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GBA 687/8 - PMBASpring 2005

A Brief Overview

Dr. Stan Abraham

MHR Dept.

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Prerequisites (just for my info)

To enroll in the course, you MUST have taken:

GBA 537/8 GBA 615/6 GBA 645/6 GBA 628/9

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Same Old, Same Old . . .

Most courses on strategic management teach you ABOUT the topic and how companies fare using different strategies

The textbook costs up to $120 You’re tested on this knowledge in a

mid-term and final exam:– You forget everything a week later

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This Course’s Focus

To learn what is involved in doing a strategic analysis

To acquire the skill of doing a strategic analysis and presenting the results to a critical audience

Take that skill with you when you finish the course and program– You won’t forget it in a hurry– You’ll enjoy it more

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Plus, You Will . . .

Come to terms with what strategic analysis or planning means to you

Reflect on how valuable your MBA program has been in preparing you for the challenges that lie ahead

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What Do You Think?

Do you like the course’s focus? Thoughts?

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What We Will Do Today

See who’s here – take roll Discuss syllabus and expectations

(this presentation) Introduce ourselves to each other Form groups Take photographs Discuss SAMtw software

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The Other Ten Class Sessions

2. Learn about strategic analysis—long lecture, so plan to stay late

3-8. Practice on the six remaining cases in class, one per week

9. In-class help with final presentations

10-11. Demonstrate your ability—Final group presentations

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What Happens OUT of Class

Read the Abraham book, become familiar with SAMtw, and use SAMtw on cases and the final project

Write the strategic-thinking paper and reflective mini-papers

Prepare each of the cases in the casebook Do a group-strategy project on a real

company Read the De Kluyver/Pearce book and submit

a book review on it (GBA 688)

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The Net Result

There’s lots to do in a short quarter You must take more responsibility for your

own learning The more you do and the harder you try,

the more you will learn and the more I will help you

You should ask lots of questions all the time– the one thing that will enhance your learning the

most

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My Roles

To create a learning environment To facilitate class discussions To provide help and feedback both

in class and out– In person (before and after class)– By phone and e-mail seven days a

week

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How to Reach Me

Campus office is Room 94-277 Campus extension is 2420 Campus e-mail is scabraham (also gets

forwarded to me at home) Home telephone number is in the

syllabus– Don’t call after 10 PM (or after 8 PM on Sunday)– Don’t ask for feedback the day before (or day of) a

presentation

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Grading (may change due to small class size)

Try to earn as many points as you can in GBA 687– Three papers – 10 points ea. = 30 pts– Partial case analyses – 21 points– Participation – 14 points– Group project – 35 points

The 56 “group” points (blue) are subject to modification by your GCRF

The book review for GBA 688 is graded separately

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Participation Grade (14 points)

For class attendance, 6 points For participating in general discussions

and asking questions after others’ presentations, 8 points– Only my perception counts (after week 3)

More than one unexcused absence will adversely affect your participation grade

More than four unexcused absences earns an automatic ‘F’ in the course

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Required Books

Abraham book and companion CD-ROM– Key to doing a strategic analysis– Read Parts 1 and 2 within the first four weeks– Familiarize yourself with the SAM (CD-ROM)

Thomson Casebook– We will do all four cases– Download two others from my website– Brings the real world into the classroom

De Kluyver/Pearce book– Provides the breadth missing from my book– Do a book review for GBA 688 assignment

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The Association for Strategic Planning (ASP)

A professional association that I co-founded in October 1999 and currently serve as Past President and board member

Rose out of the ashes of the bankrupt Strategic Leadership Forum

The Los Angeles Chapter meets at the Renaissance Hotel near LAX on second Tuesday of each month

www.strategyplus.org Last year became a national organization with

chapters Student memberships available

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Any Questions?