Faculty of Business Course Outline Course Title: Strategic Management Course Code: MGT703

Faculty of BusinessC o u r s e O u t l i n e

S e s s i o n 3 2 0 0 6

Course Title: Strategic ManagementCourse Code: MGT703

Field ofEducation:

080399

Required coursein program:

MBA – yesMIntBus – yes MFinPlan – noMaster of Management – yes

Contact hours perweek:

Recommended study time 10 – 12 hours

Admissionrequirements:

No pre-requisites for courses

Mode: External/Online/On campus

Units: 12 credit points

Enrolmentrestrictions:

Students enrolled in MBA, MIntBus, MFinPlanor Master of Management programs (and all subsidiary programs)

CourseCoordinator:

Wayne Graham

Room: K1.29Phone: +61 7 5459 4460Email: [email protected]

Course Moderator: Paul CorcoranRoom: K1.25

Phone: +61 7 5430 1294

mailto:[email protected]

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]%20

ContentsWelcome and key contacts.....................................1Blackboard access..............................................2Contact details................................................2Other contact issues...........................................2

Course information...........................................3Course description.............................................3Overview.......................................................3Course diagram.................................................4Graduate attributes, learning objectives and assessment tasks. .5Learning/Assessment details....................................6Conditions for passing the course..............................6Course schedule................................................7Prescribed texts...............................................8Study materials and readings...................................8Major reference works..........................................8Journals.......................................................9

Assessment and other details................................11Learning/Assessment Task 1....................................11Learning/Assessment Task 2....................................12Learning/Assessment Task 3....................................14Assessment submission instructions............................15

Assessment conditions.......................................17Non-discriminatory language...................................17Assignment submission and collection..........................17Plagiarism and copied papers..................................18Variations to assessment......................................18

First Published: Session 1, 2000. This edition: Session 3, 2006. Edited and updated by Wayne Graham. Published by the Graduate Studies Program, Faculty of Business, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Qld, 4558.Copyright, University of the Sunshine Coast.Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth) reproduction by any process is prohibited without the prior written permission of University of the Sunshine Coast. Initial inquiries are to be made to the Director Graduate Studies, Faculty of Business. Copyrighted materials reproduced herein are used either under the provisions of the Copyright Act as amended, under agreement with CopyrightAgency Limited, or as a result of permission from the copyright owner. We acknowledge, with thanks, those people who contributed of their time and knowledge to the developmentof this course outline.

1

Session 3, 2006 – Planner...................................21

First Published: Session 1, 2000. This edition: Session 3, 2006. Edited and updated by Wayne Graham. Published by the Graduate Studies Program, Faculty of Business, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Qld, 4558.Copyright, University of the Sunshine Coast.Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth) reproduction by any process is prohibited without the prior written permission of University of the Sunshine Coast. Initial inquiries are to be made to the Director Graduate Studies, Faculty of Business. Copyrighted materials reproduced herein are used either under the provisions of the Copyright Act as amended, under agreement with CopyrightAgency Limited, or as a result of permission from the copyright owner. We acknowledge, with thanks, those people who contributed of their time and knowledge to the developmentof this course outline.

2

Faculty of Business Course Outline Strategic Management MGT703

Welcome and key contactsWelcome and key contacts

Wayne GrahamCourse CoordinatorRoom: K1.29Tel: +61 7 5459 4460Email: [email protected]

Hello and welcome to MGT703, Strategic Management. I am Wayne Graham and I am yourcourse coordinator for this session. I am passionate about teaching and researching strategic management and I am sure you willenjoy studying this course.

Prior to lecturing, I spent ten years in the automotive industry and held various positions including Team Leader and Fleet Sales Manager. I look forward to working with you over the next few months.

Paul Corcoran Course ModeratorRoom: K1.17Tel: +61 7 5430 1294E-mail: [email protected]

My name is Paul Corcoran and I am a Lecturer in Management and will be the course moderator for this Session. I have taught Strategic Management in Australia atboth undergraduate and postgraduate levels and in the Peoples Republic of China at postgraduate level. Before moving into academe I had been a senior manager for over 10 years.

I hope that you find this course enjoyable (I hope you like reading) and also that youfind it useful. This is a capstone course and you can expect to use all your experience and previous studies.

Students experiencing academic problems that cannot be solved in consultation with the course coordinator are referred to the moderator.

Graduate Studies Program1


Blackboard accessThe coursework in Blackboard can be accessed at: http://my.usc.edu.au/online – this link will take you to the Web Systems Login page.

When you arrive at the Web Systems Login page, information on using Blackboard (without actually going to Blackboard) can be found by clicking on the link Getting Online with Blackboard and then the link Using Blackboard.

Contact detailsIssue type Contact detailsIT Service Desk: If you have questions about your password or browser configuration or other login issues please contact the IT service desk.

[email protected] Tel: +61 7 5430 1237

MBA Help Desk: If you have any questions about Blackboard or the technical aspects of your studies please contact the MBA Help Desk.

[email protected]: +61 7 5430 1131Fax: +61 7 5430 2855

Library & bibliographic help: Library Information Desk.

[email protected]: + 61 7 5430 2803

Learning support: Current educational best practice is based on self-directed learning on the student's part. If you have trouble with fulfilling this requirement then please contact Margot Reeh, who is the University’s Learning Support Officer.

[email protected]

SOLAR (Student Online Access and Registration).

[email protected]

General issues: Coordinator, Graduate Studies.

Tel: +61 7 5459 4742Fax: +61 7 5430 1231










http://online.usc.edu.au/


Other contact issuesYou are encouraged to form study groups with your classmates, or if you prefer to find a "study buddy" please do so. You can do this by introducing yourself viaBlackboard. Go to 'Communications' in the course menu on the left-hand side of the screen. Click on 'Discussion Boards' and you will find a discussion forum called 'ICafe' set up. Tell your classmates something about yourself and where you live and ask if there is anyone else living close to you who would like to form a study group.Send me (Wayne Graham) an email via Blackboard in the first week and introduce yourself. This also serves to let me know you are online and intend to complete the course.



Course informationCourse informationCourse description Managers must develop an understanding of the dynamics of their industries, the trends in other aspects of the organisation’s external environment, and the organisation’s internal strengths and weaknesses. They must be able to think creatively so that they can craft their strategies to develop a source of competitive advantage for their organisations. This is a capstone course that aims to expose students/managers to the topics relevant to managing their businesses strategically even in a turbulent environment. Topics covered include the analysis,development, implementation, control and evaluation steps in thestrategic management process.

OverviewAn organisation's chances for sustained success are greatly improved when managers have an astute, timely strategic game plan for running the company and then implement the plan with great proficiency. In today's competitive environment, organisations face competition for resources, people, cash, or customers. Likewise, organisations face uncertain operating environments and customers are becoming more demanding. Added tothis, technological change is taking place rapidly and the product life cycle is shortening. Consequently, managers need toposition their organisations strategically.

Accomplishment of these challenging tasks of providing overall direction to their organisation requires that managers engage instrategic thinking, strategic planning, and strategic management. This course takes a total enterprise perspective and aims to cover the whole spectrum of managing.



Course diagram


Strategic Management Course

Structure

Module 1: Strategy,

The Strategic Management Process

and Ethics

Module 2: Strategic Analysis – External and Internal (SWOT)

Module 3: Strategy and Competitive Advantage – Corporate, Business,

Functional and Global

Module 4: Strategy

Implementation – Organisational Resources and

Structure, Culture and Leadership,

Strategy Evaluation


Graduate attributes, learning objectives and assessment tasksThe Faculty of Business strives to enable its Masters coursework graduates to acquire the following attributes:

MBA/MIntBus/MFinPlan Graduate Attributes

Learning ObjectivesOn completion of this course students should be able to:

Assessment Tasks

To understand

Demonstrate relevant and current discipline-based knowledge in a business context

Utilise multidisciplinary perspectives in the analysis of business problems and issues

1. Discuss the different theoriesand issues relating to strategy

1. Case Study (Assessment 1)Strategic ManagementReportFinal Assessment Task (Case study & short essay)

2. Draw on a range ofdisciplines to analyse strategic management issues

2. Case Study (Assessment 1)Strategic ManagementReportFinal Assessment Task

To think

Analyse and evaluate business practices using relevant theories and frameworks

Develop and justify arguments using relevant information from academic and industry-based sources

Take a strategic viewof organisations and their position in theeconomy

3. Analyse factual situations from a strategic management perspective




MBA/MIntBus/MFinPlan Graduate Attributes

Learning ObjectivesOn completion of this course students should be able to:

Assessment Tasks

To learn

Utilise self-directedlearning skills

Effectively collect and organise information relevant to a range of business topics

4. Perform analyses of the internal and external business environments


To initiate

Apply and extend existing knowledge and frameworks

Identify opportunities and create new solutions

Demonstrate creativity, innovativeness and entrepreneurial skills

5. Determine the optimal pathway for an organisation to achieve a competitive advantage using theoretical frameworks




Learning/Assessment detailsLearning/Assessment Tasks

Due Date Length Weight%

1 Case Study Analysis Thursday, 30 November06

2000 words 25

2 Strategic Management Report

Monday, 15 January 07 2500 words 35

3 Final Assessment Task Monday, 5 February 07 40

TOTAL 100

As part of the Blackboard submission process, you are required to make an Assessment Task Declaration and you will not be able to submit any piece of assessment without first making an Assessment Task Declaration. The course coordinator may decide to check for plagiarism on a particular piece of assessment. This will be an automatic process involved in the Assessment Task submission to Blackboard.

Conditions for passing the courseTo achieve a pass in this course students must:

achieve at least a pass level in the final assessment task

achieve at least a pass level overall

complete all items of assessment

perform satisfactorily in all items of assessment.



Course scheduleTeaching Week

CommencingContent Focus of Week Learning/Teaching

Activities

1. 23 October 06 Module 1: Strategy, The Strategic Management Process and Ethics - An Overview

Chapters 1 & 2 of the textbook

2. 30 October 06 Module 2: Strategic Analysis - External analysis

Chapter 3 of the textbook

3. 6 November 06 Module 2: Strategic Analysis - Internal analysis


4. 13 November 06 Module 3: Strategy and Competitive Advantage – Business strategy


5. 20 November 06 Module 3: Strategy and Competitive Advantage – Corporate development and strategic choice


6. 27 November 06 Module 3: Strategy and Competitive Advantage – Strategic options for competing in global markets


Assessment Task 1 due Thursday 30 November at 5pm(AEST)

7. 4 December 06 Module 3: Strategy and Competitive Advantage – Positioning strategy in different industry environments


8. 11 December 06 Module 3: Strategy and Competitive Advantage – Corporate development, diversification strategy and evaluation


9. 18 December 06 Module 4: Strategy Implementation – Building resource strengths and organisational capabilities


25 Dec – 7 Jan 07 Mid-session two-week break



Teaching WeekCommencing

Content Focus of Week Learning/Teaching Activities

10.

8 January 07 Module 4: Strategy Implementation – Managing internal operations


11.

15 January 07 Module 4: Strategy Implementation – Corporateculture and leadership


Assessment Task 2 due Monday 15 January at 5pm (AEST)

12.

22 January 07 Module 1: Strategy, The Strategic Management Process and Ethics – Strategy, ethics, and social responsibility


13.

29 January 07 Revision

14.

5 February 07 Final Assessment Task week

Session 3 2006 ends 11 February 2007. Session 1 2007 commences 26 February.



Prescribed textsThompson, AA, Strickland, AJ & Gamble, JE 2005, Crafting and

Executing Strategy – The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases, 14th edn, McGraw-Hill Irwin, Boston.

In addition, all students are required to purchase the followingbook during their enrolment in the program to assist them in their study:

Summers, J & Smith, B 2005, Communication Skills Handbook, 2nd edn John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane, (an earlier edition is acceptableif you have already purchased this text).

Study materials and readingsTo assist you with your study you should have:

a course outline

a set of course work notes.

Major reference worksStudents are encouraged to refer to other texts on strategic management. Most texts by the major publishers are useful. Students should consult a variety of such texts to gain an overview of the different approaches. Some possible examples are:

Abraham, SC 2006, Strategic Planning – A Practical Guide for Competitive Success, Thomson.

Balogun, J & Hailey, VH 2004, Exploring Strategic Change, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall.

Botten, N & McManus, J 1999, Competitive Strategies for Service Organisations, Macmillan Press Ltd.

Cummings, S & Wilson, D (eds) 2003, Images of Strategy, Blackwell Publishing.

Davis, J & Devinney, T 1997, The Essence of Corporate Strategy: Theory for Modern Decision Making, 1st edn, Allen & Unwin.

Forster, J & Browne, M 1996, Principles of Strategic Management, Macmillan Education Australia Pty Ltd.



Gopinath, G & Siciliano, J 2005, Strategize – Experiential Exercises in Strategic Management, Second Edition, Thomson.

Grant, RM 1998, Contemporary Strategy Analysis: Concepts, Techniques and Applications, 3rd edn, Blackwell Publishers Ltd, Oxford.

Hanson, D, Dowling, P, Hitt, MA, Ireland, RD & Hoskisson, RE 2005, Strategic Management – Competitiveness and Globalisation, Pacific Rim 2nd edn, Thomson.

Hill, CWL, Jones GR & Galvin, P 2004, Strategic Management - An Integrated Approach (Cases and Concepts), Australian adaptation, John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd, Milton and Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

Hubbard, G 2004, Strategic Management, Thinking, Analysis and Action, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall Australia.

Hubbard, G, Pocknee, G &Taylor, GA 1996, Practical Australian Strategy, Prentice Hall Australia.

Johnson, G, Scholes K & Whittington, R 2005, Exploring Corporate Strategy, Text and Cases, 7th edn, Prentice Hall.

Kare-Silver, MD 1997, Strategy in Crisis – Why Business Urgently Needs a Completely New Approach, Macmillan Business.

Lasserre, P & Schutte, H 1999, Strategies for Asia Pacific: Beyond Crisis, Macmillan Education Australia.

Lewis, G, Morkel, A, Hubbard, G, Davenport, S & Stockport, G 1999, Australian and New Zealand Strategic Management, Concepts, Context and Cases, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall.

McGee, J, Thomas, H & Wilson, D 2005, Strategy Analysis & Practice – Text & Cases, McGraw Hill.

Mintzberg, H & Quinn, JB 1996, The Strategy Process, Concepts, Contexts andCases, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall.

Pitts, RA & Lei, D 2000, Strategic Management: Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage, 2nd edn, South-Western College Publishing.

Segal-Horn, S (ed) 1998, The Strategy Reader, The Open University, Blackwell Business.

Stacey, RD 2003, Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics – The Challenge of Complexity, 4th edn, Prentice Hall.

Sutton, C 1998, Strategic Concepts, Macmillan Business.

Thompson, J & Martin, F 2005, Strategic Management – Awareness and Change, 5th edn, Thomson.



Viljoen, J & Dann, S 2003, Strategic Management, 4th edn, Pearson Education Australia.

White, C 2004, Strategic Management, Palgrave Macmillan.

JournalsThe following journals contain material of relevance to this course. Most are accessible on the ABI/Inform online database held in the University's Library.

Academy of Management Journal

Academy of Management Review

Administrative Science Quarterly

Atlanta Economic Review

Australian Journal of Management

Benchmarking for Quality Management & Technology: An International Journal

California Management Review

Harvard Business Review

International Journal of Business Performance Management

Journal of Management Development

Journal of Operations Management

Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management

Leadership and Organisational Development Journal

Management International Review

Organisational Dynamics

Sasin Journal of Management

Sloan Management Review

Strategic Management Journal

Technovation



Assessment and other detailsAssessment and other detailsLearning/Assessment Task 1

Case Study Analysis Due date 5.00 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, 30

November 2006

Weighting 25%

Length 2000 words

Task Read Case Study 13, McDonald’s: Polishing the Golden Arches (Pages C213 – C234 of the text) and answer the following questions:

1.

Identify the key economic and business characteristics of the fast-food industry [4 marks]

2.

Analyse the fast-food industry using Porter’s five forces model of competition and prepare a report with your conclusions concerning the overall strength of competitive pressures. [6 marks]

3.

Conduct a SWOT analysis and present your conclusions on McDonald’s competitive position based on this analysis. [6 marks]

4.

a. Identify McDonald’s current strategy in termsof generic competitive strategy. [3 marks]

b. Using marketing and financial information, discuss whether McDonald’s current strategy is working. [6 marks]

Submission Please submit this Assessment Task electronically through Blackboard. See Assessment Submission Instructions (How to submit your learning/assessment tasks to Blackboard) in the Course Outline and Assessment areas of this Blackboard course.



Assessment marking criteria

ContentPossible Mark

Quality of answers to individual case questions – this will include the quality of presentation, analysis, level of comprehensiveness and the use ofappropriate styles of referencing.

Level of application of relevant theory in answering the case questions using the relevant facts and figures from the case study.

