that are both ethically sound and socially responsible.
4.2 Generate innovative and effective solutions for problem solving and decision making.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this course, students should have strengthened their abilities to:
1. Learn to synthesize their thinking in the context of a strategic management framework.
2. Understand how functional areas interact to influence an organizations performance.
3. Develop decision-making and problem solving skills.
4. Understand the major internal and external issues that influence an organizations performance and
how to formulate a business strategy to enhance performance.
5. Understand and be able to apply an integrative strategic management approach in guiding an
organization to achieve their vision and mission.
6. Gain an awareness of the social and ethical implications of business strategy.
7. Develop the ability to work in teams as a team member, leader, and subject matter expert.
8. Understand funding options for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
9. Develop business communication skills to effectively articulate a message, an analysis, a case, or
facilitate team interactions in delivering critical information.
10. Gain a clear understanding of how organizational executive leaders and business managers use
strategy to drive company performance for greater success.

VI. PROGRAM AND COURSE LEVEL ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING

All coursework parallels all aspects of CBA program goals:
Lectures, coursework and tests are designed to address student learning objectives. Individual exams
will assess knowledge of terminology and concepts. (Goal 1 Fundamental Business Knowledge).
Individual and team assignments, cases, will be researched, written, and presented in class to the
instructor will require application of fundamental business knowledge to complete all analyses. Both
the quality of the individual and team work assignments as well as the effectiveness of the written and
verbal communication of their work product will be key areas of assessment. (Goal 2 Integrative
Business Competence; Goal 3 Effective Business Communication; Goal 4 Applied Business
Capability)
Summary of Assessment Strategy
Detailed instructions and grading rubrics will be provided. Assessment of all work products will be
based on completeness, research support, feasibility, demonstration of differentiation, analysis of all
factors that may influence the formulated strategy, level of difficulty, and the quality of the
communication.

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VII. GRADING CRITERIA, GUIDELINES, AND ASSIGNMENTS

Course Grading:

Several assignments are to be completed on an individual basis, those include: internet assignments,
individual assessments, and exam. Other assignments to be completed in teams include balanced
scorecard, company situation analysis and industry analysis. Completed assignments will be
transmitted via internet applications in the SacCT 9.1. All completed work will be in conventional
software language using Microsoft Word. No archaic software versions will be accepted. If there is a
question, please check with the Instructor. All submissions must be compatible with software
supported on campus. In addition, all submissions should be typed in Roman or Calibri using
font size 12 and 1.5 linespacing.
1. Internet Assignments: There will be three (3) internet assignments to be completed
individually. The assignments are representative of a mini-case. The details of the internet
assignments are described in the Course Requirement section.
2. Industry Analysis: The industry analysis is a major team project. As a team of 4-5 members
you will select a specific industry, approved by the Instructor, to prepare an Industry Analysis
Report. The key elements for the industry analysis are outlined in Course Requirement file on the
homepage. Please indicate all team members names, arranged alphabetically, on the title page
when submitting the report.
3. Company Strategic Audit: As a team you select a company, preferably a publicly-held stock
company, to complete a company strategic audit. The strategic audit format is contained in
Chapter 1 Appendix 1.A on pages 32-39 in the text. Please indicate all team members names,
arranged alphabetically, on the title page when submitting the report.
4. Balanced Scorecard: As a team select a company to complete a balanced scorecard framework.
A description of the framework is provided in the Course Requirement file on the homepage. A
sample template will be posted on the homepage of the course. Please indicate all team
members names, arranged alphabetically, on the title page when submitting the report.
5. Exam: There will be one (1) Exam given during the semester. The Exam will generally be
comprised of multiple choice questions and short essay. Anyone caught cheating will result in an
automatic F on the exam. Should you need an explanation on cheating refer to the instructor.
The date for the Exam are posted in the syllabus. The room location will be posted in the
Announcement box in the course homepage when it is arranged. The time for the Exam is 7:30
8:45 am on the date listed.
6. Special Notes: All assignments and cases must be submitted on the date due. Late assignments
will not be accepted. The dropbox for submitting the assignments in the online course closes
promptly on the designated time. The dropbox is the convention to submit all work, not the
email link. I suggest you submit all assignments at least 15 minutes prior to the designated time
for closure. The official time is that of the dropbox clock. Please do not wait until the closure
time to submit your work. I will not accept nor read any assignment that is submitted via
any other convention than the dropbox. THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT. ALL WORK
AND EXAMS ARE FINAL. The Instructor takes time and careful attention in reading and
grading each assignment. Information is provided to assist students in completing assignments.

