(11/17/09) Revised the Questions/Topics for Specific Cases piece on the web to include questions for the Apple case.
The reports on this case are an important final product from each of you, allocated 20% of the course grade, so it
is important that you do your best. Be sure to read the four items on the web re this: Written Case Reports,
Case Report Headings, Case Report Grading Criteria, and Common Failings in Case Reports.
(11/10/09) Posted
information about the exam, including three
ethics questions, one of which will be on the exam.
(9/12/09) Set up the industry for the BSG (Business Strategy Game). You need to register
individually on-line (costs $37.50), using the link and information on
this site.
Use the Registration Code given there corresponding to the letter I gave you to start your company
name. They now allow up to 13 characters in the name, so you can change the one you gave me Thursday.
Just enter the new name when you first set up your company, including the names of your executive
team, but continue to have the name start with the letter I gave you. (You need to use Internet Explorer.)
(9/2/09) Posted the Nike case and
Porter article from the case book,
for those waiting for your books to arrive.
GENERAL NOTES & REMINDERS:
Make a point of reading the Strategic Thinking and
Strategic Management
Process modules several times during the first weeks as we work through the strategic
management model in detail with its application to a sample case.
You should read the module on Assignment Details
at the beginning of the semester and then study in depth specific sections as you work on various
assignments during the semester. As you start work on each of the case briefs, you should review
the Case Briefs section. As you work on the full-length written case report, you should follow the
format given in the Written Case Analysis Reports and Case Report Headings sections, and make
use of the suggestions in those sections plus make use of the hints and suggestions in the
subsequent two sections (Case Report Grading Criteria & Common Failings in Case
Reports). There also are three sections regarding the participation assignment(s), which include
both your participation in class discussions and short written assignments to support a quality
class discussion (and to help your learning).
Please don't ask me what is expected on an assignment before you have carefully studied
the appropriate section that explains
it.
There may be some additional short written assignments as part of the participation grade.
Re working in your teams on the BSG: recall that one of the five major learning objectives I
defined for this course is "To improve your capabilities to work well with others in various group
situations." That includes my expectation that you will practice and improve your skills in
working in groups/teams throughout the BSG project - during analysis and making the annual
decisions, and in preparing various deliverables (the business plan, the final debriefing
presentation
and report). This means that all team members should be conscious of and try to use their best
team-work skills, e.g., (a) clarifying objectives, roles, responsibilities, meeting times; (b)
ensuring
and facilitating that all members participate fully; (c) fulfilling assignments and obligations well
and on-time; (d) dealing with problems, issues, and conflicts directly and constructively; and (e)
being "self-conscious" about its own process and operation. This means that there should be no
over-dominant or under-participating members in each team. It is just as important to practice
good team skills as to make "good" decisions in the BSG.
Regarding ordering the BSG online: you will need to do this later in the semester, after we establish the teams and I then set up our industry online.