TOTAL 25



Learning/Assessment Task 2

Strategic Management Report Due date 5.00 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, Monday, 15

January 2007

Weighting 35%

Length 2500 words excluding appendices

Task Choose an organisation in which you have or have had some personal contact or experience. The task is to collect information relating to various components of strategic management and present an analysis in the form of a written report.

The report should include the following:

Executive summary

Introduction providing a brief background to the study

An overview of the organisation in terms of its size(number of employees/assets/sales or combination of these), performance, the type of product or servicesit provides, its location(s) including an organisation chart showing the formal structure of the organisation, as well as any other relevant background information

Identification of the firm’s mission, goals and objectives, stage of life cycle of the firm’s industry

Identification of any changes taking place in the environmental factors (legal, political, demographic, technological, economic, competitors, suppliers, etc.) that might have an impact upon the firm’s competitiveness.

Evaluate the competitive position of the firm by performing a SWOT analysis

Identification of firm’s strategies at different levels (corporate, business, functional and global)

Identify whether the firm is pursuing efficiency enhancing or quality enhancing practices or innovation enhancing or customer responsiveness enhancing practices



Determine the level of ‘industry attractiveness’ andmake recommendations on what the firm should be doing in order to position itself strategically.

Overall conclusion(s)Additional information

To obtain the information relevant to the organisation,you may find the following sources useful:

Your own experience and knowledge of the organisation

Interviews with the relevant people in the organisation

Annual reports, submissions or other documentary material

Organisation’s web page if available

Business journals such as BRW, Fortune, business section of the newspaper, etc.

The report should use formal headings to introduce each section including the introduction and the conclusion. You should try to maximise the use of relevant references (at least 6 journal articles excluding the textbook). You will find Summers and Smith (2004) useful for in-text referencing, preparation of the list of references and report structure. You should submit your written assignmentby the due date. Late submission of the assignment will not be acceptable except in special circumstances.

Note: If you have difficulty finding a company to complete this assignment, please contact your lecturer before the due date to make an alternative arrangement

Submission Please submit this Assessment Task electronically through Blackboard. See Assessment Submission Instructions (How to submit your learning/assessment tasks to Blackboard) in the Course Outline and Assessment areas of this Blackboard course.



PresentationTable of contents, neatness, layout, correct spelling,page numbering, consistency of formatting and font size, and readability

3




ContentAll key issues of relevance covered 3

InformationComprehensiveness, methodology 3

AnalysisLogical development of arguments, integration of various sections, skilful use of research materials, use of appropriate analytical tools and techniques, charts/diagrams, interrelationship of ideas presented

18

TechnicalReferencing, sources of information, synopsis (executive summary) and cover-page

3

ResearchEvidence that you have read widely enough to have adequate and relevant information for your project report

5

TOTAL 35



Learning/Assessment Task 3

Final Assessment TaskDue date Monday 5 February 2007

Weighting 40%

Task This Assessment Task may consist of case study questions or short answer questions or both. Further details to be advised.

Submission Please submit this Assessment Task electronicallythrough Blackboard. See Assessment Submission Instructions (How to submit your learning/assessment tasks to Blackboard) in the Course Outline and Assessment areas of this Blackboard course.

Results in Blackboard

Results for the final assessment for this course will be posted in Blackboard.

Feedback/ model answers

General feedback/model answers for the final assessment for this course will not be posted in Blackboard.



The marks for each final assessment task question willbe indicated in the final assessment task paper, therefore while marking the papers the examiners will expect:

Demonstration of mastery of key strategic management concepts and analytical techniques covered in the course

Ability to apply relevant management concepts and techniques in addressing the case issues/problems.

Ability to think critically about the question and to convey this in the written answer.

Logical analysis of the subject matter under consideration.

TOTAL 40



Assessment submission instructionsPlease submit assessment tasks electronically through Blackboard. NOTE: It is very important that you do not use the Back button when preparing your submission.

Step 1 Prepare your assessment task file to be submitted to Blackboard, as a single Microsoft Word (.doc) document. The Assignment Cover Sheet is no longer required. Make sure you name your file as detailed below. Include your name, USC student ID number, postal address and assessment details in the headers and footers of your assessment task document.

