10 Jan The instructor’s goal is

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: