MGMT0221 – Business Management

Fall Semester – 2020

Instructor: Jason Forgue

Office: Wilson 412B
Communications: E-mail responded to ASAP
(and by appointment if necessary)
E-mail: jforgue@westfield.ma.edu
Cell Phone: 413-205-6504
*Please feel free to contact me anytime via e-mail or cell phone with any questions or
concerns.

Required Text: Hill, Schilling, Jones Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach

13th Edition, Cengage, 2020.

Course Topics/Objectives: Provides a general probe into the role of management in

business, exploring concepts of management used in business, various issues of Business
Management structures and the organization of management. Topics to be studied
include: an examination of a systems approach to management, human behavior,
personality conflict in organizations, and techniques of creative management. The course
shall touch upon several leadership development strategies, models of executive action in
business policy or control, and provide a broad comprehensive overview of current issues
concerning women, minorities and social responsibility in the field of Business
Management.
By the time the semester is over, I hope each of you understands at least the basic
concepts behind numerous management styles and develops one that best works for you.
The aim of the course is to enable the student to think independently and critically
regarding the costs and benefits of management styles in an advanced capitalist economy.
Regardless of whether you are (or plan to be) a management major, you will most likely
utilize these concepts in your other classes and professional lives.
We will not have a set structure in this course, i.e. each day of the semester will
not be planned out exactly, although I have included an expected outline. I would like to
get a feel for the class as we go along and see at what speed we need to go through the
material. You will know plenty of time in advance which chapters and what material
exactly will be covered prior to each exam. The exam schedule with probable material is
listed below.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE(S): MGMT 0107 with a grade of C- or better;

Junior/Senior Only

Instructional Objectives/Teaching Procedure: Topics will be covered through a

combination of weekly online lesson plans and assignments along with class-wide group
discussions. All material on quizzes and exams will include material discussed during
class assignments/discussions only supplemented by out textbook. My objective is to
have each student in the class be able to weave through the complex structure of business
management to better understand what is happening in the “real world” and the reasons
behind those actions/outcomes.

Accessibility Accomodations: Westfield State University values inclusion and equal

access to its programs and activities and is committed to fostering an environment of
mutual respect and full participation. Our goal is to create learning environments that are
equitable, inclusive and welcoming. If you are an individual with a disability and require
reasonable academic accommodations you are advised to contact the Office of Disability
Services (ODS) at any time to discuss your accommodation needs and options. The ODS
will work collaboratively with students with disabilities to develop effective
accommodations for implementation.

Course Grading System:

Two Exams – Mid-Term Exam, Week of October 20th 20%
(probable chapters covered include 1-6)
Final Exam (see exam schedule) 25%
Final will be cumulative.
Weekly Online Assignments (Due by each Saturday evening) – 20% each
Semester Project – Due Final Week of Classes 20%
Class Participation – 15%
Note: The Final Exam will be cumulative. We will have an online review session at the
end the last week of classes and I will answer questions prior to each exam. In these
review sessions, I will not just repeat information, you MUST come with questions.

Procedure (criteria) for evaluating student performance:

Student performance on homework and in-class assignments will be judged on an effort
basis. All completed assignments of this nature will be assessed 100 points provided
adequate effort is given towards their completion. All other gradable activities will
follow a standard grade distribution: (A) 93-100; (A-) 90-92; (B+) 87-89; (B) 83-86; (B-)
80-82; (C+) 77-79; (C) 73-76; (C-) 70-72; (D+) 67-69; (D) 60-66; (F) 59 and below.

Attendance and Absence Policy: Attendance and being prepared for class are basic
expectations and requirements for the class. Given that class participation is a portion of
your grade and the content of the exams will include materials specifically discussed in
class, attendance will be a large part of your success in class. Attendance will be
recorded for university reporting purposes but is not the sole consideration in determining
the class participation portion of your grade.

Class Cancellation Policy: Material, homework, or exams missed due to canceled

classes will be covered or will be due at the following class meeting.

Academic honesty and integrity is expected to be upheld to the highest degree.

Corroboration is anticipated and encouraged on the homework assignments, but each
individual’s answers MUST be their own. Cheating at all done during the course, on
homework or exams, will result in a 0 for the course. There are absolutely no
exceptions.