We will measure the extent to which you achieve the desired learning outcomes based on your performance on the assessment vehicles outlined below. Final semester grades are based on how many points you earn relative to the total number of points available (902 points). Below is a brief description of how grades will be determined - including extra credit.
Participation (34 points)
Participation (34 points/4% of total Grade) You can receive up to 34 points for attending and participating in group discussions and other activities every lecture day (exam days are not lecture days) this semester. There are a total of 36 instruction days, so you can be absent for two days and still receive all 34 points. The 34 points can make the difference between a B+ and an A- etc.
It is your responsibility to check your attendance points and if you are late, to come up to me after class and let me make sure I mark you as present. I won't give you the point if you don't. However, if you are over 15 minutes late you will not receive any points for that day. As you can imagine, when someone is late it can be a disruption, and stopping the class to mark someone present who is late is another disruption. But I know that most students are respectful of others :-)
Exams (600 points)
To demonstrate your understanding and mastery of the management principles that we will be studying, you will be invited to complete three unit exams and a final exam (which includes the last three chapters of the textbook).
All exams consist of multiple choice and True or False questions and cover all the material in the chapters of the textbook assigned for that period, as well as all other content that may have been watched, talked about, or discussed in class.
Late exams will not be accepted and makeup exams are not permitted, except in EXTRAORDINARY circumstances that can be documented, and only if arrangements are made in advance. If arrangements are not made in advance, you will receive a score of 0 for a missed exam.
Each exam has practice quizzes for each chapter in the exam. These practice exams can only be taken once and are only available for a short time previous to the exam, so prepare accordingly.
The practice quizzes will provide you with an opportunity to get a feel for what the exam will be like. However, the questions on the actual exam are different than what you will find in the open book and practice quizzes.
IMPORTANT: All exams, including the final exam, must be taken on campus at the SUU testing center on the assigned days.
Unit Exams (400 points/44% of total grade)
There will be three unit exams (200 points each) consisting of multiple-choice or True and False questions. The lowest score on these three exams will be dropped. IMPORTANT NOTE: The final exam is not an exam that can be dropped.
Final Exam (200 points/22% of total grade)
There will be a final exam (200 points) consisting of multiple-choice and True or False questions. It covers all of the material in the entire textbook as well as all other content watched, read, and discussed throughout the course. You can find the study guide for the final exam in Canvas.
Unit exams cover all of the content in the assigned chapters from the textbook leading up to the exam. Additionally, unit exams include all other materials brought into the lectures (e.g., videos, and case studies). Your lowest exam will be reflected in your grade throughout the semester. For example, if your first exam is a 160 and then on your next exam you score a 190, the 160 is immediately dropped and is reflected in your grade. If you score 140 on your third exam, then that is dropped and your scores of 190 and 160 are retained and immediately reflected in your grade. If you miss one exam for whatever reason, the score of 0 will be dropped and the scores of the two exams you took will be your grade.
Quizzes (100 Points)
Syllabus Quiz (5 points/1% of total grade). There will be a quiz on the syllabus (5 points) consisting of 10 multiple-choice or True or False questions. A copy of the syllabus may be used while taking this quiz.
Open Book Quizzes (95 points/11% of total grade). There are a total of 17 open-book quizzes this semester. Each quiz consists of 10-12 questions for 5-6 points total and corresponds with each of the 17 chapters in the book that we cover. If you miss an open-book quiz, please don't ask to have it reopened so you can take it. If you miss the quiz, YOU MISS the 5-6 points.
Executive Board Simulations (150 Points)
Executive Board Simulations #1 and #2 (150 Points/16% of total grade). You will work with an assigned team throughout the semester as the Executive Board of Pop Porch Co., a growing specialty soda company. Your team will complete two larger simulations that require you to apply concepts from class to realistic management challenges.
Simulation #1 – Strategic Management: Your Executive Board will evaluate Pop Porch Co.'s competitive situation and make important decisions about the company's strategy and future direction. Your team will apply concepts from class to determine where the company should go and how it should compete.
Simulation #2 – Organizational Design: Your Executive Board will determine how Pop Porch Co. should be organized to successfully carry out its strategy and continue to grow. Your team will apply concepts from class to make decisions about how the organization should be structured and managed.
Detailed instructions, requirements, and grading criteria for each simulation will be provided in Canvas.
Executive Board In-class Exercises (18 Points)
Executive Board Exercise 1-6 (18 Points/2% of total grade). Throughout the semester, your Executive Board will complete six short in-class exercises worth 3 points each. Each exercise will give your team a management challenge facing Pop Porch Co. and approximately 10–15 minutes to discuss the situation, apply concepts from class, and make a recommendation or decision.
These exercises are designed to give you an opportunity to apply what we are learning rather than simply learn about it. Exercises may involve topics such as the global business environment, organizational culture, decision making, motivation, leadership, conflict, or other management concepts covered in class.
Each team will submit one response at the end of the exercise and identify the team members who participated. You must be present and participate in the exercise to receive the points. Because these are in-class activities, missed Executive Board exercises cannot be made up. If you need to make up, please complete one of the extra credit assignments.
Additional Extra Credit Opportunities
Throughout the semester, there will be five optional extra credit opportunities worth up to 5 points each. Four will ask you to connect a concept we are studying in class to a current Wall Street Journal article. One will focus on applying the Rational Decision-Making Process.
Specific instructions and requirements for each opportunity will be provided in Canvas. Extra credit assignments are completely optional and late submissions will not be accepted.
First Attendance Quiz - Ungraded, Required by SUU
Please note there is an ungraded "First Attendance Quiz" required by the University to comply with federal regulations to track students' first attendance in class. Please be certain to take this short, three-question quiz. Again, it is ungraded and will not count towards your final grade.
Grading Policies
Where grades are concerned, these class policies apply:
Grading Philosophy — The assessment vehicles are designed to measure your performance in achieving the learning objectives. However, I understand that unexpected situations will arise during the semester that may affect your ability to complete the assigned coursework. For this reason, I drop the lowest grade of the three unit exams. If you miss the exam, score lower than you had hoped, etc. and you receive a 0 or low score, that grade can be dropped. IMPORTANT: If you should choose to skip an exam, or not study for the exam, you will still need to study that content at some point because it will show up on the final. NOTE: Your final is not one of the four exams you can drop. So prepare accordingly.
Grading Scale — I will use the following grading scale. I will not round up. So please don't ask.
- A — 100.0 - 93.00
- A- — 92.99 - 90.00
- B+ — 89.99 - 87.00
- B — 86.99 - 83.00
- B- — 82.99 - 80.00
- C+ — 79.99 - 77.00
- C — 76.99 - 73.00
- C- — 72.99 - 70.00
- D+ — 69.99 - 67.00
- D — 66.99 - 63.00
- D- — 62.99 - 60.00
- F — Less than 60.00