B 499A - Business Strategy Capstone

Course Description

This course provides a challenging and stimulating capstone experience focusing on three primary elements: theory and principles of strategic management, including case studies and other topical discussions; the formation of integrated teams wherein students execute a consulting project; and a business simulation. Teams are balanced to complement participants' areas of expertise.

Course Materials

Cases, readings, videos accessed via links on I-Learn

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will gain and demonstrate foundational knowledge of key concepts of strategic analysis and problem-solving, including the managerial tasks of defining and executing strategy.
  2. Students will demonstrate the ability to apply these key concepts and "habits of mind" through case studies, other assignments, and an assigned consulting project for a local business.
  3. Students will integrate the knowledge gained in previous business courses, giving them a "big picture" view of how the various pieces of an enterprise fit together, and demonstrate why all the different functions and processes of a business must be managed in strategic harmony for the enterprise to operate successfully.
  4. Students will continue to develop interpersonal skills through small group and team assignments.
    Through readings, videos, and class discussions, students will learn valuable lessons of ethics, disciple-leadership (with a small "l"), and cultural change.
  5. Students will demonstrate written skills through several significant assignments.
  6. Students will apply the principles of the BYU-Idaho Learning Model to prepare, teach one another, and to ponder and prove.

Grading

Grades will be assigned based on the following percentages of points earned:

93% - 100% = A 80% - 82% = B- 67% - 69% = D+
90% - 92% = A- 77% - 79% = C+ 63% - 66% = D
87% - 89% = B+ 73% - 76% = C 60% - 62% = D-
83% - 86% = B 70% - 72% = C- below 60% = F

Grading Components

  1. Eastern Idaho Entrepreneurial Center / Epic Ventures Consulting Project - 50%.
    1. Several weeks reserved for consulting project.
    2. Team of approximately three students from different backgrounds. (Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Accounting)
    3. Culmination of course work at BYU-Idaho. Represents your best work.
    4. Outline of project and deliverables to be coordinated with the E-Center.
    5. Client, Peer, and Faculty reviews to determine score and value added factor.
    6. Unique resume opportunity.
  2. Journal and Discussions - 40%.
  3. Final Course Reflection Paper - 10%. Six pages: Three pages for class (cases, two for articles, etc.), two pages for team project, one page for personal application.

Learning Model Implementation

At BYU-Idaho we foster faith-building and life-changing learning. Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, the presence of the restored gospel, and institutional efforts to build a Zion learning community motivate us to learn and teach by study and also by faith.

Learners and teachers at BYU-Idaho:

  1. Exercise faith
  2. Learn by and teach with the Holy Ghost
  3. Lay hold upon the word of God
  4. Act for themselves
  5. Love, serve, and teach one another

Key elements of the Learning Model for each of us in this course are to PREPARE, TEACH ONE ANOTHER, and PONDER AND PROVE.

Each of these elements is incorporated into the course. Preparation assignments before class will enable you to be an active participant in class discussions as we teach one another. Other assignments and projects will provide the opportunity to ponder and prove what you have learned and are learning.

Brigham Young to Brother Wells:

At your meeting you should begin at the top of the roll and call upon as many members as there is time for to bear their testimonies and at the next meeting begin where you left off and call upon others, so that all shall take part and get into the practice standing up and saying something. Many may think they haven't any testimony to bear, but get them to stand up and they will find the Lord will give them utterance to many truths they had not thought of before. More people have obtained a testimony while standing up trying to bear it than down on their knees praying for it. ("Historic Sketch of the Y.M.M.I.A." Improvement Era , June 1925. Vol. XXVIII, No. 8, pg. 715.)

"I have said on a number of occasions, and I have said it pretty directly, that any faculty member at BYU-Idaho who does not believe that he or she can learn something from a student does not deserve to be a faculty member at BYU-Idaho. As we assist students in acting and not being acted upon according to correct principles, the Holy Ghost is teaching and we will clearly benefit from that experience."

Bednar, David A., regarding class participation. August 2003, General Faculty Meeting.

Class Policies & Important Points

Diligent work will be rewarded with an outstanding grade. Also, please note this admonition from President Hinckley:

"This is the great day of decision for each of us. For many it is the time of beginning something that will go on for as long as you live. I plead with you: don't be a scrub! Rise to the high ground of spiritual, mental, and physical excellence. You can do it. You may not be a genius. You may be lacking in some skills. But so many of us can do better than we are now doing. We are members of this great Church whose influence is now felt over the world. We are people with a present and with a future. Don't muff your opportunities. Be excellent."

One of the primary objectives and expectations of this course is that you will think, act, and look like businesspeople. To be professional in all you do. To strive to look your best, to do great work, dress sharp etc.

Please note the following:

1. The official method of communicating is via your BYU-Idaho email account. Please check it frequently for important information. I-Learn is used for course-specific information.

2. Learning to work as members of a diverse team is essential to business success. You have an obligation to other team members to do your part in making the team's efforts a success. Working in a team can be challenging, demanding, and at times frustrating, but the work produced by teams is almost always superior to the work of one individual. Not carrying your share of the load will negatively impact on your grade. Non-performing team members may be dismissed from a team and receive a failing grade for the course.