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Assignments are designed with an expectation of performance standard. Merely meeting the
performance standards outlined in assignments descriptions does not ensure an A score. An A
score is achieved by exceeding expectations to demonstrate a more comprehensive and
integrative understanding of the strategy topics. Even though you may not agree or desire the
score received, all grades are final. There will not be a second reading of assignments.
All individual and team assignments are to be submitted via the DROPBOX in the online
course. They should not be attached as a file in an email to the instructor. ONLY assignments
submitted via the DROPBOX will be read and graded.
TEAMS:
Self-select individuals in forming a team of 5 members. Provide a list of Team members to me as soon as
possible. You should proceed to identify a company and industry you prefer to conduct research for the
Team assignments. No duplications will be allowed. Approvals on company and industry selections must
be achieved with the Instructor. A good approach is to select a company within an industry that it operates.
For example: Coca Cola (Company) Soft Drink (Industry). The FIFO principle will apply, i.e. first to
select will be the first approved. Once a company and/or industry have been approved for a Team then no
other Team will be approved for the same selections. I advise you to move quickly to make your selections
for approval.
Teams are organized to complete the three (3) team assignments including: Balanced Scorecard, Company
Strategic Audit, and Industry Analysis. Once you have identified all team members proceed to the
homepage and enter team members names in one of the Team boxes provided on the course homepage. Do
not access a Team box to peruse. Enter the Team box ONLY when you have fully identified all Team
members and are prepared to enter their names. Use the email convention to form your Teams. The
Team communities are created for virtual conversation between Team members exclusively. They are
available for your use to communicate on Team assignments.

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GRADING:
Final grades will be based on your performance in the following:
Assignment
Internet Assignment # 1 - VMV
Internet Assignment # 2 - Fortune
Internet Assignment # 3 Industry Analysis Team
Company Situation Analysis Team
Balanced Scorecard Team
Exam
TOTAL

Points
100
100
100
150
150
100
100
800

GRADING SCALE:
Final grades will be based on your performance of the course requirements listed above and the following
grading scale. All grades are final. There is no rounding or curving.
Total Points

Grade

750 800
720 749
700 719
660 699
640 659
620 639
580 619
560 579
540 559
500 539
480 499
Below 480

A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF

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VIII. WEEKLY OUTLINE: the schedule of readings, assignments, and activities may be changed by the

instructor in order to maximize student learning needs and meet the objectives of the course.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Date

Topic
Introduction

Assignment
Email Introduction &
Online Course Review

Basic Concepts in Strategic Management

Chapter 1

Corporate Governance

Chapter 2
DUE: Internet Assignment # 1
September 16th by 5 pm

9/20

Ethics and Social Responsibility

Chapter 3

9/27

Environmental Scanning and Industry Analysis

Chapter 4

Internal Scanning: Organizational Analysis

Chapter 5
DUE: Internet Assignment # 2
October 7th by 5 pm
Review Online Material

8/30
9/6
9/13

10/4
10/11

Balanced Scorecard

10/13

Exam # 1 (Chapters 1-5)

Strategy Formulation: Situation Analysis and
Business Strategy

DUE: EXAM
Chapter 6
DUE: Internet Assignment # 3
October 21st by 5 pm

Strategy Formulation: Corporate Strategy

Chapter 7

11/1

Strategy Formulation: Functional Strategy and

Strategic Choice

Chapter 8
DUE: Balanced Scorecard
November 4th by 5 pm

11/8

Strategy Implementation: Organizing for Action Chapter 9

11/15

Strategy Implementation: Staffing and Directing Chapter 10

DUE: Company Strategic Audit
November 18th by 5 pm

11/22
11/24
11/29

Evaluation and Control

THANKSGIVING
INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

10/18
10/25

12/6
12/12-16

FINALS

Chapter 11
Review and Prep
DUE: Industry Analysis
December 9th by 5 pm

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IX. COURSE TIME COMMITMENT

GM 105 is a 3-unit course that is the capstone for all CBA majors. The time commitment is
significant to meet and complete reading assignments, homework assignments, individual and team
projects, exams, and all other analyses. The course is designed to be completed during the 15-week
semester. Total hours commitment to complete the work per week range from 9-12 hours.
X. SACRAMENTO STATE ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY AND REGULATIONS
excerpt Definitions of Academic Dishonesty http://www.csus.edu/umanual/student/STU-0100.htm

