BERNARD M. BARUCH COLLEGE/CUNY
ZICKLIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Department of Management

Business Policy 5100 (Tuesday – Thursday – All Sections) Prof. David W. Falk
Seminar in Business Policy Fall, 2015

Office: Vertical Campus, Room 9-250 I Phone: (646) 312-3676
Office Hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays -- 3:30PM - 4:00PM, and by Appointment
E-mail addresses: DWFalk@Flash.net and David.Falk@baruch.cuny.edu
Pager: (917) 853-3878 (leave a verbal message after the tone)

Required Textbooks: 1) Parthasarthy, Raghavan & Booke, Alvin L.; Strategic Management: A Primer;
Strategy Consulting Group: Ramsey, NJ; 2013. (SM)

2) Thompson, Arthur A. & Stappenbeck, Gregory J.; GLO-BUS On-Line Business Simulation; McGraw-Hill/Irwin: Burr Ridge, IL (accessed via: http://www.glo-bus.com). (GLO)

0 These texts are all required reading. 1 It is suggested that students familiarize themselves with the Participant’s Guide to the GLO-BUS On-Line Business Simulation immediately since approximately 25% of your final grade will be dependent on the grade earned for this team-based project. 2 Students will be required to keep in touch with current events via the business sections of major newspapers, journals, periodicals and the Internet. Your class participation will be measured largely through your ability to apply the theories and models of strategic management to current events found throughout these sources.

Course Objectives:
BPL 5100 is an interdisciplinary capstone seminar concentrating on the problems that confront the chief administrative officers of an enterprise. The course stresses the overall company point of view in dealing with the myriad problems faced by the firm’s top management team.

The purposes of this capstone course include the following: (1) providing an understanding of the strategic management process; (2) sharpening analytical skills acquired in prior functional area course work via analyses of corporate strategies through case studies; (3) developing an understanding, as well as an appreciation, of the relationship of an organization to its surroundings as it develops and competes within the constraints of societal, operating, global and internal environments; (4) working in both individual and team-based learning environments; (5) improving written and oral presentation skills; and (6) providing an opportunity, via involvement in an interactive computerized business simulation, to analyze, develop, apply, and revise strategic decisions in a competitive environment.

Communications Intensive Course (CIC):
BPL 5100 has been designated a Communications Intensive Course. Accordingly, a Communication Consultant will be assigned to our class with the purpose of assisting with the overall improvement of your oral and written communication skills. All members of your team will be required to meet with our consultant, as a team, at least one time, as follows:

1. To present an outline (complete with PowerPoint slides) of your team’s presentation and complete a dress rehearsal of this assignment; and 2. To obtain feedback on your taped presentation rehearsal.

Although it is required that each student team meet with the consultant, at the pre-scheduled times, each individual team member should consider this individual not only as a resource, but also as a proponent who can help you with developing your critical business survival skills. You simply must become proficient and comfortable delivering presentations that include the requisite content and style components.

Course Activities:
1) Lectures, class discussions and films focusing on the theoretical material found in the texts. Note that the term “class discussions” represents a course requirement. As such, students will be expected to read the assigned chapters prior to the class for which that material is assigned. You must then be prepared to actively engage in class discussions. Remember that neither mere attendance, nor disruptive behavior and incessant questioning, amount to the same thing as active participation. Be prepared to actively engage in a business-oriented discussion.

2) The class will be broken up and organized into small teams in order to participate in the GLO-BUS On-Line Business Simulation. In this computerized business simulation, each team will assume the role of senior management of a digital camera manufacturer. Working as a team, in competition with the other teams formed in the class, you will be responsible for making decisions regarding the value activities of the firm. Since this is a term-long simulation, I will need a list of the members of each team by the end of the second session. Once we start the simulation, each individual in this class will have an absolute responsibility to work with his/her team to prepare, understand and record team decisions on-line in a timely manner. Failure to do so will result in severe repercussions for the entire team. Keep in mind that, whenever possible, each team should include members from several different disciplines, since business decisions at this level require input from each of the firm’s functional areas. A team made up of four close friends who happen to all be Marketing or Finance majors is not likely to be a very effective team. Please keep in mind that each member of the team will be expected to contribute to his/her team’s efforts in implementing this competitive simulation project. Each team member will have the opportunity to evaluate the degree of effort exhibited by his or her teammates. Each individual’s final grade for this project will be assigned based on this peer evaluation feedback, as well as each individual’s knowledge of the simulation exercise (determined via on-line testing) and the comparative performance of the firm you represent in the competitive environment of the simulation exercise.

