Forum 1
DQ#1: What is Strategic Planning? (250+ by Sunday; 100+ by
Sunday) ( 65 messages – 62 unread )
TOPIC: What is Strategic Planning?
Following the completion of this week’s reading/lessons
assignments, complete each of the following:
Write a one-two sentence personal definition of strategic
planning. Base your definition on what you have encountered in the
reading/materials this week, as well as on what you have already learned about
the topic.
Discuss this statement by Roger L. Martin: “. . . good
strategy is not the product of hours of careful research and modeling that lead
to an inevitable and almost perfect conclusion. Instead, it’s the result of a
simple and quite rough-and-ready process of thinking through what it would take
to achieve what you want and then assessing whether it’s realistic to try. If
executives adopt this definition, then maybe, just maybe, they can keep
strategy where it should be: outside the comfort zone.”
Finally, describe the differences between strategic planning
and business planning.
Instructions:
What is the purpose of a forum?
Think of the forum as a classroom experience where you
“meet” with your instructor and peers to discuss the weekly topic in terms of
the readings, assignments and resources that have been assigned. The desired outcome is that you are able to
(1) collaborate with peers and the instructor, (2) demonstrate your
understanding of the material, and (3) participate as a member of an online
community.
What are the responsibilities of the instructor?
The instructor’s goal is to create an engaging and safe
environment for students to learn. In
addition, instructors should pose questions promoting deeper thought as well as
encourage students to interact with their peers in the classroom. There should be an active instructor presence
throughout the week.
What are the responsibilities of the student?
Each week, you are required to make a 250 word initial
posting and respond to a minimum of 2 students.
Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct
questions. Please review the forum
grading rubrics in order to understand how your responses in the forum will be
graded.
If you met the
above-mentioned requirements, you will be graded at the proficient level. However, if your desire is to be graded at
the exemplary level, please provide more than what is required. To receive 100% as a grade (the exemplary
level) for the weekly forums, you should ensure that your responses meet the following
criterion:
Forum 2
DQ#1: The Five-Task Strategy-Making, Strategy Executing
Process (250+ by Thursday; 100+ by Sunday) ( 63 messages – 40 unread )
Introduction:
Figure 2.1 in your textbook depicts those tasks/processes
that are associated with making and executing strategy. You could say that
chapter two in our textbook provides the big-picture view of what strategic
planning involves. This forum is straightforward: select any ONE of the five
tasks that you want to investigate, and write a scholarly post about that task.
Instructions:
What is the purpose of a forum?
Think of the forum as a classroom experience where you
“meet” with your instructor and peers to discuss the weekly topic in terms of
the readings, assignments and resources that have been assigned. The desired outcome is that you are able to
(1) collaborate with peers and the instructor, (2) demonstrate your
understanding of the material, and (3) participate as a member of an online
community.
What are the responsibilities of the instructor?
The instructor’s goal is to create an engaging and safe
environment for students to learn. In
addition, instructors should pose questions promoting deeper thought as well as
encourage students to interact with their peers in the classroom. There should be an active instructor presence
throughout the week.
What are the responsibilities of the student?
Each week, you are required to make a 250 word initial
posting and respond to a minimum of 2 students.
Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct questions. Please review the forum grading rubrics in
order to understand how your responses in the forum will be graded.
If you met the
above-mentioned requirements, you will be graded at the proficient level. However, if your desire is to be graded at
the exemplary level, please provide more than what is required. To receive 100% as a grade (the exemplary
level) for the weekly forums, you should ensure that your responses meet the
following criterion:
Forum 3
DQ#1: Using the Five Forces Model of Competition (250+ by
Thursday; 100+ by Sunday) ( 65 messages – 22 unread )
Introduction:
Figure 3.3 in your textbook shows the analytical tool that
aids in understanding the various competitive forces that affect strategic
planning. Although all organizational sectors potentially face similar kinds of
competitive forces, each sector and/or organization may face unique factors
that affect competitive pressure at any given time, depending on varying
circumstances.
In this forum, you need to investigate any one element of
Figure 3.3 from the perspective of organizations in the same sector. There may
be some variance in the issues examined, and more than one organization may be
involved, but you need to deal essentially with the same area of competitive
pressure in the same sector of organizations. For instance, you may investigate
“supplier bargaining power from foreign markets” or “dealing with emerging
companies in the cell phone (or tech) industry.” You may utilize your textbook
as needed to support your informed assertions.
[Suggestion: You may want to know more about the developer
of the Five Forces Model—Michael Porter, who is a premier strategy professor at
Harvard. Check him out on YouTube.]
Instructions:
What is the purpose of a forum?
Think of the forum as a classroom experience where you
“meet” with your instructor and peers to discuss the weekly topic in terms of
the readings, assignments and resources that have been assigned. The desired outcome is that you are able to
(1) collaborate with peers and the instructor, (2) demonstrate your
understanding of the material, and (3) participate as a member of an online
community.
