COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE: SCS 0974 129

BUSINESS STRATEGY

INSTRUCTOR: Donald Chow, BA, MBA

E-mail: donald.chow@gmail.com
DATE/TIME: January 20 - April 25 2015

REQUIRED TEXT(S): Arthur A. Thompson Jr., A.J. Strickland III, John E. Gamble,
Margaret A. Peteraf Crafting and Executing Strategy: The
Quest for Competitive Advantage Concepts and Cases
(19th Edition) McGraw Hill
ISBN: 978-0-07-802950-9
(we will not be using "Connect" in this course)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Learn to put essential business management principles into

practice with this course on formulating Business strategy.
Examine a wide range of Canadian and International business
situations and issues. Gain critical management expertise in
strategic planning as you work from a general management
perspective to explore and integrate functional activities such
as production, finance and marketing.

PREREQUISITE(S): This course has no predetermined requisites but the

development of a successful Business strategy would rely on
knowledge gained from other business courses such as
Business Management SCS 0977, Financial Management SCS
0976, Accounting: The Fundamentals SCS 0984.

CERTIFICATE(S): Business Management Fundamentals

COURSE By the end of this course, you will:
OBJECTIVES:
Have greater knowledge of and familiarity with Understanding of strategic
business theory
Acquire the skills, values, and attitudes essential to policy formulation and
implementation
have the ability to develop and implement a strategic plan
Understand strategy making at both corporate and functional levels
Be familiar with how societal values and trends affect the development of
strategic policy
GRADING AND Participation (Discussion Boards) 10%
EVALUATION: Midterm Exam 20%
Case Study Project 20%
Final Exam (comprehensive) 50%
Class Participation:
At the beginning of each week discussion questions will be posted on the relevant chapters
that were to be covered. Please participate in the weekly thread with your answers/opinions
to one or more of the questions. Your class participation will consist of the quality of your
class discussion posts. Think of this as your classroom - don't just study the textbook material,
ask questions of your fellow students, offer advice and insight from your own experience. We
are all here to learn, let's share our knowledge.

Final Exam
If you are unable to write the final exam for whatever reason, you can write an Alternate
Examination. The Alternate Examination Application form can be downloaded from our
website: http://learn.utoronto.ca/how-to-register/forms-applications . Please complete this
form, and along with the fee of $150.00, submit it to the Registration Office. An alternate
exam is granted only once.

Feedback and Marks

Students can expect to receive feedback and marks, if applicable, before the course end date,
for all their submitted assignment(s) and term test(s) other than the final exam or final project
or final course paper. However, it is the sole responsibility of students to make sure that they
do get these marks from their instructor and have all related questions answered before the
course ends.

SCS GRADING SCALE: A 80% to 100% Excellent

B 70% to 79% Good
C 60% to 69% Adequate
D 50% to 59% Marginal
FX Less than 50% Inadequate/Incomplete
ACADEMIC The instructor will respond to questions posed in the discussion
CONSULTATION: board and by email within 2 business days.

2
 SCHEDULE ASSIGNMENTS AND
TOPIC READINGS
TESTS
1 Chapter 1: What is Strategy and Why is Textbook & PowerPoint
Jan 20 - 26 It Important Presentation Ch. 1
2 Chapter 2: Leading the Process of Textbook & PowerPoint
Jan 27 - Feb 2 Crafting and Executing Strategy Presentation Ch. 2
3 Chapter 3: Analyzing a Companys Textbook & PowerPoint
Feb 3-9 External Environment Presentation Ch. 3
4 Chapter 4: Analyzing a Companys Textbook & PowerPoint Case Study:
Feb 10-16 Resources and Competitive Position Presentation Ch. 4 Costco Wholesale
(Text P. C6-25)

5 Chapter 5: The Five Generic Textbook & PowerPoint

Feb 17-23 Competitive Strategies Presentation Ch. 5
6 Chapter 6: Supplementing the Chosen
Textbook & PowerPoint
Feb 24 - Mar 2 Competitive StrategyOther Important
Presentation Ch. 6
Strategy Choices
7 Mid Term Test 20%
Mid Term Test (20%)
Mar 3-9 Multiple choice & short answer
Due March 9th 11:59pm
questions covering Ch. 1 - 6
8 Chapter 7: Competing in Foreign Textbook & PowerPoint
Mar 10-16 Markets Presentation Ch. 7 & 8
Chapter 8: Diversification and the
Multibusiness Company
9 Chapter 9: Ethical Business Strategies, Power Point
Mar 17-23 Social Responsibility, and Presentations Ch. 9
Environmental Sustainability
10 Chapter 10: Building an Organization Power Point Case Study:
Mar 24-30 Capable of Good Strategic Execution Presentations Ch. 10 Google
(Text P. C168-186)

11 Chapter 11: Building Resources

Power Point
Mar 31 - Apr 6 Strengths and Organizational
Presentation Ch. 11
Capabilities
12 Case Study Project (25%)
Chapter 12: Corporate Culture and Power Point
April 7-13 Tata Motors
Leadership: Keys to Good Presentation Ch. 12
Text P. C246-255
Strategy Execution
Due April 13th 11:59pm

Final Exam: April 25, 2015 (Open Book, textbook only no other materials)

3
Multiple choice & short answer questions covering Ch. 1 - 12, Plus Costco and Google cases