Cheating. At Sacramento State, cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for
academic work through the use of any dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Cheating at
Sacramento State includes but is not limited to:
o
Copying, in part or in whole, from anothers test or other evaluation instrument.
o
Using crib notes, "cheat sheets," or any other device, including electronic devices not
permitted by the instructor as an aid in writing an examination.
o
Submitting work previously graded in another course unless doing so has been
approved by the course instructor or by department policy.
o
Submitting work simultaneously presented in more than one course, unless doing so
has been approved by the respective course instructors or by the department policies of the
respective departments.
o
Altering or interfering with grading or grading instructions.
o
Sitting for an examination by a surrogate, or as a surrogate.
o
Any other act committed by a student in the course of his or her academic work that
defrauds or misrepresents, including aiding or abetting in any of the actions defined above.
Plagiarism. Plagiarism, as a form of cheating, is the use of distinctive ideas or works belonging to
another person without providing adequate acknowledgement of that persons contribution.
Regardless of the means of appropriation, incorporation of anothers work into ones own requires
adequate identification and acknowledgement. Plagiarism is doubly unethical because it deprives the
author of rightful credit and gives credit to someone who has not earned it. Acknowledgement is not
necessary when the material used is common knowledge. Plagiarism at Sacramento State includes but
is not limited to:
o
The act of incorporating into ones own work the ideas, words, sentences, paragraphs,
or parts thereof, or the specific substance of anothers work without giving appropriate credit
thereby representing the product as entirely one's own. Examples include not only word-forword copying, but also the "mosaic" (i.e., interspersing a few of ones own words while, in
essence, copying anothers work), the paraphrase (i.e., rewriting anothers work while still
using the others fundamental idea or theory); fabrication (i.e., inventing or counterfeiting
sources), ghost-writing (i.e., submitting anothers work as ones own) and failure to include
quotation marks on material that is otherwise acknowledged; and
o
Representing as ones own anothers artistic or scholarly works such as musical
compositions, computer programs, photographs, paintings, drawing, sculptures, or similar
works.
XI. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

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Services to Students with Disabilities (SSWD) http://www.csus.edu/sswd/ offers a wide range of support
services and accommodations for students in order to ensure students with disabilities have equal access and
opportunity to pursue their educational goals.

Services and accommodations are provided to students with visual, hearing, mobility impairments, specific
learning disabilities, psychiatric disorders, and/or other types of disabilities. Students must submit medical or
professional documentation prior to meeting with a counselor for a needs assessment and accommodation plan.

XII. STUDENT RESOURCES

CBA Tutoring Center TAH 3067. Contact the Office of Student Engagement (TAH 1040) for
tutoring schedules.
University Reading and Writing Center (URWC) - provides encouraging, focused, and non-judgmental
one-to-one tutorials in reading and writing for any undergraduate or graduate student at CSUS.
http://www.csus.edu/writingcenter/
The Peer and Academic Resource Center (PARC) - major services include Supplemental Instruction;
Supplemental Instruction Plus, Workshops & Individual Tutorials; and Peer Led Advising for college
Experiences. http://www.csus.edu/parc/

XIII. OTHER INFORMATION

Late and Make-up Policy: The general policy for this course is to require completion of
assignments as specified in the class schedule. If you have an emergency or other extenuating
circumstances that will affect your ability to turn in an assignment or complete an exam, please
contact me as soon as possible to discuss.
COURSE ETIQUETTE:
1. No late assignments will be accepted, nor is there make-up work. Please review all assignments
and their DUE DATES.
2. THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR EXTRA CREDIT.
3. Plagiarism is not tolerated. Any work submitted will be reviewed and compared using a software
program that checks for plagiarism. Any assignments submitted that is plagiarized will be given zero
credit.