What are the responsibilities of the instructor?
The instructor’s goal is to create an engaging and safe
environment for students to learn. In
addition, instructors should pose questions promoting deeper thought as well as
encourage students to interact with their peers in the classroom. There should be an active instructor presence
throughout the week.
What are the responsibilities of the student?
Each week, you are required to make a 250 word initial
posting and respond to a minimum of 2 students.
Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct
questions. Please review the forum
grading rubrics in order to understand how your responses in the forum will be
graded.
If you met the
above-mentioned requirements, you will be graded at the proficient level. However, if your desire is to be graded at
the exemplary level, please provide more than what is required. To receive 100% as a grade (the exemplary
level) for the weekly forums, you should ensure that your responses meet the
following criterion:
Forum 4
DQ#1: Examining Competitive Strategies (250+ by Thursday;
100+ by Sunday) ( 64 messages – 57 unread )
Introduction:
Our course textbook, chapter 5, discusses “The Five Generic
Competitive Strategies”: Low-Cost Provider Strategy; Broad Differentiation
Strategy; Focused Low-Cost Strategy; Focused Differentiation Strategy; and,
Best-Cost Provider Strategy (see also Figure 5.1). In this forum, you need to
investigate any one generic competitive strategy from the perspective of
organizations in the same sector. More
than one organization may be involved, but the information you use needs to
deal essentially with the same area of generic competitive strategy in the same
sector of organizations. Here is a great opportunity to investigate one or two
of the businesses that your utilize in your personal life, but who represent
one of the five competitive strategies.
Suggestion: a SWOT analysis could be helpful, as based on the articles
you select, depending on the depth of information available (SWOT: Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).
However, you may utilize your textbook as needed to support your
informed assertions.
Instructions:
What is the purpose of a forum?
Think of the forum as a classroom experience where you
“meet” with your instructor and peers to discuss the weekly topic in terms of
the readings, assignments and resources that have been assigned. The desired outcome is that you are able to
(1) collaborate with peers and the instructor, (2) demonstrate your
understanding of the material, and (3) participate as a member of an online
community.
What are the responsibilities of the instructor?
The instructor’s goal is to create an engaging and safe
environment for students to learn. In
addition, instructors should pose questions promoting deeper thought as well as
encourage students to interact with their peers in the classroom. There should be an active instructor presence
throughout the week.
What are the responsibilities of the student?
Each week, you are required to make a 250 word initial
posting and respond to a minimum of 2 students.
Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct questions. Please review the forum grading rubrics in
order to understand how your responses in the forum will be graded.
If you met the
above-mentioned requirements, you will be graded at the proficient level. However, if your desire is to be graded at
the exemplary level, please provide more than what is required. To receive 100% as a grade (the exemplary
level) for the weekly forums, you should ensure that your responses meet the
following criterion:
Forum 5
DQ#1: Which Approach is Best for Competing Internationally
(250+ by Thursday; 100+ by Sunday) ( 64 messages – 18 unread )
Introduction:
Textbook figure 7.2 depicts the three basic approaches for
competing internationally. The textbook describes these three different
approaches along with the accompanying concepts and individualized strategies
that typify those approaches (see also Table 7.1). In this forum, you need to
investigate any one of these international strategies—either using the same
company in both articles, or selecting two different companies. Tell why the
approach used is the best of the three approaches for the company (or
companies) involved in international business.
You may utilize your textbook as needed to support your informed
assertions. (SUGGESTION: As you read about these three international strategies
in the textbook, there is mention of companies that use these strategies. You
can save yourself the headache of figuring out a company (or companies) to
examine by selecting from companies that are already associated with a given
strategy as specified in the text.)
Instructions:
What is the purpose of a forum?
Think of the forum as a classroom experience where you “meet”
with your instructor and peers to discuss the weekly topic in terms of the
readings, assignments and resources that have been assigned. The desired outcome is that you are able to
(1) collaborate with peers and the instructor, (2) demonstrate your understanding
of the material, and (3) participate as a member of an online community.
What are the responsibilities of the instructor?
The instructor’s goal is to create an engaging and safe
environment for students to learn. In
addition, instructors should pose questions promoting deeper thought as well as
encourage students to interact with their peers in the classroom. There should be an active instructor presence
throughout the week.
What are the responsibilities of the student?
Each week, you are required to make a 250 word initial
posting and respond to a minimum of 2 students.
Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct
questions. Please review the forum
grading rubrics in order to understand how your responses in the forum will be
graded.
If you met the
above-mentioned requirements, you will be graded at the proficient level. However, if your desire is to be graded at
the exemplary level, please provide more than what is required. To receive 100% as a grade (the exemplary level)
for the weekly forums, you should ensure that your responses meet the following
criterion:
Forum 6
DQ#1: Companies with a Conscience? (250+ by Thursday; 100+
by Sunday) ( 67 messages – 28 unread )
Introduction:
The topic of Ethics continues to increase as an issue of
central importance to strategic planning. Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Sustainability are significant topics that are figured into any
substantive discussion of Ethics in contemporary business practices and
strategy. In this forum, you need to investigate the topic of conscious
capitalism, conscious business, or businesses with a conscience. Tell why the
issue of conscientious business is significant; and, tell where this current theme
is headed in a global application, if possible. Tell why this topic should be
discussed in the context of strategic planning.
