The course is very close to end

With the last class of today, the course is at the end. All the students activities have been graded, students will receive in class today the expected grade to be posted soon in the UF system. Let me say that I enjoyed teaching this class, I saw an enormous effort of students to learn and to discuss (both verbally and in a written mode) the strategic issues, and I appreciated so much the enthusiasm you guys put in this discipline. A little heterogeneity in the final grade will reflect the substantial differences between those students overstudying and overperforming in all the activities and others that enjoyed alternative modes of learning the strategic management, i.e. presentations, interaction in class, and the working project. That's competition, guys! Once again, grazie (thank you) for a wonderful class that made me happy and comfortable. I learned also from your experience. Arrivederci and...keep in touch. Don't forget that Faraci is always on line...

Results of the final exam are on line

Results of the final exam are on line on the website. If you have any comment on the test, please use this section to discuss. Do you think that the exams, both mid-term and final, will make the difference in the grades?

From the Instructor - An important clarification about the final grade

There was a mistake in the Syllabus that affected my initial communication about the distribution of the points among the different activities (individual + group activities). In order to fit the table of page 3 of the Syllabus (90-100 points = A; 85-89 points = B+; 80-84 points = B...etc), NOW the mid-term and the final exams will account EACH for 40% of the final score and not for 20% as accidentally I wrote in the Syllabus and I continueed to repeat in class. Indeed, if I had to follow the instructions in the Syllabus, the maximum score would be 80 points, that is far away from the range 90-100 points that I've always considered the proper range to get an A attending my classes. I apologize for such inconvenience. Over the last past years, I've been allocating the grade by the following scheme: 20% class participation, 25% case presentations in class, 25% working projects, 40% final exam (one-shot-final exam!). On this Summer A, 2008 I made a little adjustment. First, I'm considering class participation only for 10%. Second, I splitted the exam in two exams-sessions (mid-term from Chapts 1 to 5 and final from Chapts 6 to 9) in order to facilitate the students learning process. Obviously, I couldn't split also the grade without re-aligning the table of page 3 of the Syllabus! I hope this important clarification will help you in pre-calculating your expected grade. Have a nice weekend and take care!

The web site

This year, Dr.Faraci has experienced the organization of a website that he personally updated on a daily base. What's your overall evaluation of this tool? Do you think it has been useful for learning or it's just for fun?

Any suggestion for the final exam?

The final exam is scheduled on Monday, first term of the class as usual. It will consist of 40 MCQs (1 point for each correct answer; a penalty of 0,25 points for wrong or no answers) and 2 Essay Questions (up to 5 points each). Do you have any suggestion for your peers to enhance the training process towards the final exam? Discussions on both sections of the exam (McQs and EQs) are more than welcome. They will not influence in any case the Instructor, since the test has just been printed and it's ready to be delivered.

Michael Porter on five forces

Watch this video http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/flatmm/hbrextras/200801/porter/index.html
It may be useful for your final working project.

The Etna Valley and the Etna Hitech cases

You're more than welcome to give your comments on the presentation about Etna Valley and Etna HiTech cases that Prof. Faraci is going to give on June11th. Enjoy the presentation before, and then give your comments.

Working on the ...working project

Any suggestion to make your final working project more effective? Oh no! It will be a strong competition among the groups. Only one group, only one, will get the award of 100 points. So, keeping a secret (the so called "tacit knowledge") will be the best strategy?

The final rush..

This is the last week, before the conclusion of this Man6636 sect 0687 class. How are you training yourself towards the final rush (final exam + working projects + presentation in class for the remaining three groups + getting extrapoints for class participation)? How do you feel? Any program for this weekend? This will be only a "secured" section of the blog reserved to MAN6636 students... Enjoy!

What a disaster!

Italy lost the first soccer game of the Euro2008 and it was literaly humiliated by the Dutch team. The final result was Netherlands 3 - Italy 0. If you watched the game, if you've just heard about this disaster, please give your comments, share with us your ideas, just let us know your opinion. As Italians, we missed the first important chance of the Euro2008.
Maurizio, the T.A. (teaching assistant), and Rosario the, A.T. (astonished teacher).

Learning by Movies or Videos

How much do you think may be useful movies and videos to learn strategic concepts and issues? Please, give your comments.

Update on discussed cases in class

Let's open a spot on update on the cases presented and discussed in class.

Is there only an American view of the strategic management process?

It seems that the textbook is very US-oriented, neverthless a lot of examples are drawn also from other countries. Concepts, topics and issues are usually referred to American large corporations, normally those listed in the stock market with lots of investors. I was wondering whether these issues fit also other countries' business models or if there is an "universal" way to view the strategic management process. You're more than welcome to give your ideas and your comments.

Mamma mia!

What's your knowledge about my country, Italy? Have you visited it before? Even if not visited, what's your idea about Italy, its economy, its lifestyle, its business system, its social problems? You're more than welcome to give your comments....

What kind of job are you looking for?

Leave your comments and start a discussion on this 'hot' topic ('hot' because is summer!)

How to improve your final grade in MAN6636 sect 0687

This will be an important forum in the blog. Take it seriously. As Instructor, I'm addressing a general discussion about the improvement of your final grade in this class. As you understand, your final score will be the result of several activities that the Instructor will evaluate, looking both at the individual (class participation, mid-term and final exams) or collective tasks (case presentations and working projects). Which are the main concerns about your final grade? How do you think your final grade may be improved? How do you feel with the different activities we're doing in class? Do you have any particular suggestion? Please, give your comments.

Networking and socializing - Studying and working abroad

Have you been out of the US to study or to work abroad? How did you enjoy your experience? Was it useful? If you're an international student at the moment, tell us more about your experience in the US. Are there many differences about the US system and that of your home country?

Networking and socializing - The importance of the strategic management for your career

You're attending a class of Strategic Management. How concepts and cases you learned in class may enhance the development of your career?

Class discussion - Chapter 9

If you have any comment, or if you'd like to start a discussion about topics and contents of Chapter 9, please post them using this section of the blog.

Class discussion - Chapter 8

If you have any comment, or if you'd like to start a discussion about topics and contents of Chapter 8, please post them using this section of the blog.

Class discussion - Chapter 7

If you have any comment, or if you'd like to start a discussion about topics and contents of Chapter 7, please post them using this section of the blog.

Class discussion - Chapter 6

If you have any comment, or if you'd like to start a discussion about topics and contents of Chapter 6, please post them using this section of the blog.

The First Mover (Dis)advantage

As we discussed in class, why the first mover may lose the advantage of being the market leader? How the potential advantage of being the first may be protected? Just discuss this topic

Indicators of Firms Strategic Competitiveness

Which are the indicators to measure, if possible, the strategic competitiveness of a firm? Please, give your comments on this "hot" topic.

Swings of a pendulum

In class we talked about I/O model and RBV model as two alternative perspectives in studying strategic management process. In addition, I posted on the web an optional reading about this topic. Do you think those two perspectives are really alternative? Is there any way to considered them interconnected? Give your comments and please sign your post with your name and lastname.

How to make effective a case presentation in class

Let's share your comments on this topic. The Instructor and the rest of your peers are interested in enjoying a great presentation in class. What do we expect?

Welcome to MAN6636 Global Strategic Management

Welcome! This is the blog that can be used by students and the instructor attending the course "Man6636 - Global Strategic Management" at the University of Florida. The Summer A course will start on May 12th from 11.00 a.m. to 1.45 p.m.