Step 2 Please make sure your assessment task file is named like this: LastName_FirstName_USCStudentID_TaskX_COURSEID.doc ie. if your name is Bill Gates and you are doing Task 3 for Managing Organisational Behaviour, you would name your file:Gates_Bill_1011223_Task3_MGT701.docNote: There must not be any spaces between words in the file name. Use an underscore (Shift Hyphen) between words. If you name your files in this manner you should not encounter any problems uploading them to Blackboard.

Step 3 Ensure the document page size of your completed assessment task is A4. To change the page size to A4: click on File > Page Setup click on the Paper Size tab scroll through the paper sizes and choose A4 (210 x

297mm). Change the page size to A4 when you are first creating your assessment task document. Changing the page size after you have finished your assessment task will affect the page text areas which could cause unwanted page breaks which you will need to adjust.

Step 4 Open the Assessment area in Blackboard by clicking Assessment in the left hand navigation menu of the Blackboard course.

Step 5 Click on Assessment overview link in the right hand side content panel.

Step 6 Click on Learning/Assessment Task X.



Step 7 Scroll down and review the Assessment Task Declaration. You need to accept this declaration before you can proceed to the Assessment Task submission area that will appear directly below the declaration panel.

Step 8 Click on the >>View/Complete link at the bottom of theSubmit Assessment Task X area to open the Upload Assignment: Submit Learning/Assessment Task X area.

Step 9 Add a comment to your Course Coordinator while you arein the Upload Assignment: Submit Learning/Assessment Task X area.

Step 10 Browse your computer to find and attach your single document – the assessment task only.

Step 11 Only when you have attached the document you wish to upload, click Submit.

Step 12 You should receive the message: “The assignment has been successfully updated”.

Step 13 Click OK.Checking your

submissionYou can check that you have submitted the assessment task by doing one of two things: click >> View/Complete and see if the message

“You’ve already completed this assignment, click onreview your results” comes up.

OR click on the Tools page in the Course menu and open

View Grades to see if the assessment task has been logged in (and marked yet).

Unsuccessfulsubmission

If your submission has been unsuccessful, please contact [email protected] MBA Helpdesk will clear your submission attempt and will send you an email requesting you to resubmit your assessment task through Blackboard.

Finalassessment

grades

It is at the discretion of the Course Coordinator to display the grades for the final assessment task.




Assessment conditionsAssessment conditions Non-discriminatory languageStudents are expected to use non-discriminatory language in all social and academic contexts of our socially diverse university located in the multi-cultural community of the Sunshine Coast ofQueensland, Australia. Additionally our online courses reach students throughout the world living in diverse cultural circumstances. Please ensure that all assessments use non-discriminatory language such that oral, written and visual presentations do not devalue, demean or exclude individuals or groups on the basis of the following attributes: gender, disability, culture, race, religion, sexual preference or age.

Assignment submission and collectionAll assessment tasks are due by the time and date indicated in the Assessment Schedule previously listed in this course outline. Students submitting assessment tasks after the due datewithout extenuating circumstances may incur a penalty up to a maximum of 20% of the assigned mark for each working day late. Applying this penalty is solely at the discretion of the Course Coordinator or co-teacher.

Students are to prepare their assessment task file to be submitted to Blackboard, as a single document. The Assignment Cover Sheet is no longer required. Students must make sure they name their file as per the Submission instructions detailed before. Students also need to include their name, USC student IDnumber, postal address and assessment details in the headers andfooters of their assessment task document.

As part of the Blackboard submission process, you are required to make an Assessment Task Declaration and you will not be able to submit any piece of assessment without first making an Assessment Task Declaration.

For students using Blackboard, assessment tasks are to be submitted to the course coordinator or co-teacher via the Blackboard learning management system on or before the due date specified in the Assessment Schedule by:



1. Using the view/complete link found with each assessment piecewithin Blackboard.

OR

2. As directed by your course coordinator or co-teacher.

Do not attempt to submit your assessment task in any other manner, as it will not be accepted.

Students must retain a copy of all pieces of assessment, which must be produced if requested by the course coordinator.

Assessments tasks will normally be returned no later than three (3) weeks after the due date. Normally they will be returned through the Blackboard learning management system. However, if the course coordinator has made other arrangements the assessment tasks may be posted to you. Please therefore ensure that your current postal address is in the Assessment Task document.

For quality assurance purposes the faculty may make copies of selected assessment tasks.

