TMGT 632 - Telecommunications management and strategy
Course assignments
Teams should comprise not less than two and not more than four individuals,
Corporate strategy project (25%)
Each team should select an organization of interest to its members. You could choose a
well-known organization or one where you think that conventional wisdom does not tell the
whole story and where you can add to the understanding. Alternatively, you might
want to identify a 'hidden gem', that is a less well-known organization pursuing a
particularly interesting strategy. An element of puzzle or surprise can help make the
project more exciting. It helps to take sufficient time in the selection of a subject
that has sufficient substance to sustain your interest.
The goal of the project is a strategic analysis of the chosen
organization. It should have four parts:
- A description of the business "landscape" on which the organisation competes
- An assessment of its competitive position on that "landscape"
- Possible strategies:
- defensive
- offensive
- multi-business
- Conclusions
The output will be a presentation of not more than fifteen minutes supported by slides
(with handout notes), followed by five minutes for questions from class members to be
answered by the team.
- One slide describing the organisation to be analysed and the issues expected to be encountered (by 20 March)
- six slides covering parts 1 and 2 of the project (by class 27 March)
- six slides covering parts 3 of the project (by class 31 March)
- two slides covering parts 4 of the project (by class 7 April)
Presentations to be made on the morning of 10 April 2006.
Telecommunications industry assignment (25%)
Similar to the corporate strategy assignment, the team should select an
operator, service provider or manufacturer of ICT equipment.
The output will be a presentation of not more than fifteen minutes supported by slides
(with handout notes), followed by five minutes for questions from class members to be
answered by the team.
The goal of the project is a strategic analysis of the chosen
organization. It should have four parts:
- One slide describing the organisation to be analysed and the issues expected to be encountered (by 31 March)
- six slides covering parts 1 and 2 of the project (by class 5)
- Six slides covering parts 3 of the project (by class 10)
- two slides covering parts 4 of the project (by class 12)
Presentations to be made on the morning of 24 April 2006.
Building an information business (25%)
This is the third of three team exercises. The 'deliverable' is a
presentation of not more than fifteen minutes
with appropriate use of presentation or multimedia software. After the
presentation, five minutes will be available for questions
and answers from class members.
The project is to create an information-based business.
The delivery platform for your new product or service should be
a network or networks of your choice. You can re-package existing
or propose new products and services. Customers, whether individuals or
corporations, must obtain the service directly from the network.
Your report should identify the customer group, its unmet needs
and wants, with the features of the product or service that will
provide
for those needs and wants. The business plan should provide sufficient
financial details to allow a venture capitalist to consider whether
to have an initial meeting with your team.
Final projects will be evaluated by members of the class (20%)
and the instructor (80%).
Evaluation criteria will include:
- creativity of the underlying service
- evidence supporting the potential of the products and/or service
- feasibility
- professional quality of the presentation
- effective use of the chosen media
The class evaluation will take the form of investments. Each student
will have $1,000,000 to invest in blocks of $100,000 in other
teams, but not their own team. The team which attracts
the most investment will automatically be given an A grade.
Presentations to be made on the morning of 8 May 2006.
Be imaginative, challenge assumptions, demolish constraints, be
creative, have fun, listen to your friends question your sanity.
Tom Peters claims that if it is not crazy it is not a good idea.
Here is your opportunity to get rich!
Warnings:
- do not go overboard on financial projections
- do not get carried away with future technology
Case study write-ups (5 x 5%)
Select five of the case-studies used in the course and submit (by
midnight the day before the class) a two-page write-up of the case
study.
You may select any cases studies you wish from those taught in the
class.
Warning: The longer you wait, the less choice you will have!
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TMGT 632