First day checklist

1. First day checklist • Welcome • Class goals • The reading list • Preparation questions • The paper • Homework • Calendar • Teaching approach • Who should and should not take this class Greenstein, 463

2. Welcome • It is great to have you in class. • I like teaching this class. Please enjoy it! • Ask questions at any time. All questions welcome. • Please talk to me any time you have a concern – especially right after class. • Contact info: • Professor Shane Greenstein • 611 Leverone Hall, most afternoons between 1 & 5. • 847-467-5672, s-greenstein1@nwu.edu • Please respect home life. Greenstein, 463

3. Overview of class goals • Introductory course laced w/advanced stuff • Frameworks are durable, foot-holds offer openings • What everyone everywhere learns, enables dialogues • What a Microsoft employee needs to know (?!) • More standard material first half • Grounded in economic reasoning • More current events the second half (this is harder) • Balancing b/w new and knowledgeable • Doing things quickly so we can get to all of it. • I am here to facilitate discussion: Please speak up! Greenstein, 463

4. The reading list • Revised (based on recommendations from last yr) • 20% new readings this year • Balancing act between various class goals (I.e., usually about half the class is very happy & 5 people are not). • Required readings are used in class • Study questions are there to help • Recommended readings are there for you • Try to highlight frameworks & match a case to it • More material depends on students • If you know the industry, add what you know. Greenstein, 463

5. The paper • Final draft due the last week of class. • Prefer Monday, will accept up until Thursday at 1pm. • Outline due 8th week of class, any day that week. • Length depends on the size of your group • Prefer 4-6 people per group, but not required • Must cite sources from the last six months • Checklist in the handout • It is much easier to get sources on-line than in past • Web page includes “best of” • Students often like this part of class Greenstein, 463

6. Homework • The format: Simulated consulting • Former students calling back • How do I find the answer to “x”? • Life is open ended. Get used to it. • Learning w/o financial risk nor competition • Potentially hard problems, so ease up. Do not overdo it. • Pass/fail ------> TAKE RISKS & HAVE FUN • Half-hour review at start of class time • Learn from each other • Often regarded as a very fun part of class Greenstein, 463

7. Calendar • Mixing the homework, midterm, paper, final so something due almost every week • New this year: no homework in 9th week • New this year: paper is higher fraction of grade • Make up days & rescheduling • Honor code exams • Baby, baby, baby. Greenstein, 463

8. Teaching approach • Participation in class is optional • I like being here, you should too. • If you do not want to talk, then don’t. • Class time is for substance (and a bit of fun) • Do not interfere with fellow student’s learning • Discussion in class  get you out of comfort zone • Office time should enhance what is done in class • My door is open from 1 to 5 (subject to the cue) • Please respect my mornings • E-mail works, the phone works • All handouts on the class web page Greenstein, 463

9. More on teaching approach • Balance group & individual accountability • Group homework & group paper • Individual midterm & final • Balance structured goals & open discussion • The ppt slides keep the flow moving to specific points • I will encourage a jazz riff if it develops • Balance general lessons & concrete examples • Regular homework work to develop broad connections • Regular cases to develop examples Greenstein, 463

10. Who should take this class • Getting feet wet before taking the plunge • You want to developing familiarity with basic language • Mix of current events and traditional stuff appeals • You know one market, but not others • Looking for overview, frameworks, broad perspective • You are curious about technology markets, no matter • IT is what I know best, but frameworks broadly apply • You like using the B, D & S approach • Expect to do market analysis w/economic foundations • A focus on the market environment Greenstein, 463

11. Who should not take this class • You spent the last three years…. • doing market analysis for an investment bank • doing tech strategy for a consulting house • You believe the Internet changed it all • In this class events before 1995 contain useful lessons • This course highlights mainstream paradigms (updated, to be sure), but your fifty year old boss will recognize it • You dislike economic approaches to strategy • We focus on what is going on within markets; the conversation can get a tad abstract, critical & analytical. Greenstein, 463

12. Other factors that might influence whether you stick around • This class is more work than typical course • Many complaints every year: OK, I hear you! I actually cut number of readings a bit this year. • Get out what effort you put in: so I did not cut that much. • Starts slow, then speeds up, paced relatively fast. • Lots of work in 2nd half. You’ve been warned! • Class attendance almost required. • I gear the course towards verbal discussion. • Many idiosyncratic features & stories. • This mix of traditional/current not found in any textbook. • I presume you like topic. I do not motivate skeptics. Greenstein, 463

13. Who are you? • What is your name? • Why are you here at Kellogg? • What is your background (nationality, previous work experience, etc.)? • Why did you sign up for this class and what do you hope to get out of it? Greenstein, 463