You may utilize your textbook as needed to support your informed
assertions.
Instructions:
What is the purpose of a forum?
Think of the forum as a classroom experience where you
“meet” with your instructor and peers to discuss the weekly topic in terms of
the readings, assignments and resources that have been assigned. The desired outcome is that you are able to
(1) collaborate with peers and the instructor, (2) demonstrate your
understanding of the material, and (3) participate as a member of an online community.
What are the responsibilities of the instructor?
The instructor’s goal is to create an engaging and safe environment
for students to learn. In addition,
instructors should pose questions promoting deeper thought as well as encourage
students to interact with their peers in the classroom. There should be an active instructor presence
throughout the week.
What are the responsibilities of the student?
Each week, you are required to make a 250 word initial
posting and respond to a minimum of 2 students.
Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct
questions. Please review the forum
grading rubrics in order to understand how your responses in the forum will be
graded.
If you met the
above-mentioned requirements, you will be graded at the proficient level. However, if your desire is to be graded at
the exemplary level, please provide more than what is required. To receive 100% as a grade (the exemplary
level) for the weekly forums, you should ensure that your responses meet the
following criterion:
Forum 7
DQ#1: Principal Components of Strategy (250+ by Thursday;
100+ by Sunday) ( 67 messages – 7 unread )
Introduction:
Figure 10.1 in our textbook (along with associated writing
on the topic) describes the 10 principal components related to strategy
execution, which comprise the focus of the final three chapters in the first
half of our book. In this forum, you need to select two of the 10 components to
discuss in your post (be clear which ones–#1?, #2?) What does your findings
reveal about the importance of the components you selected? Why are they
important as strategic elements? You may utilize your textbook as needed to
support your informed assertions.
Instructions:
What is the purpose of a forum?
Think of the forum as a classroom experience where you
“meet” with your instructor and peers to discuss the weekly topic in terms of
the readings, assignments and resources that have been assigned. The desired outcome is that you are able to
(1) collaborate with peers and the instructor, (2) demonstrate your
understanding of the material, and (3) participate as a member of an online
community.
What are the responsibilities of the instructor?
The instructor’s goal is to create an engaging and safe
environment for students to learn. In
addition, instructors should pose questions promoting deeper thought as well as
encourage students to interact with their peers in the classroom. There should be an active instructor presence
throughout the week.
What are the responsibilities of the student?
Each week, you are required to make a 250 word initial
posting and respond to a minimum of 2 students.
Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct
questions. Please review the forum
grading rubrics in order to understand how your responses in the forum will be
graded.
If you met the
above-mentioned requirements, you will be graded at the proficient level. However, if your desire is to be graded at
the exemplary level, please provide more than what is required. To receive 100% as a grade (the exemplary
level) for the weekly forums, you should ensure that your responses meet the
following criterion:
Forum 8
DQ#1: What Did You Learn? (250+ by Thursday; 100+ by Sunday)
( 64 messages – 19 unread )
Reflect back on the last eight weeks. What were some new
concepts/techniques/processes that you learned in this course, and/or that you
can implement into the strategic planning of your organization (or even in your
personal life)? How will the concepts learned be of value to you as a student
and a professional?
Discuss your impressions of how the course has been useful
to the furtherance of your understanding of strategic planning. What element of
the course should be emphasized to a greater degree? What area(s), if any, do
you suggest be added to the course in the future? (No citations/references
needed.)
Instructions:
What is the purpose of a forum?
Think of the forum as a classroom experience where you
“meet” with your instructor and peers to discuss the weekly topic in terms of
the readings, assignments and resources that have been assigned. The desired outcome is that you are able to
(1) collaborate with peers and the instructor, (2) demonstrate your
understanding of the material, and (3) participate as a member of an online
community.
What are the responsibilities of the instructor?
The instructor’s goal is to create an engaging and safe
environment for students to learn. In
addition, instructors should pose questions promoting deeper thought as well as
encourage students to interact with their peers in the classroom. There should be an active instructor presence
throughout the week.
What are the responsibilities of the student?
Each week, you are required to make a 250 word initial
posting and respond to a minimum of 2 students.
Responses should be a minimum of 100 words and include direct
questions. Please review the forum
grading rubrics in order to understand how your responses in the forum will be
graded.
If you met the
above-mentioned requirements, you will be graded at the proficient level. However, if your desire is to be graded at
the exemplary level, please provide more than what is required. To receive 100% as a grade (the exemplary
level) for the weekly forums, you should ensure that your responses meet the
following criterion:
