Welcome to strategy.sjsu.edu

Class schedule


Jan 29th, 2018
(Monday)
1. Introduction to the Course and the Simulation
To prepare: Buy the book - “Strategic Management 3rd edition Concepts and Cases”
Download - “Supplemental Readings in Strategy”
Download - Business Policy Game manual
Class agenda:
  • Purpose and learing goals
  • Information you will need
    • Text book - On-line, customized version of Frank Rothaermel’s book “Strategic Management 3rd edition Concepts and Cases”
    • Other required reading - accumulated handouts in “Supplemental Readings in Strategy”
    • Cases
  • Culminating Experience: The Business Policy Game Simulation
  • Assignments and Exams
  • Sumitting assignments using Canavas (not for score summary)
  • Grading
  • Teams
  • Introdution to the Business Policy Game
    • Key functions
      • Sales & marketing, demand forcasting
      • Production and operations management, scheduling and capacity planning
      • Accounting, financing and cash flow management
    • Software interface
    • Marketing mix
    • Demand forecasting
  • Four ‘quick fire’ quarters
  • Decision Schedule
  • Feb 5th, 2018
    (Monday)
    2. Generic Strategies, Scale and Learning
    To prepare: Rothaermel, Chapter 6 "Business Strategy: Differentiation, Cost Leadership, and Blue Oceans"
    Supplemental Readings, Chapter 7, "Generic Strategies"
    Rothaermel, Chapter 1 "What Is Strategy, and Why Is It Important?
    Mini case - Threadless: Leveraging Crowdsourcing to Design Cool T-Shirts
    Class agenda:
  • Lecture / discussion – Generic strategies
  • Video – Fiat Chrysler Warren Plant Press ~ 00:10-01:00. 02:11-02:22
  • Lecture / discussion – Profitability, Scale and Learning

    If time permits...
  • Discussion – Mini case - Threadless: Leveraging Crowdsourcing to Design Cool T-Shirts
    Questions:
    • What are the key features of Threadless’ business model?
    • How does each contributed to Threadless’ profitability?
    • Is this a source of sustained competative advantage? Why (or why not)?
  • Presentation slides: Generic strategies
    Profitability, Scale and Learning
    Feb 12th, 2018
    (Monday)
    3. Foundational Corner-stones
    To prepare: Financial Measures handout
    Supplemental Readings, Chapter 2, "Value Creation and Appropriation"
    Frank Rothaermel, Chapter 5, pages 117-122 "Economc Value Creation"
    Bertrand and Cournot - Two models of oligopolostic competition. THIS READING IS OPTIONAL
    Class agenda:
  • The Income ( ‘P & L’ ) Statement
  • Lecture / discussion – Economic Value Creation
    • Value, Price, Cost
    • Value creation and appropriation
    • Prifot and consumer surplus
  • Lecture / discussion – Bertrand and Cournot
    • The Demand Curve
    • Bertrand’s model
    • Cournot’s model
  • Presentation slides: Economic Value Creation
    Bertrand and Cournot
    Feb 19th, 2018
    (Monday)
    4. Organizational Structure, Change, and Control
    To prepare: Rothaermel, Chapter 11 "Organizational Design, Structure, Culture and Control"
    Forecasting model spreadhseet
    Class agenda:
  • Lecture / discussion – Organizational Structure, Change, Culture and Control
    • Mechanistic vs. organic
    • U-form, M-form, conglomerates and matrix
    • Adaptation and change
    • Principals, agents and incentives
  • Sales forecasting – download the Forecasting model spreadhseet here
  • Presentation slides: Organizational Structure, Change, Culture and Control
    Feb 26th, 2018
    (Monday)
    5. Industry and External Analysis
    To prepare: Frank Rothaermel, Chapter 3 "External Analysis: Industry Structure, Competitive Forces, and Strategic Groups"
    Chapter 1, “Competitive Strategy”, Porter, M. E. (1980), Free Press
    Supplemental Readings in Strategy: Chapter 4 "Porter's 5 forces"
    Supplemental Readings in Strategy: Chapter 5 "More on Bargaining Power of Buyers"
    Exide case (up to "Manufacturing, Employees, and Facilities")
    Accounting exercise
    Class agenda:
  • External Analysis
  • Negotiation exercise
  • Case discussion – Exide case (up to "Manufacturing, Employees, and Facilities")
  • In-class exercise – Accounting exercise ( download the questions here: Accounting exercise )
  • Presentation slides: Industry Analysis
    Assignments due: Accounting exercise
    Mar 5th, 2018
    (Monday)
    6. Internal Firm Analysis - The Resource Based View
    To prepare: Frank Rothaermel, Chapter 4 "Internal Analysis: Resources, Capabilities, and Core Competencies"
    Supplemental Readings in Strategy, Chapter 6, "The Resource Based View"
    TeleDanmark in 1995
    The Air Express Industry
    Airborne Express in 2002
    Frank Rothaermel, Mini-case 13 "From Good to Great to Gone: The Rise and Fall of Circuit City"
    Class agenda:
  • Internal Analysis
  • Please read The Air Express Industry for the industry background to Airborne Express case
  • Case discussion – Airborne Express in 2002
  • Case discussion – Frank Rothaermel, Mini-case 13 "From Good to Great to Gone: The Rise and Fall of Circuit City"
  • Presentation slides: The Resource Based View of the Firm
    Assignments due: P-score weights
    360 Evaluation #1
    Mar 12th, 2018
    (Monday)
    7. Internal Firm Analysis - The Resource Based View Continued
    To prepare: Nucor in 2001
    Frank Rothaermel, Mini-case 8 "From Circuit City to CarMax"
    Class agenda:
  • Case discussion – Nucor in 2001
    If time permits...
  • Case discussion – Frank Rothaermel, Mini-case 8 "From Circuit City to CarMax"
  • Mar 19th, 2018
    (Monday)
    8. Mid-tem Exam
    Class agenda:

  • 2 ½ hours, open book
    Use the link below to submit your answer.
     
