Organizations are the sum of multiple moving parts, and the effective manager needs to understand their interrelationships and how to harness this power through the application of quality management skills. Analysis is the foundation of effective problem-solving whether in a start-up or an established multi-national organization.  The course covers the fundamentals of strategy theory and when to employ various strategic management tools to develop supportable tactics and optimize the operation and management of an organization.  Students delve into case studies that show successful and unsuccessful examples and explore with classmates situations happening in real-time in their worlds.  They gain experience identifying problems, evaluating alternative solutions, assessing risks and formulating solutions that put in place the right organizational structures and solutions.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Apply analytical skills and problem-solving tools to the analysis of the operations problems.
2. Examine the strategic role of operations management in creating and enhancing a firm’s competitive advantages.
3. Evaluate the economic, environmental and social implications of the operations and function in an ethical manner with all the stakeholders of an organization.
4. Explain technology applications that increase efficiency and competitiveness within the operations context.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week.

Week 1: Unit 1 – Introduction to Strategic Management

Week 2: Unit 2 – Vision, Mission, and Goals

Week 3: Unit 3 – The External Environment

Week 4: Unit 4 – Strategically Managing Internal Resources

Week 5: Unit 5 – Strategies for Firms

Week 6: Unit 6 – Competition and Cooperation

Week 7: Unit 7 – International Strategy

Week 8: Unit 8 – Corporate and Organization-Wide Strategies

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: Introduction to Strategic Management

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 2: Vision, Mission, and Goals

• Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 3: The External Environment

• Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 4: Strategically Managing Internal Resources

• Peer assess Unit 3 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Respond to the Portfolio Activity

Unit 5: Strategies for Firms

• Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Respond to the Portfolio Activity

Unit 6: Competition and Cooperation

• Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 7: International Strategy

• Peer assess Unit 6 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Begin and participate in the Group Activity

Unit 8: Corporate and Organization-Wide Strategies

• Peer assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Group Activity
• Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation