"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 # 13284, for the Spring, 2025 semester. This course meets Tue/Thu 8:30am - 9:45am (Tue 1/21 - Thu 5/8, 16 weeks) in BB1208 [ Campus Map ]. This course is taught in the traditional 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: Review of First Principles (Fundamentals): Lower-Division Core [ .pptx ] Upper-Division Core [ .pptx ]
  • Supplemental: Student Success: The Multiple Perspectives of a Business Student [ .pptx ]
  • Ethical Decision-making [ .pptx ] (Sat. Jul 16, 2022)
  • Teams and Teamwork [ .pdf ] (Tue. Nov 9, 2021)
  • Sample Quiz - Spreadsheets [ .pdf ]
  • Examples of Strong Writing: Sentences [ .pptx ], Paragraphs [ .pptx ], Arguments [ .pptx ], and Style [ .pptx ]
  • Examples of Areas for Improvement: Language Use and Grammar [ .pptx ]
    • Detailed Writing Errors [ .xlsx ]
  • Lecture: Professional Influence (Elements of an Argument) [ .pptx ]
  • 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 ] (Wed. Jan 8, 2025)
• Library: Sandberg (Tardiness Contagion)

• Lecture: Guest, Craig Oka/Danielle Rodriguez/Karla Ayala (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 Spring, 2024
    • Industry Night - [ .html ] (All Nazarian students)
    • Meet the Firms - Day/Time [ .html ], Registration - [ .html ] (Accountancy students)

• Activity: Discuss Assignment: Strategic Opportunity/Challenge Essay
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 1, Strategy, Business Models, and Competitive Advantage
• Lecture: Business Models and Profit Models (examples) [ .pptx ] (Mon. Jan 6, 2025)
• Library: Terlep (Clorox)
  • Question(s): Why is CEO Linda Rendle an interesting person? What was her early involvement with strategy at 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: Kapner (American Made T-Shirts)
  • Question(s): What is American Giant's strategy? What is the 'core' of the strategy? How might American Giant 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. 3-5, 8-9, 12 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)

• 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: Schechner (Data Centers Warm Homes)
• Library: Herrera (Amazon/Online Car Sales)
• Library: Shah (Music Superstars/Power)
• Library: Flint (Movie Stars/Pay)
• Lecture: U.N. Global Compact Principles [ .html ]
• Lecture: FTSE Russell ESG (CSR) Ratings [ .pdf ]
• Library: Ioannou (Public Benefit Corporations)
• Lecture: Sample Public Benefit Corporations - 'B' Lab Impact Report [ Sample (Posit) - Detailed (.html), Ten (10) Samples (.html) ]
• Library: Lim (Larry Fink/BlackRock)

• 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: Sindreu (Boeing/Sourcing Strategies)
• Library: Foldy (Electric Car Batteries Strategy)
• Library: Simon (Red Wing Boots)

• Lecture: Strategy and Entrepreneurship ("VRIN" Analysis ) [ .pptx ] (Mon. Feb 26, 2024)
• Library: Bobrow (Rogers/Apeel)
• Library: Baker (Questions To Ask When Starting a Business)
• Library: Baker (Questions Potential Business Partners Should Ask Themselves)
• Lecture: Strategy and "Intrapreneurship" ("RBV" Analysis) [ .pptx ] (Sat. May 28, 2022)
• Library: Blunt (PG&E Strategy)

• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 5, The Five Generic Competitive Strategies
• Library: Sindreu (Ryanair)
• Lecture: Economic Drivers [ .pdf ] (Mon. Jan 6, 2025)
• Library: Terlep (P&G Diapers)
• Library: Higgins (Tesla's Cost-Cutting)

• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Appendix, Key Financial Ratios and Other Important Measures of Financial Performance
• Lecture: Economic Drivers [ .pdf ] (continued) (Mon. Jan 6, 2025)
• Library: Sindreu (Airlines Premium Downgrade)
• Library: Forman (Customer Loyalty)
• Supplemental: Leadership Overview [ .pdf ] (Fri. Nov 4, 2022)
• Library: Lafley (Advice to a CEO)
• Library: Terlep (How To Fix Boeing)

• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 6, Strengthening a Company's Competitive Position: Strategic Moves, Timing, and Scope of Operations
• Library: Haddon (Pizza Delivery)
• Library: Kapner (Retail/E-Commerce)
• Library: Stoll (Tesla)
• Supplemental: 'Strategic Analysis of a Firm' (Common Errors and Omissions) [ .pptx ] (Tue. Mar 28, 2023)
• Mid-course Team Evaluation
  • Activity: Informal Team Evaluation [ .pdf ] (Tue. Nov 9, 2021)
  • Activity: Performance Improvement [ .pptx ] (Fri. Nov 25, 2022)
  • Activity: Team meeting with the Instructor (if necessary)