  • Assignments due: Mid-term exam
    Business plan
    Apr 2nd, 2018
    (Monday)
    9. Exam review and Business Models
    To prepare: Frank Rothaermel, Chapter 5, page 129 "Popular Business Models"
    Frank Rothaermel, Case: "Barnes & Noble vs Amazon"
    Dixons - Dealing with on-line retailing
    Stihl Chain Saws - Thriving Outside the Big Box
    Class agenda:
  • Team exercise / peer feedback on mid-term
  • Lecture / discussion – Business models
  • Case discussion – Frank Rothaermel, Case: "Barnes & Noble vs Amazon"
  • Case discussion – Dixons - Dealing with on-line retailing
    Focus on what Dixons did to combat the threat from on-line retailing.
    What were the key components of its strategy? What is the key to Dixons' new business model?
  • Case discussion – Stihl Chain Saws - Thriving Outside the Big Box
  • Presentation slides: Business models
    Assignments due: 360 Evaluation #2
    Apr 9th, 2018
    (Monday)
    10. Diversification
    To prepare: Frank Rothaermel, Chapter 8.4 "Corporate Diversification: Expanding Beyond a Single Market"
    First Grayhound, Then Grayhound Dial, Then Dial...
    Case "Sony vs. Apple: Whatever Happened to Sony?"
    Class agenda:
  • Lecture / discussion – Diversification
  • Case discussion – First Grayhound, Then Grayhound Dial, Then Dial...
    If time permits...
  • Case discussion – Case "Sony vs. Apple: Whatever Happened to Sony?"
  • Presentation slides: Diversification
    Apr 16th, 2018
    (Monday)
    11. Acquisition and Vertical Integration
    To prepare: Frank Rothaermel, Chapter 9 "Corporate Strategy: Mergers and Acquisitions, Strategic Alliances"
    The Hanson Trust
    Honda and Triumph (pt 1)
    Frank Rothaermel, Chapter 8.2 "8.2 The Boundaries of the Firm"
    Frank Rothaermel, Chapter 8.2 "8.3 Vertical Integration along the Industry Value Chain"
    Supplemental Readings, Chapter 8, "Transaction Cost Economics"
    Swiss watchmakers - Time is money
    Class agenda:
  • Lecture / discussion – Acquisitions
  • Case discussion – The Hanson Trust
  • Case discussion – Honda and Triumph (pt 1)
  • Lecture / discussion – Vertical Integration and Transaction Cost Economics (TCE)
  • Case discussion – Swiss watchmakers - Time is money
  • Presentation slides: Acquisitions
    Vertical Integration and Transaction Cost Economics (TCE)
    Apr 23rd, 2018
    (Monday)
    12. Network Externalities
    To prepare: The Home Video Game Industry: From Pong to X-box
    Class agenda:
  • Case discussion – The Home Video Game Industry: From Pong to X-box
  • Lecture / discussion – Network Externalities
  • Presentation slides: Network Externalities
    Assignments due: A.I. report assignment
    360 Evaluation #3
    Apr 30th, 2018
    (Monday)
    13. Corporate Social Responsibility and Final Review
    To prepare: Case "Google Inc.: Figuring Out What to do with China"
    Class agenda:
  • Case discussion – Case "Google Inc.: Figuring Out What to do with China"
  • Review of key ideas from this course
    • The Demand Curve, Monopoly and Oligopoly Profit Maximization
    • Value Creation and Appropriation (VPC), Consumer and Producer Surplus
    • Industry Analysis - Porter's model
    • The Resrouce Based View
    • Generic Strategies
    • Diversification
    • Corporate Acquisitions
    • Cash flow valuation
    • Vertical Integration and TCE
    • Financial accounting (P&L, Balance sheet)
    • Present value calculation
    • Network effects
    • Assignments due: Decision tree exercies exercise
      May 7th, 2018
      (Monday)
      14. Artificial Intelliegence
      Class agenda:
    • Guest speaker – Harlan Findley, Director of Strategy Planning and Analysis, People Operations, Google
    • May 14th, 2018
      (Monday)
      15. Presentations
      Class agenda:
    • Presentation of year 7 results

      Imagine this to be a presentation to your board of directors. These are the poeple who hire (or fire) you as the company's managers. Their job is to ensure that you are doing the best possible job for the company's shareholders. Keep this in mind as you put your presentation together.

      • Each team has 30 minutes including time for questions
      • Each team member must present for rougly the same amount of time
      • Bring a hard copy of the slides (for the instructor)
    • Assignments due: Final presentation slides - due the day before the presentation
      360 Evaluation #4
      May 21st, 2018
      (Monday)
      16. Final Exam
      Class agenda:

    • Part 1 - 5:15pm - 6:15pm
    • 1 hour, open book

    • Part 2 - 6:15pm - 7:45pm
    • 1 ½ hours, open book
    • Use the links below for access to the questions and to to submit your answers.
       
    • Assignments due: Final exam - part 1 (~60 minutes)
      Final exam - part 2 (~90 minutes)