RU MGNT 428 Spring 2020 Course: Online Learning Essentials

Welcome to the RU MGNT 428 Spring, 2020 course!

This course will be administered solely online. If this is your first online class, this section of theb syllabus is very important reading! Even if you have taken an online class before, please review the following information:

Your class material will be presented in a variety of formats, including, possibly, PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, PDF documents, Flash presentations with sound, and Zoom discussions. Often students new to online learning perceive and expect online courses to be easy and involve less work on their part. This is a misperception, and in fact, online courses may be more demanding than a face-to-face course depending on the learning style and motivation of the student.

Time Commitment

College course credit hours are awarded based upon the amount of expected time spent, per week, to  that course. For example, in a traditional three hour course yo have three hours of face to face instructional time per week and we expect roughl y six to nine more hours outside of class per week preparing for and completing requirements for that course. A three hour course, such as this, offered online does not alter those learning expectations.

Of course, I will not limit how much time you spend on this class either. If you want to work very hardbyou are more than welcome to complete most of the requirements early! However, particularly with BSG, you will be required to work lock-step with other students. That said, some allowance for time variability is offered. Look carefully at your work schedule, school schedule, and family obligations and allow plenty of time for each.

Rothaermel. (2019). Strategic Management: Concepts, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill. 978-1-259-92762-1.

Required= Connect Plus online text website access. See Appendix A.

o RU Bookstore here

o Publisher website here

o Please note- the Connect Plus product, which is required, includes an electronic copy of the text. You can also purchase a loose leaf version of the text from the publisher for a low price.

Required= The Business Strategy Game online simulation. You must email me for unique code. See Appendix B.

Laptop Requirement: Required and must meet RU COBE standards. You will also be required to either meet me- in person- in my office, or contact me via Zoom. Zoom and your test proctoring software system requires that each student have a microphone and a camera (webcam), in additional to minimum computer specifications as set forth by the vendors.

Proctoring Information: This course will make use of online proctoring tools, Lockdown Browser and Monitor, which are required in order for you to take one or more exams on a Windows or Mac computer equipped with a functional webcam, microphone and high-speed Internet connection.

You will be required to display a photo ID to the camera to validate your identity before the exam begins. The Radford University RU Express photo id is the preferred form of identification. Any government-issued photo ID can be used as an alternate. The remainder of the exam session will be recorded and will be reviewed by a proctor and the instructor.

Download and find additional information here…Quick Start Guide

o Missing from Frame — the student could not be detected in the video frame for a period of time

o Different person in Frame — a different person from whom started the exam may have been detected in the video frame for a period of time

o Multiple persons in Frame — multiple faces are detected in the video for a period of time

o An Internet interruption occurred — a video interruption occurred as a result of an internet failure

o Video frame rate lowered due to quality of internet connection — if a poor upload speed is detected with the internet connection, the frame rate is automatically lowered for the webcam video

o Student exited LockDown Browser early — the student used a manual process to terminate the exam session early; the reason provided by the student is shown

o A webcam was disconnected — the web camera was disconnected from the computing device during the exam

o A webcam was connected — a web camera was connected to the computing device during the exam

o An attempt was made to switch to another screen or application — indicates an application-switching swipe or keystroke combination was attempted

o Video session terminated early — indicates the video session terminated unexpectedly, and that it didn't automatically reconnect before the exam was completed by the student

You are required to be in a private setting for your exam. The system will be recording video and audio of you and your surroundings throughout the exam. Prior to taking an exam, you should inform roommates, family members, potential visitors, etc., that the exam session and the surroundings will be recorded. You should ask others to leave the room while you are taking the exam. Any violations of the Standards of Student Conduct observed during the exam session and the course as a whole will be reported to the Student Standards and Conduct Office.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:

1) Synthesize skills and knowledge from core business disciplines to demonstrate how to position a firm to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

2) Explain how environmental factors, globalization, and innovation influence competitive dynamics.

3) Identify, apply and interpret the results of analytical techniques and innovative thinking to recommend action or guide decision-making that improves business performance.

4) Use appropriate analytical techniques to evaluate innovative strategies with respect to feasibility, desirability, viability for ongoing, competitive adaptation.

5) Develop and recommend implementation plans that consider obstacles and critical issues that must be addressed by the firm when pursuing innovative strategies.