"There are five managerial roles; they are to set objectives, organize, motivate and communicate, measure, and develop people."
-Peter Drucker (1909-2005)

Course Outline/Calendar

The purpose of this web site is to provide information and materials for students enrolled in Wayne Smith's Business 497a course, Class # 13680, for the Fall, 2021 semester. This course meets Thu 7:00pm - 9:45pm (Thu 9/2 - Thu 12/9, 16 weeks) in Zoom [ Campus Map ]. This course is taught in the online format. This course is offered by the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). CSU Northridge is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system.

The following summary identifies the key terms used in the course outline.

Note: Materials listed as (CSUN only) are restricted to CSUN students, faculty, and staff only. To access these restricted materials, CSUN stakeholders will need to enter their full CSUN email address and their CSUN password. There is a small chance this type of authentication may not work for some smartphones or tablets; in that case, simply use a laptop or desktop computer.

Question:

A general organizing question to place this particular material in context

Topic(s):

General topic(s) to be discussed

Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson:

Readings from the textbook

Library:

Readings from the library materials (or occasionally, a direct, online resource)

Supplemental:

Miscellaneous Readings

Due:

Assignment or report due at the immediate beginning of class

Review:

Usually a student-led review of an assignment or report

Exercise:

done individually or in teams (announced and collected in-class)

Activity:

done individually or in teams (announced and done either in-class or as homework)

Lecture:

a lecture or presentation done by the instructor

Video Clip(s):

Video Clip(s) shown in class, typically from a movie or TV show

Quiz:

a relatively short test

Exam:

a relatively long test

(contingency)

Slack time embedded during the course to cover unforeseen events

The following is the detail of the course in chronological order. Students must complete the readings and assignments before the due date.

• Topic(s): Enrollment Management, Class Materials, Class Introduction
• Assumptions I'll Make About You:
  • Supplemental: Student Success: The Multiple Perspectives of a Business Student [ .ppt ]
  • Ethical Decision-making [ .ppt ] (Fri. Oct 29, 2021)
  • Teams and Teamwork [ .pdf ] (Tue. Nov 9, 2021)
  • Sample Quiz - Spreadsheets [ .pdf ]
  • Examples of Strong Writing: Sentences [ .ppt ], Paragraphs [ .ppt ], Arguments [ .ppt ], and Style [ .ppt ]
  • Examples of Areas for Improvement: Language Use and Grammar [ .ppt ]
    • Detailed Writing Errors [ .xls ]
  • Lecture: Professional Influence (Elements of an Argument) [ .ppt ]
  • Lecture: Public Speaking Tips (pp. 12-5 to 12-10) [ .pdf ]
• Lecture: Introductory Background Lecture [ .pptx ] (Tue. Dec 15, 2020)
• Lecture: Strategy and Your Career [ .pptx ] (Sun. Aug 18, 2024)
• Library: Sandberg (Tardiness Contagion)
• Activity: Class "Icebreaker" [ .ppt ]

• Topic(s): Enrollment Management
• Activity: Discuss Assignment: Strategic Opportunity/Challenge Essay
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 1, Strategy, Business Models, and Competitive Advantage
• Library: Terlep (Clorox)
• Library: Jurgensen (Kid Rock)
  • Question(s): What is Kid Rock's new strategy? Which Lower- and Upper-Division Core concepts might have been used in the strategic analysis?
• Library: Shah (Madonna)
  • Question(s): How is Madonna changing the Business Model (Customer Value Proposition and Profit Formula)? Which Lower- and Upper-Division Core concepts might have been used in the strategic analysis?
• Library: Baer (Fidelity/Teens/Investing)
  • Question(s): What is Fidelity's new strategy? How might Fidelity use the Textbook's "Three Tests of a Winning Strategy" to evaluate this strategy?
• Library: Stoll (Long-term Thinking)
  • Question(s): How do we reconcile the thesis of this article with the practical aspects of business reporting? What are the ethical considerations related to strategy?
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 2, Strategy Formulation, Execution, and Governance
• Lecture: Walt Disney's 1957 "Strategy Map" [ .pdf ] (Mon. Feb 27, 2017)
• Lecture: Examples of Organizational Values and Strategic Vision/Mission/Objectives/Goals
  • Andy Gump, AMGEN, Midnight Mission, LA City Fire Department (.pdf) (pp. 3-11 only)
• Library: Vranica (WW International)
• Lecture: Drucker's 15 Principles across 5 Dimensions [ .html ]
• Lecture: Balanced Scorecard (Example) [ .html ]
• Library: Frieden (Covid/Countries)

• Due: Assignment: Strategic Opportunity/Challenge Essay
• Activity: Discuss Strategy 'Story' (Current Event) [ .pdf ] (Sun. Sep 18, 2022)
• Library: Rigdon (Kodak, 1991)
• Library: Munir (Kodak, 2012)
• Library: Kapner (Sears) [long, magazine-length article]
• Lecture: Team Assignment
• Lecture: 'Strategic Analysis of a Firm' Firm choices [ .pdf ] (Wed. Sep 13, 2023)
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 3, Evaluating a Company's External Environment
• Library: Mann (Amtrak)
• Library: Shah (Music Superstars/Power)
• Library: Flint (Movie Stars/Pay)
• Lecture: U.N. Sustainable Development Goals [ .html ]
• Lecture: FTSE Russell ESG (CSR) Ratings [ .pdf ]
• Lecture: Public Benefit Corporations - 'B' Lab Impact Report [ Sample (Etsy) - Summary (.html), Sample (RStudio) - Detailed (.html) ]

• Lecture: Guest, Craig Oka/Danielle Rodriguez/Kelsey Beisecker (Director/Coordinator(s), Nazarian College Career Education and Professional Development (CEPD) Office)
  • office: BB2234, phone: 818-677-4697
  • Nazarian CEPD 'Handshake' Registration (answer the questionnaire to set up a profile) [ .html (login) ] [ .pdf (more Assignment details) ]
  • Nazarian CEPD 'VMock' Registration (create a login with your CSUN email address and upload your current resume twice) [ .html (login) ] [ .pdf (more Assignment details) ]
  • Supplemental: Important Career Dates For Fall, 2021 [ .pdf ]
• Due: Strategy 'Story' (Current Event)
• Activity: Discuss "The Founder" movie Analysis [ .pdf ] (Tue. Sep 27, 2022)
• Due: First, second, and third 'Strategic Analysis of a Firm' Firm choices
• Lecture: Description of 'Strategic Analysis of a Firm' deliverables: analysis (written and presentation) [ .html ]
• (contingency)

• Supplemental: Movie "The Founder" (in Canvas, click on "Modules" on the left side, and then click on "founder.mp4" to watch this video)
• Due: Movie "The Founder" movie Analysis
• Activity: "The Founder" movie Analysis
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 4, Evaluating a Company's Resources, Capabilities, and Competitiveness
• Library: Simon (Red Wing Boots)
• Library: Stoll (Restaurant Delivery)
• Library: Foldy (Electric Car Batteries Strategy)
• Lecture: Strategy and Entrepreneurship ("VRIN" Analysis ) [ .ppt ] (Wed. Dec 16, 2020)
• Library: Bobrow (Rogers/Apeel)
• Library: Baker (Questions To Ask When Starting a Business)
• Lecture: Strategy and "Intrapreneurship" ("RBV" Analysis) [ .ppt ] (Tue. Mar 27, 2018)

• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 5, The Five Generic Competitive Strategies
• Library: Sindreu (Ryanair)
• Lecture: Economic Drivers [ .pdf ] (Thu. Dec 12, 2024)
• Library: Terlep (P&G Diapers)
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Appendix, Key Financial Ratios and Other Important Measures of Financial Performance
• Library: Forman (Customer Loyalty)
• Supplemental: Leadership Overview [ .pdf ] (Fri. Nov 4, 2022)
• Supplemental: Brief WSJ articles on Strategy and Leadership ("The Captain Class") [ .html ] (Sun. Feb 21, 2021)

• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 6, Strengthening a Company's Competitive Position: Strategic Moves, Timing, and Scope of Operations
• Library: Stoll (Tesla)
• Library: Haddon (Pizza Delivery)
• Supplemental: 'Strategic Analysis of a Firm' (Common Errors and Omissions) [ .ppt ] (Sun. Aug 15, 2021)
• Mid-course Team Evaluation
  • Activity: Informal Team Evaluation [ .pdf ] (Tue. Nov 9, 2021)
  • Activity: Performance Improvement [ .ppt ] (Wed. Jan 11, 2017)
  • Activity: Team meeting with the Instructor (if necessary)
• Activity: Personal Reflection #1
• (contingency)

• Exam: Mid-term
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 7, Strategies for Competing in International Markets
• Library: Purnell (India)
• Library: Wernau (China)
• Library: Satariano/Bubola (Italy)
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 8, Corporate Strategy: Diversification and the Multi-business Company
• Library: Shah (Beyoncé/Coachella)
• Library: Gryta/Mann (General Electric) [long, magazine-length article]
• Library: Forman (AirBnB/Vrbo)
  • Lecture: Tables (Assessment): Competitive Analysis [ .xlsx ]
• (contingency)

• Due: Assignment: Strategic Analysis of the Firm (Written)
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 9, Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability, and Strategy
• Supplemental: Corporate Social Responsibility [ .pdf ]
• Library: Statman (ESG investments)
• Library: Ryan (Congress/Tech Firms)
• Supplemental: PWCs 'The Essential Eight Technologies' (read just a high-level review only) [ .html ]
• Library: Toplensky (Green Hydrogen Strategy)
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 10, Superior Strategic Execution—Another Path to Competitive Advantage
• Library: Hufford (3M)
• Library: Ziobro (Mattel)
• Supplemental: Strategy and Culture at Southwest Airlines [ .ppt ] (Thu. Apr 15, 2021)
• Supplemental: Strategy and Complex Systems [ .pdf ] (Tue. Dec 15, 2020)
• Supplemental: Complex Systems Analysis (Megaships) [ .pdf ] (Sat. Jan 23, 2021)
• Lecture: Presenter Team's Responsibilities
• Lecture: Audience Teams' Responsibilities
• Lecture: Discussion ("Challenge") Question Template [ .pdf ]
• (contingency)

• Due: Strategic Analysis of a Firm (Presentation) - Team 1
• Due: Strategic Analysis of a Firm (Presentation) - Team 2

• (no class, Veterans' Day Holiday)

• Due: Strategic Analysis of a Firm (Presentation) - Team 3
• Due: Strategic Analysis of a Firm (Presentation) - Team 4

• (no class, Thanksgiving Day Holiday)

• Due: Strategic Analysis of a Firm (Presentation) - Team 5
• Due: Strategic Analysis of a Firm (Presentation) - Team 6

• Supplemental: Comprehensive, Integrative Application
  • Library: Watson (Sony/Streaming/Strategy)
  • Question: Can you, now, at the end of semester, link substantive concepts from our course (both theory and practice) to the key ideas presented in this article?
  • Analysis (sample): [ .pdf ]
• Supplemental: Upward Influence [ .ppt ] (Thu. Apr 8, 2021)
• Supplemental: How To Be a More Strategic Thinker [ .pdf ] (Thu. May 20, 2021)
• Supplemental: How To 'Talk Strategically' [ .html ]
• (Fall: First Destinations survey data) (Nazarian CEPD email from November) (please complete by the end of today) [ .html ]
• (Fall: student evaluations of faculty) (please complete by Mon. Dec 13 at 11:59pm) [ .html ]
• Activity: Personal Reflection #2
• Activity: Formal Team Evaluation
• Supplemental: "CalStatePays" (post-graduation salary data for several CSU campuses) [ .html ]
• (contingency)

• Note: Special Time - (8:00pm - 10:00pm)
• Note: This day and time needs to be verified by each student individually in SOLAR after the beginning of the semester (especially to make sure there are no conflicts).
• Note: For this class session, please remember to use the new Zoom address sent via email.
• Exam: Final Exam