3. The work performed on the consulting project should represent your very best effort. As BYU-Idaho students, you represent yourself, the university, and the Church. Any student not receiving a passing grade on the project (C- or better) will be required to repeat the course.

4. Students wishing to discuss the status of their grade or other course-related issues may do so by making an appointment with me.

5. Late work will be penalized 50% . Students participating in internship expeditions, job interviews, or other activities are responsible to submit assignments according to the class schedule.

Elder Richard L. Evans, a former member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles said: "No matter how good an excuse may be, no reason for failure or defection is ever so satisfying to ourselves or to anyone else as is actually doing what we should do, or delivering on the date that something is due. Excuses are at best a second-choice substitute. It is a surpassing quality in life to follow through, to keep commitments, to keep the commandments, and no matter how ingenious our excuses are, they don't cancel commitments, or justify our failures, or relieve us from answering before the highest bar, unless they are founded on real, valid reasons - and not merely on our comfort or convenience."

6. The Honor Code, including the Dress and Grooming Standards, applies.

7. In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to "reasonable accommodation." It is the student's responsibility to disclose to the teacher any special need she/he may have before the end of the first week of class. It is further the students' responsibility to meet with the instructor to decide on what constitutes "reasonable accommodation."

8. Class Policy on Academic Integrity - Cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty, or anything like unto it is contrary to the Honor Code and principles of this university. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary describes plagiarism as: "use [another's production] without crediting the source; present as new and original an idea or product derived from an original source." Any student involved in any behavior deemed academically dishonest puts credit for the course and their attendance at BYU-Idaho at serious risk, and will not be tolerated. Students will receive a "0" on assignments with no opportunity to make up for lost points, and the instructor reserves the right to drop the student from the course with a grade of "F." Additionally, the student's behavior may be reported to the department Chair and the College Dean. By University policy, the student's behavior will be reported to the Honor Office. "I did not know," or "I did not understand" will not be considered as valid excuses.

The Course: an Overview and Expectations

Although we will visit more about this on the first day of class, here is an overview of the course and a guide of what to expect.

The course has four major elements:

  1. Concepts/Principles of Business Strategy - Theory, concepts, and analytical tools. We will focus on these things during the first two weeks of the semester. I have designed the course in this way to provide a foundation for the remainder of the class assignments.
  2. A Collection of case studies and other discussion topics - Case studies have been selected to provide a range of topics for analysis and discussion. The cases will attempt to expose you to interesting business problems in a variety of disciplines. Understanding the case method, how to analyze problems, and making sound recommendations are vital skills. Helps on case analysis are provided to guide your efforts. Additionally, we will discuss several topics related to leadership, ethics, and integrity.
  3. A Team Consulting Project - Students will be placed in teams to execute a consulting project. The projects will vary - many will be for local or regional businesses, and there are several that are BYU-I focused. Students will spend approximately 35 hours on the project during the semester.

So, what is the course like?

Getting a good grade in the course is more about diligence than intelligence. If you do the work, you will earn a good grade. For instance, coming the class prepared is vital and part of your grade is based upon thorough pre-class preparation. Likewise, being an active class participant will make a difference in your final grade.

As mentioned above, consulting project assignments will vary based on the work that is requested by the client. All consulting projects are not created equal. Some might be marketing studies. Others might be the development of a plan to obtain venture funding. Virtually every project will require some initial research - due diligence - to learn about the industry or the issue, gather competitive data (in some cases), etc. The data gathering part is an important first step in any kind of project. As a team you will be guided by an assigned intern who will ultimately evaluate your performance on the project. As I mentioned, there are several BYU-Idaho specific projects that one might not consider "normal" business projects, but they are vital and strategic to the university. As you review the syllabus you will note there are quite a few team days on the schedule. These days are available so you will have ample time to devote to the project. Semester after semester, capstone students do amazing work. Surely each of you will continue the tradition.

Students come to this course from each of the business emphasis areas and there are also generally a good number of accounting majors enrolled as well. Many of you can expect to learn a few new tools of strategic analysis, depending on your prior course work. For some, you may have learned to use these tools in another class.

Some may come to the class with the expectation that you will use everything you've ever learned about business during your time at BYU-Idaho-that is just not possible. Hopefully, you will draw upon some previous lessons learned, internship experiences, etc., but we will not touch on every business topic and principle that has been addressed during your academic experience. Ideally, we would, but you'll probably not want to make this course a multi-semester experience!

Finally, let me return to my "diligence vs. intelligence" comment regarding success in the course. I have high expectations of each of you. Because the vast majority of you will graduate at the end of the semester I want to be sure that I do my part in helping to prepare you for the world you will soon face. I have done my best to structure the course so that the work you are asked to do does the following:

I don't believe in busy work . I will only ask you to do things that I believe have meaning. If ever you find yourself doing something and wonder, "What's the point of this?" Please ask and I will be happy to explain in greater detail.

I look forward to another great semester at BYU-Idaho with each of you.