Office Policy: I encourage you to see
me to discuss your ideas, especially if you need technical assistance on any
aspect of the primary course assignment.
There will be class time for questions and group discussion of your
projects. I encourage you to bring questions to class,
since others may benefit from the ensuing discussions.
Attendance Policy: I strongly recommend
that you attend all classes. Because
the class meets only once per week, a missed class will be difficult to make
up. While "officially reported absences"
(medical problems, travel with College groups, etc.) are unavoidable, try
earnestly to attend each class meeting. At various times during the semester, with
the concurrence of the majority of the class, we may substitute tour and group
project time for class time. Canceled
classes will be announced in advance.
Case Studies: This will be our primary
class activity during the semester. There
are many interesting and instructive case studies in your textbook.
I know of no better way to teach business management than to provide
opportunities to react to “real world” situations.
You will be the consultants, giving advice to management based on careful
analysis of data, and mastery of tools and concepts that will be presented
in class and through supplementary readings.
Many
of the companies will be familiar to you.
Some are the subject of current news, and the class will benefit from
sharing of current news stories, should you run across any in your reading.
We
will be reviewing a case study nearly every week, particularly during the
first half of the semester. Review
of the cases will help you to focus on and to actually implement your final
projects. You will react to cases as assigned; either
in writing or through class discussion. As
currently planned, you will prepare two cases for class discussion. Then, you will be better prepared for two
written case studies during the semester, which will be individual
work. You will also be preparing two
oral cases in teams of 3-4 people.
Your analysis skills should improve as the semester progresses. That is, your classmates and I will expect
more of you, as time goes on. Careful
text reading and work on the cases will also be your best preparation for
the mid-term and final exams, which will also involve case analysis.
Case
Analysis Tools: From time
to time, you will be provided with information, either in lecture or an assigned
reading, that will help you with your case analysis. It is important that you carefully read assignments, or pay close
attention to lectures, as you will be expected to APPLY the skills provided
you to the case analysis. Plan to
ask questions, as well.
Class Participation: We will have a much better
time if everyone participates. If
necessary, I will randomly call on people but you're SENIORS so don't make
me do that! Life is lived on the court,
not the bench! Let's start taking
some risks!
Exams: A mid-term and final case analysis will constitute
your "exam." Exams will
be "open book" and "open notes" and will require understanding
and reflection on lectures and assigned readings.
Guest Speakers/Tours: (My favorite part!!):
We will have several guest speakers throughout the semester. They will be CEOs and upper management from
fine companies throughout the country. In
addition, we will have plant tours. The
managers of these companies will be able to discuss their businesses on site,
which will be especially enjoyable and bring new insights.
Projects: Your primary written assignment for the semester
will be a complete and comprehensive project of your choice. This can be a group or an individual project.
By mid-semester, you will need to propose a project and have it approved.
Your proposal should include the nature of your project and the project
“team”.
Because
this is a large project, which will encompass 30% of your grade, it must be
started early and developed in stages. You
can work on any project that interests you, provided that it is substantial,
and will provide a complete and thorough analysis of a business situation.
It
will be impossible for you to complete this task well if it is done only in
the final weeks of the class. If you choose a team project, a portion of
your grade will be based on peer evaluation of your contributions to the project.
Therefore it is also important that you fully participate in the group
efforts both inside and outside of class.
Examples
of final projects could include (but not be limited to):
·
Business Plans
·
Strategic Plans
·
Administrative Procedures/Policies
·
Business Analysis/Recommendations
Sometimes I become aware of projects, and can
pass along suggestions. For example,
students in the past have conducted a complete management assessment for a
local business. This was normally
done in groups of 4-6 students using a business analysis tool that I can provide.
Grading Procedures:
The
+/- grading system adopted by faculty vote in 1978 will be used in this course.
The
following table will serve as my guide when deciding your overall grade:
A
92% and above
C 72 to 78
A-
90 to 92
C- 70 to 72
B +
88 to 90
D+ 68 to 70
B
82 to 88
D 62 to 68
B-
80 to 82
D- 60 to 62
C+
78 to 80
F Below 60%
Your
grade will be comprised of the following:
Oral
Cases (2)
15%
Written
Cases (2) 15%
Exams
(2)
30%
Final
Project
30%
Class
Participation/Attendance
10%
Class
Schedule:
(Tentative Assignments and Class Activities - Assignments are in ALL CAPS) Assignment Questions
- Case #1 - Steve Case, AOL, and Time Warner
For Discussion
on January 29 - all students will participate
TO HAND IN FROM IN-CLASS CASE - Financial
Analysis
February 4 PREPARE CASE #1 CLASS DISCUSSION: Steve Case,
AOL, and Time Warner
Competitive Analysis and Business Strategy
Assignment Questions - Case #4 - Giuseppe's Original
Sausage Company
February 11 TOUR - Admanco - (cloth advertising specialties industry)
Strategic Challenges
of Foreign Competition
GROUP CASE STUDY DUE - Case #4
Group
presentations/discussion
Assignment Questions
- Case #7 - Dell Computer
February 18 INDIVIDUAL WRITTEN CASE STUDY DUE
Hand in/Discuss
Dell Computer - Case #7
Assignment Questions
- Case #9 - Cannondale Corporation
February 25 TOUR - Tracy Porter - Princeton, Wisconsin
Management
Panel Discussion
March 4 GUEST SPEAKER - Stephanie Fernhaber, Brady
Corporation
Management/
Business Assessment Tools
GROUP CASE STUDY DUE - Cannondale Corporation
Group
presentations/discussion
March 11 EXAM - Open Book Case Study Analysis
PROJECT PROPOSALS DUE
GUEST SPEAKER: Paul Ranslow – Long Range Plan at Ripon
(non-profit organization management)
Discuss
Class Project Proposals
Assignment Questions
- Case #11 - eBay
March 12 BREAK - YOU MUST ENJOY YOURSELF
March 19 READING: Chapter Seven and Eight - hand in chapter analysis
Tour
- Creative Forming
Discuss
Chapter 8
March 25 GUEST SPEAKER: Jay Wilcox - Ripon Alum and Business Owner
Strategy
and the Small Business
April 1 INDIVIDUAL WRITTEN CASE STUDY DUE - eBay
- Case #11
CLASS DISCUSSION - e-Bay
April 8 TOUR - Ripon Community Printers
Human Resources
as a key success factor
April 15 GUEST SPEAKER - Jack Christ - Leadership
Studies
Business and Leadership
April 22 TOUR - Creative Forming
Marketing Strategy
April 29 CLASS PROJECTS DUE
ORAL PRESENTATIONS OF CLASS PROJECTS
May 6 Celebration of Business Management
Selling Solutions,
Not Products, and selling YOURSELF – Tom Avery
Exam Week EXAM - Open Book Case Study Analysis
Final
Note: I am
hoping to provide all of you with meaningful, self-directed business management
experiences this semester. With your
initiative, and the resources at my disposal, this course may be counted as
one of the most relevant and stimulating of your college career. I am really looking forward to working with
each of you.