• Activity: Personal Reflection #1
• Diagram/Table/Chart examples
  • Lecture: Diagrams (P.E.S.T.E.L. and Five Forces) (Textbook 6th ed. Chapter 3, pp. 38, 40)
  • Lecture: Bubble Charts (Strategic Groups) (Textbook 6th ed. Chapter 3, p. 56)
  • Lecture: Tables (Assessment) (Textbook 6th ed. Chapter 4, p. 81) (Textbook 6th ed. Chapter 8, pp. 166, 168)
  • Lecture: Bubble Charts (from the Assessment tables, make Assessment charts) (Textbook 6th ed. Chapter 8, p. 169)
  • Lecture: Positioning Charts (Gartner's Magic Quadrant) [ .html ]
  • Lecture: "Comprehensive" Charts (City and the Proportion of Tech Jobs by the State's Tech Diversity by Cost relative to New York City) [ .png ]
• Library: Tweh/Riley (Tech Giants)
  • Lecture: Network Relationship ('Star') Chart: (primarily 'enemies') News Aggregation [ .png ]
  • Lecture: Network Relationship ('Star') Chart: (primarily 'frenemies', secondarily 'enemies') Videogames [ .png ]
  • Lecture: Network Relationship ('Star') Chart: (partly 'friends', partly 'enemies', partly 'frenemies') Cloud Computing [ .png ]
• Library: Forman (AirBnB/Vrbo)
  • Lecture: Decision Table (Assessment) Example: Competitive Analysis [ .xlsx ]
• (contingency)

• Exam: Mid-term

• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 7, Strategies for Competing in International Markets
• Lecture: Strategy and Culture [ .pptx ] (Mon. Mar 21, 2022)
• Library: Purnell (Tech/India)
• Library: Jie (Apple/Asia)
• Library: Douglas, J., and Xie, S.Y. ("Made in China")
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 8, Corporate Strategy: Diversification and the Multi-business Company
• Library: Shah (Beyoncé/Coachella)
• Library: Gryta (The 'End' of General Electric)
• Library: Hufford (3M)

• (no class, Spring Recess)

• (no class, Spring Recess)

• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 9, Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability, and Strategy
• Supplemental: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (pro/con) [ .pdf ]

• Library: Statman (ESG investments)
• Library: Berg (Why ESG Ratings Vary)
• Library: Rosenbush (Big Tech Firms)
• Library: Niiler (Bitcoin/Water Use)

• Supplemental: PWCs 'The Essential Eight Technologies' [ .html ]
• Library: Toplensky (Green Hydrogen)
• Library: Gasparro (Tech-Enabled Food)
• Library: Friedman (3-D Printed Homes)
• Library: Heller (Power/Backup)
• Lecture: Technology and Analytics [ .pptx ]
• Library: Rogers/Davis (Toyota Rejects Moving to All EVs)

• Due: Assignment: Strategic Analysis of the Firm (Written)
• Gamble/Peteraf/Thompson: Ch. 10, Superior Strategic Execution—Another Path to Competitive Advantage
• Library: Joly (Best Buy)
• Library: Mackintosh (Charlie Munger)
• Supplemental: Strategy and Culture at Southwest Airlines [ .pptx ] (Mon. Dec 20, 2021)
• Library: Kellogg/Valentine (Five Mistakes/AI Rollout)

• Library: Wolfe (Lifespan of New Appliances)
• Library: Ziobro (Mattel)
• Supplemental: 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

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

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

• 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 the semester, link substantive concepts from our course (both theory and practice) to the key ideas presented in this article?
  • Analysis (sample): [ .pdf ]
• Supplemental: Sample Case Analysis
  • The 'P.A.C.A.D.I.' case summary/analysis approach used by Harvard MBA students [ .pdf ]
  • Supplemental (don't read...just an example): Pepsi Co. (sample case) [ .pdf ]
• Supplemental: Upward Influence [ .pptx ] (Fri. Dec 13, 2024)
• Supplemental: How To Be a More Strategic Thinker [ .pdf ] (Thu. May 20, 2021)
• Supplemental: How To 'Talk Strategically' [ .html ]
• (Spring: First Destinations survey data) (Nazarian CEPD email from April) (please complete by the end of today) [ .html ]
• (Spring: student evaluations of faculty) (please complete by Fri. May 10 at 11:59pm) [ .html ]
• (contingency)

• Activity: Formal Team Evaluation
• Activity: Personal Reflection #2
• Library: Hammer ('Follow Your Opportunities...Not Your Dreams')

• Note: Special Time - (8:00am - 9:00am)
• 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).
• Exam: Final Exam