1 Course Information
Course number: AREC 323
Course title: Introduction to Management for Agri-Food, Environmental, and Forestry Businesses.
Term: Fall 2020
Days and time: (02 Sept - 08 Dec) See Class times Location:
Format:
Exams
Online via Eclass, Zoom and/or other platforms
Recorded lectures (asynchronous), Q& A sessions and live meetings (synchronous)
None (traditional). Please review assignment section.
Instructor Contact Information Instructor: Sven Anders Office phone: (780) 492-5453
Email address: [email protected] Office location: 523 General Services Building
Office hours: Consult eclass for weekly schedule. Email contact / inquiries only if necessary.
TA: Hannah Skelding (MSc student in REES) email:
[email protected] [Hannah’s availability info will be posted on eclass at the start of the term].
AREC 323 as an online course
Moving this course online hasn’t been easy for me. I have lots of ideas of what I want to do with you guys, how these activities should help you learn, and possibly, just possibly have a little tiny bit if fun, too. Believe it or not, knowing a thing or two about business principles may just come in handy when you view the UofA campus and your University time in the rear mirror. I never believed my Profs. And, boy, was I wrong
• A major change to “AREC 323 business as usual” is that we (very likely) won’t be having lectures each week at the alloted times (Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30-10:50am)
• We won’t be having classic (mid, final) exams = time-restricted sets of questions that all of you answer during the same time slot.
• AREC 323 “lectures” will be a mix of voice over ppt slides and accompanying materials like readings (such as in the textbook, see below), quizzes, assignments and more posted twice or trice a week.
• Graded assignments will be more varied than business as usual, too. The hardwired assignments (see list below) are individual and there will also be two group assignment activities (and related peer-grading) throughout the course.
• Other assignmnets with involve sets of questions related to readings and quizzes on a weekly or by weekly schedule. Don’t worry, These will be “smaller” and the total will be in the order of 30%.
2 Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, the students will be able to:
• Recognize the management principles and models used in Agri-Food, Environmental, and Forestry Businesses;
• Demonstrate the link between these principles and actual management tasks associated with physical, financial and human resources, as well as marketing and financial control;
• Demonstrate the relationship between these management principles and relevant economic concepts;
• Demonstrate their communication skills in group work setting;
• Apply these principles and models in relevant industries and organizations;
• Analyse the financial performance of an Agri-Food, Environmental, and Forestry business by applying these management principles and models.
Class times:
Class times for AREC E323 on Beartracks are Tuesdays and Thursdays,11:00 am to 12:20 pm. The online teaching format gives us added flexibility and I suggest we use it.
• Lecture materials, voice over ppt, videos, and other documents will be posted multiple times a week (twice or more).
• Q&A sessions will be scheduled during Beartracks allotted class times (Tues, Thu 11 am – 12:20pm). Participation in Q&A sessions is highly recommended but not is not mandatory unless noted in an invitation. Session recordings will be posted in eclass.
• Frequent consultation of the AREC 323 on eclass is super-highly recommended!
Communication in AREC 323:
In the online teaching format there are few new ground rules for communication.
With the instructor: Beyond teaching materials I will try to make myself available for Q&A sessions (on Zoom) at different times during the week (watch eclass for a list of a tentative list of days and times; to be updated throughout the term). Meetings with groups assignment teams will be scheduled in bilateral agreement. Please refrain from sending me emails with general questions (unless personal conflicts and/or request for time extension) or requests for clarification of course material (also see Professionalism / Participating in class discussions section below). I really appreciate if you can avoid weekend and middle of the night emails.
With the TA: The main role of the TA is to assist me in grading assignments and in the preparation of teaching materials. The TA, Hannah Skelding, will make herself available to assist in answering questions on assignments (and simple course material questions) during TA hours, which we will publish on eclass at the beginning of the term. Please
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refrain from sending general question emails and requests for explanation of course materials to the TA. Avoid weekend and middle of the night emails to the TA.
Between students: Please familiarize yourself with the code of student conduct (details below) and with the rules for netiquette for University students (also here).
Reading Materials:
The recommended course text for this course is:
• Longenecker, J.G., L.B. Donlevy, T. Champion, J.W. Petty, L.E. Palich and C.W.
Moore. 2013. Small Business Management: Launching and Growing New Ventures.
Sixth, Fifth, Fourth or Third Canadian Edition. Nelson Education Ltd. Toronto, ON.
Copies of this book and/or ebook are available for purchase or temporary eBook access directly from the publisher or at www.cengage.ca/shop. eBook (SBN-10: 017672852X, ISBN-13: 97801767285260.
Also, there is a scanned print copy of the 4th Canadian edition available to borrow on the Internet Archive in the Open Library. You can access it here. [If you have problems accessing the book you will need to register for an account on the Internet Archive, and then search for the book.] Please note, earlier editions (i.e. 5th, 4th, …) will also work for this class.
We will also cover some chapters of the following textbooks:
• Besanko D., D. Dranove, M. Shanley and S. Shaefer. 2012 The Economics of Strategy:
Sixth Edition, Published by John Wiley.
Handouts from this book will be provided. Students do not have to buy this book.
Additional readings may be assigned throughout the course. Handouts will be made available through eClass. Students will also have access to Representative Evaluative Materials on eClass.
• Robbins Stephen P., M. Coulter, Ed Leach and M. Kilfoil. 2011. Management, 10th Canadian Edition, Pearson, Hardcover, ISBN 978 013 272 417 3
• Business Plans prepared by former BPBE 495 students. Please find these online:
http://agbusinessplans.usask.ca/
• BPBE 495.3 Course Manual. Bill Brown & Marv Painter, AgriBusiness Venture Management: Preparation of a Business Plan, University of Saskatchewan, 2010.
To be provided on eClass.
Business Plans provided by the instructor on the course website (eClass) and in class.
4 Grading Policy:
Final grade is determined as follows:
Total Marks
Professionalism 10
Assignment 1 10
Assignment 2 10
Assignment 3 10
Assignment 4 10
Assignment 5 10
Readings, Quizzes 30
Dragon’s Den 10
Total 100
Grading Procedure:
https://policiesonline.ualberta.ca/PoliciesProcedu res/Procedures/Grading-Procedure.pdf
Final letter grades conversion:
Percentage Letter
>95% A+
90-95% A
85-90% A-
80-85% B+
75-80% B
70-75% B-
65-70% C+
60-65% C
50-60% D
<50% F
Professionalism / Participating in class discussions
Students are expected to treat AREC 323 as a professional development opportunity.
Participation and engagement (online) are an important component of this course.
As you instructor I am her to teach you. That include answering your questions. I will not be responding to sloppily or casually written emails (e.g. Hey Prof, …) or general requests (Can you please explain …. again?). I will do my best to respond to well-written, thought through emails with precise questions, either via email or by inviting you to a brief (zoom, google meets, skype) call.
Please note that part of your course grade is made up of your participation and engagement in this course: participating and following of lecture material, readings, assignments, quizzes, engagement with instructor, TA and fellow students (not all may apply).
Examinations and Grading
The online format will make midterm and final examinations in a traditional time- restricted format difficult in AREC 323. Instead I will strive to offer a number of graded activities. This include individual and group assignments (see next section), graded readings with essay-style questions, quizzes, and other assignments (problem sets) that will be graded for submission and grade points achieved.
Further details will be communicated in each assignments and weekly live course (Q&A) sessions.
Students who are unable to submit any assignment by a given deadline because of illness or any other legitimate reason, should contact the instructor no later than 72 hours to make alternative arrangements.
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The usual university regulations apply in these situations, as per Section 23.5.6 in the U.
of A. Academic Calendar (see web link below). Specifically:
• students unable to write a midterm examination due to legitimate reasons will have the percentage weight for the missed midterm exam added to the percentage weight allotted to the final exam
(https://www.ualberta.ca/registrar/examinations/exam-guidelines-for- instructors/what-to-do-when-a-student-is-sick);
• students unable to write the final examination due to legitimate reasons must apply for a deferred examination
(https://www.ualberta.ca/registrar/examinations/exam-guidelines-for- instructors/what-to-do-when-a-student-is-sick).
Webpage link for Section 23.5 in the University of Alberta Academic Calendar (http://www.registrar.ualberta.ca/calendar/Regulations-and-Information/Academic- Regulation/23.5.html#23.5)
Fixed Assignments - Schedule and Details
* Submission of assignments through eclass.
Group Assignment:
A requirement of this course is the completion of 2 group assignment. Approximately within 2 class days of the add/drop deadline (Sept. 15), students will be organized into groups of (normally) four to five students, based on degree and specialization.
Group scores for the assignment will be based on content (i.e., grammar, style, etc.), as well as participation in the group effort.
Type Due date* Theme Details Final
grade (%) 1 Group 11:59 PM,
Oct 1 SWOT
Students are asked to use SWOT analysis to find the competitive advantage of a business (e.g. craft beer, hemp market, etc.).
10%
2 Individual 5PM, Oct 10
Strategic Positioning
Students practice strategic positioning
10%
3 Individual 5PM, Nov 1
NPV and IRR
Students practice NPV and IRR calculation and interpretation
10%
4 Individual 5PM, Nov
27 Breakeven
Students practice calculating and interpreting breakeven values from a risk analysis perspective.
10%
5 Individual 5PM, Dec
4 Global
Students are asked to interpret the financial results of 3 business plans, decide which of the 3 businesses they would invest in, and why.
10%
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Group assignment 1 = SWOT analysis, see assignment table Group assignment 2 = Dragon’s Den
Dragon’s Den Group Presentation = This assignment or mini project asks each group of students to present a business idea in “Dragon’s Den” style. Each group submits their idea as a short video (with supporting power point slides) to the instructor AND all members of class for judging. Grading will be instructor + peer evaluation + AREC 323 student evaluation (feedback). Details on structure and grading will be made available later during the course. [The Dragon’s Dean project is a final part of the grade assessment and will be scheduled towards the end of the course in December].
Please note the following:
✓ Students will be assigned to groups by the course instructor.
✓ Additional information about the group assignments will be provided in class by the instructor.
Student Peer Evaluations – In the grading of each of the two group assignments each student (group member) is given the chance to evaluate their team members. Each student is required to complete the “Student Peer Evaluation Form” (form, end of this syllabus document!). Your group assignment mark is based on your average peer evaluation score and the instructor grading of the group submission. Student Peer Evaluation Forms need to be sent to the instructor confidentially by email or via eclass.
Late Assignments - Unless otherwise agreed and confirmed with the instructor (request extension via email at least 72 hours prior to deadline), all late assignments (individual or group) will be given a mark of zero for the assignment.
Tentative Course outline and important dates and deadlines.
The following schedule serves as a guide of order, length and approximate timing of course topics and related deadlines. It’s a rough study plan for you and me. Some topics might take longer or shorter than expected. Deadlines may need to be adjusted. We may use planned review as we see fit.
Date Important
dates Topic Lecture Contents Reading
Week
1 Intro
Bridge-In, Course syllabus, Introduction to management
Student Groups, Introduction to management Ch 1 Week
2
Introduction to management, Student Groups Ch 1 Planning Planning: Business Plan Ch 5,
Manual
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Week 3
Market Planning and Management: Strategic Planning and SWOT
Ch 2, Manual Week
4
Market Planning and Management: Product Strategy, Pricing Strategy
Ch 6,7, Manual
Strategic Positioning Ch 9
Besanko Week
5
Strategic Positioning Ch 9
Besanko Assign. 1 due Market Planning and Management:
distribution, advertising, …
Ch 7, 8, Manual Week
6
Organization Organizing Ch 10
Directing/
Leading
Directing Ch 9
Week
6/7 Assign 2 due Directing: HR Planning and Management Ch 9, Manual Week
6/7
Controlling
Operations Planning and Management:
Location, …
Ch 11, Manual Operations Planning and Management:
Capital Budget, …
Ch 14, Manual Week
8
Financial Planning and Management:
Combining the Numbers, B/C
Handout, Manual Financial Planning and Management: NPV
and IRR
Ch 12, 13, Manual Week
9
Financial Planning and Management:
Accounts Receivable, Payable, Inventories
Ch 13, Manual Assign3 due
Financial Planning and Management:
Balance Sheets, Working Capital, CCC, …
Ch 13, Manual Week
10 Flex week
Week
11
No Class Reading week
No Class
Week 12
Financial Planning and Management: Debt vs. Equity
Handout, Manual Financial Planning and Management: Risk
and Breakeven
Handout, Manual Week
13 Assign 4 due
Contingency Planning, additional topics (value chain management, dynamics)
Handout, Manual Flex week + Dragon’s Den Presentations
(tentative) Last
week
Assignment 5
due Summary
Flex week + Dragon’s Den Presentations (tentative)
Summary and Conclusion: Putting it all together…, additional topics
Plagiarism and Cheating
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding
academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are
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particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta. ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”
Code of Student Behaviour at the University of Alberta
Although we are in an online teaching environment, respectful engagement and communication still are important.
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding
academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.” (GFC 29 SEP 2003).
Key excerpts from this code include:
“30.3.2(1) Plagiarism
No Student shall submit the words, ideas, images or data of another person as the
Student’s own in any academic writing, essay, thesis, project, assignment, presentation or poster in a course or program of study.”
“30.3.2(2) c No Student shall represent another’s substantial editorial or compositional assistance on an assignment as the Student’s own work.”
(http://www.registrar.ualberta.ca/calendar/Regulations-and-Information/Code-Student- Behavior/25.html and;
http://www.governance.ualberta.ca/en/CodesofConductandResidenceCommunityStandar ds/CodeofStudentBehaviour.aspx )
Electronic Devices
The use of electronic devices during AREC 323 exams is limited to “Only approved non-programmable calculators”. The use of cell phones, financial and engineering calculators, hand-held organizers and computers is not permitted.
Recording of Lectures
The use of “audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment and material by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).”
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“Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of the University Calendar.”
10 AREC 323
STUDENT PEER EVALUATION FORM
Project Name:
Instructions:
You are to provide relative scores for yourself and all other members of your project group.
The average of the scores provided by all students in each group will be applied to the group’s overall mark to arrive at each person’s individual mark.
1) Clearly print the full names of each student in your group.
2) For each student you are to provide a score. The total of all scores must add up to no more than (can be less than) 10 X the # of students in your group (i.e. if 4 group members, total = 40 points maximum).
3) For any student, the minimum score is zero. Maximum is 15.
4) In your marking, be critical but fair. Consider the following criteria:
Proportional share of work, quality of work, attendance at meetings, attitude, and overall contribution to the group’s effort.
5) If you wish, you may provide comments below and/or on the back of this sheet.
6) Please sign and print your name at the bottom of the form. This report will be completely confidential.
PRINT Students’ Full Names Score
TOTAL = 10 X # of Students:
Other Comments (use reverse side if necessary)
Signature:
Print Name:
11 Supplemental Readings:
• Robbins Stephen P., M. Coulter, Ed Leach and M. Kilfoil. 2011. Management, 10th Canadian Edition, Pearson, Hardcover, ISBN 978 013 272 417 3
• Business Plans prepared by former BPBE 495 students. Please find these online:
http://agbusinessplans.usask.ca/
• Business Plans provided by the instructor on the course website (eClass) and in class
Supplementary References:
Supplementary references are as follows. Other relevant material (as indicated by the course instructor) will be referenced through the course eClass site, as required.
Beierlein, J.G., K.C. Schneeberger, and D.D. Osburn. 2003. Principles of Agribusiness Management. Third Edition. Waveland Press. Prospect Heights, IL.
This is a general business management text. The applications are to “agri-business”, but the principles and tools apply to firms in other sectors as well.
Beierlein, J.G., and M.W. Woolverton. 1991. Agribusiness Marketing: The Management Perspective. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
This is a marketing management text. The applications are to “agri-business”, but the principles and tools apply to firms in other sectors as well.
Griffin, R.W., R.J. Ebert and F.A. Starke. 2008. Business. Sixth Canadian Edition.
Pearson Education Canada. Toronto, ON.
This is a general business management text that addresses all areas and functions of management.
McShane, S.L. 1998. Canadian Organizational Behaviour. Third Edition. McGraw- Hill Ryerson. Toronto, ON.
This reference is a bit dated, but provides a discussion of topics related to organizational behaviour (i.e., motivation, leadership, authority and power, ...).
Pearce, J.A. II and R.B. Robinson Jr. 2007. Strategic Management: Formulation, Implementation, and Control. Tenth Edition. McGraw-Hill Ryerson. Toronto, ON.
This text focuses on strategic aspects of management and provides more detail and discussion for the section on strategic planning.
On-Line References
Management Extra Management Training Workbooks. Published by Pergamon Flexible Learning, Elsevier.
This is a series of business management workbooks, each of which deals with a different management area (e.g., financial, marketing, human resources, etc.).
These are available through University of Alberta “eReserve”.