Plagiarism and copied papersPlagiarism and copied papers are serious offences against professional standards. Papers rejected on these grounds may receive a zero mark without any opportunity to resubmit them. Students who copy each other’s papers are engaged in a form of cheating and the original, as well as all copies, of the paper may be awarded a mark of zero.

The following definition of plagiarism is taken from the StudentConduct and Discipline Statute:

… a person plagiarises the work of another if that person presents the thoughts or words of the other as being his or her own, and the word for word reproduction of a written passage of more than insignificant length, or the paraphrasing of such a passage, is evidence of plagiarism unless thesource of the material is acknowledged in the work.

Please carefully read the Student Conduct and Discipline Statute section within the Student Policies and Rules of the Student Handbook, a copy of which can be accessed on the university website at: http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AbouttheUniversity/Governance/Policies/StudentRelated/Conduct.htm


http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AbouttheUniversity/Governance/Policies/StudentRelated/Conduct.htm

http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AbouttheUniversity/Governance/Policies/StudentRelated/Conduct.htm


The course coordinator may decide to check for plagiarism on a particular piece of assessment. This will be an automatic process involved in the Assessment Task submission to Blackboard.

Variations to assessmentAll initial inquiries regarding extension of due date for assessment tasks or special consideration should be made to the Course Coordinator.

If the student’s request for extension and/or special consideration is due to confidential circumstances, students maywish to contact Student Services who may make a recommendation to the Faculty.

ExtensionsThe Faculty may agree to an extension for assessment tasks wherea student experiences illness or other significant personal matters that prevent them meeting the due date.

A request for an extension must be made to the Course Coordinator via email before the due date of the assessment task. Requests received on the day that the assessment task is due are only considered in exceptional circumstances.

If your request for extension is due to illness then you should provide a medical certificate from your doctor. In the case of severe personal circumstances such as the death of a close relative, students may need to provide supporting documentation.

Where an extension is granted, the student is expected to submitthe assessment task item by the revised due date. A marking penalty may be applied to assessment tasks submitted after the extension date.

Special considerationA student who considers that their academic performance has beenadversely affected by illness, disability or significant personal circumstances may apply to the Course Coordinator for special consideration. A medical certificate or documentary evidence of personal circumstances should accompany the application.

If special consideration is granted, the Faculty will take into account the information contained in the application when determining the student’s final grade.



Special Consideration will only apply where a student is on the pass/fail borderline. Special Consideration will not apply for movement between pass/credit, credit/distinction or distinction/high distinction.

Supplementary final assessment tasksA Supplementary Final Assessment Task can be initiated only at the discretion of the Course Coordinator where a student has marginally failed to meet the requirements of the program courseand has shown, through results obtained in other pieces of assessment, a sufficient level of performance and/or competence to warrant setting additional assessment. The subsequent grade of result awarded after completion of a Supplementary Final Assessment Task cannot exceed that of “Pass.”

Grade levelsGrades shall be awarded on the following basis:

HIGH DISTINCTION Where a student achieves an exceptionallyhigh level of performance and / or competence plus the production of original work and demonstrated awareness of all significant elements of the course.

DISTINCTION Where a student achieves a high level of performance and / or competence plus the production of original work and demonstrated awareness of all significantelements of the course.

CREDIT Where a student achieves a level of performance and / or competence substantially above the minimum requirements of the course.

PASS Where a student achieves a level of performance and / or competence which satisfies the minimum requirements of thecourse.

PASS UNGRADED Where a student has satisfied the minimumrequirements of the course but it is not appropriate to differentiate between levels of satisfactory performance and / or competence.



FAIL Where a student has not satisfied the minimum requirements of the course.


Graduate BusinessStudies

Session 3, 2006 – PlannerSession 3, 2006 – Plannerhttp://www.usc.edu.au/Students/OnlineLearning/

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Week 16'O' week

17 18 19 20 21 22

1 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

2 30 31 1 2 3 4 5

3 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

4 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

5 20 21 22 23 24CENSUS

DATE

25 26

6 27 28 29 30AT1 due

1 2 3

7 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

9 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

11 15AT2 due

16 17 18 19 20 21

12 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

13 29 30 31 1 2 3 4

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Mid-session break

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Serious Business at USC

Final Assessment Week

Faculty of Business Course Outline Course Title: Strategic Management Course Code: MGT703

Documents

Transcript of Faculty of Business Course Outline Course Title: Strategic Management Course Code: MGT703