3) Team Case Presentations will also be performed. The teams will be the same teams that work together on the GLO-BUS On-Line Business Simulation. During the first two weeks of the term, each team will choose a company to study in depth. Toward the end of the semester, your team will deliver a presentation to the class, requiring you to work cooperatively. Your team will assume the role of outside consultants engaged to advise senior management on strategic plans and business policies that might be adopted by your chosen company. Each team, therefore, in consultation with the instructor, will select a well-known company, preferably a publicly traded company whose stock trades primarily on a U.S.-based stock exchange, to research in depth for purposes of preparing and delivering this presentation. Since no two teams can present either the same company, or two companies that compete within the same industry, it will be advantageous to select the firm you wish to present quickly. Assignments will be awarded on a first-come, first served basis. Once you have selected the firm your team is going to present, your team will work together to prepare a comprehensive group oral presentation on the chosen organization. You will then meet with your communication consultant about 7-10 days prior to your scheduled presentation date to complete a full dress rehearsal of your presentation. Be advised that every student in this class MUST present something of substance to the class during this presentation. In other words, each individual must present something that is relevant to the course content rather than merely an introduction and/or a conclusion to the presentation. No student can receive a passing grade for the course unless you do so. In addition to meeting with your communication consultant, at least one week prior to your team’s presentation, each group will be responsible for submitting a brief outline of the presentation and copies of any visual aids to be used during the presentation. Presentations should employ the case analysis methods and strategic management concepts that will be discussed in class. Each presentation should last approximately 40 – 50 minutes, allowing sufficient time for class discussion, questions and critique. Appropriate Internet, journal, and periodical research will, of course, be expected of each student in this team presentation. Such use of citations should be properly documented in the brief outline submitted one week prior to your team’s presentation. As with the GLO-BUS On-Line Business Simulation, each student will be evaluated by his/her peers on his/her contributions to this group project. The instructor will assess each individual’s grade for this assignment based on this peer evaluation feedback, as well as each individual’s knowledge of the course content applied during the presentation and the performance of each individual (both individually and collectively) during this team exercise.

4) Each team is to provide a written summary as a conclusion to your “consulting” case. The paper is to be written by the team, as a team presentation. In other words, it is not to be written as 4 individual papers stapled together and handed in as a single paper. This requires your group to work together on this project. Each page of this paper will include one slide from the PowerPoint show used during the presentation, with a discussion below. It should be properly bound and submitted on or before the day of your presentation. Tables and graphs must include proper references. Appropriate Internet, journal, and periodical research will, of course, be expected of each team in this project. Early in the semester, we will have a library resources workshop that will help you to avoid superficial research. Proper grammar and use of citations will be expected. Once again, this paper will be due on or before the date on which your particular company cases are presented by your team in class.

5) There will be several case discussions during the semester in which the whole class will participate. These cases will be assigned on a routine basis. You should analyze the critical issues presented in the case, and come to class prepared to discuss your analysis and provide recommendations for the firm. Bear in mind that short quizzes may be given without warning on the day that any particular case has been assigned. These quizzes will be included in the computation of your final grade. Under no circumstances will a make up be offered, so attendance will be vital to your successful completion of this course.

6) Each individual member of this class will be responsible for researching current events found in the major business sections of newspapers and business magazines. Articles related to corporate strategy and business policy should be clipped and brought to class for discussion. Your class participation points will be generated via this article portfolio project. In addition, an electronic Blackboard will be used for communication purposes. All students MUST post current events to the discussion board on the Blackboard site. Especially critical will be articles related to the industries that will be presented in class. Please bear in mind that this is a term-long project and a large number of postings will, therefore, be required of each student in the class. What constitutes a large number of postings will be discussed in class.

7) There will be a maximum of four (4) exams administered over the course of this semester. Two of these exams will test student knowledge of the GLO-BUS On-Line Business Simulation. These exams will be administered on-line and will be open book in nature. The other two exams will be based on the course content found in the course text by Parthasarthy and Booke. Makeup exams will not be allowed except in the case of overwhelming hardship. Such hardship can be read as severe illness requiring hospitalization as verified by a physician on hospital letterhead. Cheating, plagiarism and/or other lapses in ethical behavior will not be tolerated.

Note on Academic Integrity:

Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. The following definitions are based on the College's Academic Honesty website:

Cheating is the attempted or unauthorized use of materials, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise.

Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work Unauthorized collaborating on a take home assignment or examination Using unauthorized notes during a closed book examination Using unauthorized electronic devices during an examination Taking an examination for another student Asking or allowing another student to take an examination for you Changing a corrected exam and returning it for more credit Submitting substantial portions of the same paper to two classes without consulting the second instructor Preparing answers or writing notes in a blue book (exam booklet) before an examination Allowing others to research and write assigned papers including the use of commercial term paper services

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person's ideas, research or writing as your own: Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: Copying another person's actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes (a functional limit is four or more words taken from the work of another) Presenting another person's ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging them. Using information that is not considered common knowledge without acknowledging the source. Failure to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignment

My policy regarding lapses of academic integrity is to give a failing grade to any assignment that has been plagiarized or an exam in which you have cheated. In addition, I am required by College policy to submit a report of suspected academic dishonesty to the Office of the Dean of Students. This report becomes part of your permanent file.

READING LIST:
Session Topic Assignment

Aug 27 Introduction and Overview and Introduction to Simulation
Sept 1 Team Formation and Introductions

Sept 3 Case Presentation Assignments Introduction to Simulation GLO GLO-BUS Web Site (http://www.glo-bus.com)

Sept 8 Introduction to Strategic Management SM, Ch. 1 ***Deadline Glo-Bus Quiz 1 – On-line exam – Open book – Absolute Deadline Sunday, Sept 13 Sept 17 Library Resources Workshop GLO-BUS Trial Decision 1 – Year 6 – Sept 20

Sept 24 CIC Workshop – Case Analysis Methods SM, Ch. 10 Sept 25 Continue Introduction to Strategic Management SM, Ch. 1 GLO-BUS Trial Decision 2 – Year 7 – Sept 27

Sept 29 Finish Introduction to Strategic Management SM, Ch. 1 Strategic Management Process: Stakeholder Analysis SM, Ch. 2 And a Firm’s Mission Oct 1 Environmental Analysis SM, Ch. 3 *** Deadline Glo-Bus Quiz 2 – On-line exam – Open book – Absolute Deadline Sunday, Oct 4

Oct 6 Finish Environmental Analysis SM, Ch. 3

Oct 8 Internal Analysis: Assessing Competencies SM, Ch. 4
GLO-BUS Decision 1 – Year 6 – Oct 11 Oct 13 Strategy Formulation – Business Level SM, Ch. 5

Oct 15 Finish Strategy Formulation – Business Level SM, Ch. 5 GLO-BUS Decision 2 – Year 7 – Oct 18

Session Topic Assignment Oct 20 ***Booke Book Quiz # 1 (SM Chaps. 1-5)

Oct 22 Strategy Formulation – Global Markets SM, Ch. 6 GLO-BUS Decision 3 – Year 8 – Oct 25

Oct 27 Strategy Formulation – Corporate Level SM, Ch. 7

Oct 29 Finish Strategy Formulation – Corporate Level SM, Ch. 7 GLO-BUS Decision 4 – Year 9 -- Nov 1 Nov 3 Strategy Implementation – Organization Structure SM, Ch. 8

Nov 5 Evaluating Performance – Control Systems SM, Ch. 9 GLO-BUS Decision 5 – Year 10 – Nov 8

Nov 10 ***Quiz # 2 (SM Chaps. 6-9)

Nov 12 Team Case Presentation 1
GLO-BUS Decision 6 – Year 11 – Nov 15 Nov 17 Team Case Presentation 2 Nov 19 Team Case Presentation 3 GLO-BUS Decision 7 – Year 12 – Nov 22 Nov 24 Team Case Presentation 4 Dec 1 Team Case Presentation 5 GLO-BUS Decision 8 – Year 13 – Nov 29 Dec 3 Team Case Presentation 6 GLO-BUS Decision 9 – Year 14 – Dec 6 Dec 8 Team Case Presentation 7
Summarize Presentations and Grading Procedures

Dec 10 Summary: Strategic Management Process
Feedback: Business Management Simulation
Overall Conclusions

Dec 17 or Dec. 22 Final Exam (Specific Date and Time, by Section, TBA)

Note: The instructor reserves the right to change the order in which chapters will be covered. This decision will be based on the degree of serious class participation and the progress made during each class session. Announcements will be made should changes and/or additions to this syllabus be required.
Attendance:
As much as possible, this class will be treated as a business. Therefore, as with any business, your attendance becomes a critical factor. Attendance will have no positive effect on your grade. On the other hand, participation in class discussions will positively affect your grade. Therefore, attendance will be a critical factor in your success in this class. Under normal circumstances, therefore, a maximum of four (4) absences will be permitted for this class. More than four (4) absences may result in a student being dropped from the class. In addition, if you are absent for more than one presentation, your final grade will be affected. Finally, if you are absent from your own presentation, you will not receive a passing grade for this course. Consider this last rule to be absolute! No exceptions will be offered!

Grading: Course content exam score number 1 = 10 points Course content exam score number 2 = 15 points Glo-bus Quiz score number 1 = 05 points Glo-bus Quiz score number 2 = 10 points Simulation Team Performance and 2 on-line exams = 20 points Team Company and Individual Presentation (40 minutes) = 25 points And Written Case Summary = 10 points Article Portfolio & Class Participation = 05 points Total = 100points