B171 - Business Policy and Strategy

Course details are provided as a general guide.  Faculty may change certain aspects associated with the description that follows.  Please check with the bookstore for specific textbooks and other required readings.  Faculty may also place required readings on reserve at Gutman Library or on the Library's ERES (electronic reserve) system. Course registrants are responsible for obtaining a syllabus and project descriptions from the instructor.

RECOMMENDED READING: (optional)
The Wall Street Journal; Business Week; Fortune.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Business Policy & Strategy is a senior-level business core course. The process and techniques of strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation are studied and applied. Case studies of domestic and international companies and not-for-profit organizations are used to integrate strategic management concepts with knowledge acquired in other functional area courses. The course includes extensive written individual and team assignments and oral presentations.

COURSE PREREQUISITES:
The prerequisites for Business Policy & Strategy are: senior status, B122 Introduction to Information Systems, B123 Principles of Management, B221 Principles of Marketing and B642 Financial Management.

It is your responsibility to make certain that you have successfully completed these courses. If at any time during the semester it is learned that you have not successfully completed the prerequisites, you will be dropped from the course and receive neither credit nor a tuition refund.

COURSE OBJECTIVES & EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
The course is designed to help students to acquire the knowledge and develop the skills necessary to carry out strategic analysis. To this end, students must also develop the ability to synthesize functional knowledge previously acquired either  through formal course work, or work experience. 

Sound strategic analysis requires gathering adequate information. Therefore, an expected outcome is that students will learn to find and assess sources of company, industry and environmental information.

The course is also aimed at helping students engage in strategic design with special emphasis on the international aspects of strategy.  Consequently, students will learn  the methods and techniques of innovative strategic thinking. Also, students will become familiar with the most current models of competitive analysis and strategic design in global industries and markets.

COURSE POLICIES:
Please refer to the policies page for minimum expected standards and behavior in all classes.

COURSE OUTLINE: