Syllabus

Master of Business Administration

MBA 690: Leading Strategic Impact

Credits - 3

Description

This course is the culminating capstone experience of the MBA program. The course integrates learning from across the curriculum through an applied, strategic project focused on a complex, organizational challenge. Drawing on knowledge across business functions, students work in teams to analyze ambiguous and multifaceted business problems, evaluate trade-offs across functions and stakeholders, and develop data-informed strategic recommendations. Emphasis is placed on executive-level thinking, written and oral professional communication, ethical leadership, and decision-making in complex systems.

Materials

No required text; all resources will be provided in Brightspace.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  1. Integrate knowledge from across business disciplines to analyze complex organizational challenges.
  2. Construct data-informed strategic recommendations aligned with organizational goals.
  3. Communicate strategic insights through executive-level written and oral deliverables.
  4. Justify strategic recommendations by addressing ethical implications, trade-offs, and business impact
  5. Analyze effective team leadership.

Assignments

The Decision Room: Executive Strategy Project

The primary applied experience in this course is The Decision Room, an eight-week executive strategy simulation. Working as part of an executive advisory team, you will analyze a complex organizational challenge, evaluate competing priorities, develop a data-informed strategy, assess its potential impact, and communicate a final recommendation to an executive audience.

The project is completed in progressive phases. Each phase contributes to the team’s final executive recommendation:

  • Team Charter: Establish shared expectations for roles, communication, decision-making, conflict management, accountability, psychological safety, and the use of AI and other technologies.
  • Strategic Problem Framing and Issue Analysis: Define the core strategic question, develop a MECE issue tree, and identify the most important assumptions and constraints shaping the analysis.
  • Key Insight Brief: Identify and communicate three decision-relevant insights supported by case evidence, company information, and credible research.
  • Strategic Solution Brief: Develop a top-line recommendation supported by three integrated strategic pillars, strategic alignment, and analysis of key trade-offs.
  • Impact, Risk, and Implementation Analysis: Evaluate the recommendation’s financial impact, risks, ethical and stakeholder implications, and high-level implementation requirements.
  • Final Executive Slide Deck and Recorded Presentation: Present a board-ready strategic recommendation that integrates the team’s analysis, proposed strategy, anticipated impact, implementation logic, and supporting evidence.

Individual Executive Judgment and Leadership Activities

Individual assignments ask students to apply independent judgment, examine the assumptions underlying the team’s work, and reflect on their development as strategic leaders.

Discussions and Professional Conversations

Discussions are designed to reflect the ways leaders exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and respond to colleagues in professional settings. Depending on the week, students may participate in written discussions, recorded conversations with the instructor, structured team collaboration, or board-style review activities. Initial posts and responses should demonstrate substantive engagement, professional judgment, and specific connections to the course project, learning resources, professional experience, or relevant evidence.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentPoint Total
Academic Integrity Agreement1
Week 1 Discussion: Your UnBio3
Week 1 Team Assignment: Team Charter4
Week 2 Assignment: Strategic Problem Framing & Issue Analysis8
Week 2 Leadership Conversation: The Assumption I Would Change in the Boardroom5
Week 3 Team Assignment: Key Insight Brief10
Week 3 Leadership Conversation: Judgment Reflection4
Week 4 Discussion: The Leadership Tension I Managed4
Week 4 Team Assignment: Strategic Solution Brief10
Week 5 Team Assignment: Impact Risk & Implementation Analysis12
Week 6 Discussion: AI as a Risk Modeling Tool: Strength Blind Spots and Ethical Limits4
Week 7 Team Assignment: Final Executive Slide Deck20
Week 7 Leadership Conversation: Executive Defense Memorandum - Independent Strategic Review5
Week 8 Discussion: Board Review and Executive Defense5
Week 8 Assignment: Professional Leadership Statement2
Week 8 Leadership Reflection: Leadership Teaming and Strategic Decision-Making3
Total 100

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Course Dates: October 28 – December 18, 2026

Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Friday

Week Assessments Due
1: Framing the Strategic Decision

Academic Integrity Agreement

“UnBio” Discussion

Team Charter

Academic Integrity Agreement and Team Charter due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET; discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET; responses due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
2: Diagnosing the Drivers Strategic Problem Framing and Issue Analysis; Video Conversation: The Assumption I Would Challenge in the Boardroom Team assignment and individual video due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
3: From Data to Insight Key Insight Brief; Individual Judgment Reflection Team brief and individual reflection due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
4: Designing the Strategic Response Strategic Solution Brief; Discussion: The Leadership Tension I Managed Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET; responses due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET; Strategic Solution Brief due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
5: Stress-Testing the Strategy Impact, Risk, and Implementation Analysis Team analysis due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
6: Defending the Decision Discussion: AI as a Risk-Modeling Tool: Strengths, Blind Spots, and Ethical Limits Discussion initial post due Friday by 11:59 PM ET; responses due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET
7: Executive Presentation Final Executive Slide Deck and Recorded Presentation; Executive Defense Memorandum; Final Board Submission Final team presentation, individual memorandum, and Board Submission post due Sunday by 11:59 PM ET; no discussion responses required this week
8: Executive Identity and Leadership Board Review and Executive Defense Discussion; Professional Leadership Statement; Individual Leadership Reflection Discussion questions due Thursday by 11:59 PM ET; discussion responses, Professional Leadership Statement, and Individual Leadership Reflection due Friday by 11:59 PM ET

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Enrollment and Retention Counselor is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Please reach out to your student success team member.

UNE Libraries:

  • Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
  • Research by Subject: Business & Entrepreneurship Collection
  • Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.

UNE Student Academic Success Center

UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their student success team member and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week 

Phone: Mon-Fri: (207) 602-2487

After Hours/Weekends: (877) 518-4673

Career Ready Program

UNE Online supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Passing Grade Statement

A grade of 80% or higher is required to pass the course. A grade lower than 80% will result in you having to repeat the course. Obtaining two "Fs" in the program may result in dismissal from the program.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement

Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support their roles as learners and professionals. The use of AI in academic work falls under our academic integrity agreement, ensuring that all AI applications are used in alignment with our commitment to honest and responsible learning.

In situations in which AI tools are used as a resource, students must:

  • Ensure that all submitted academic work adequately demonstrates student learning (i.e., that the student, rather than a machine, has met the learning outcomes related to the assessment).
  • Acknowledge, in written assessments and extra-curricular applications, the role played by AI tools in producing the student’s work (this can usually be done in a citation or by including a session transcript).
  • Take ultimate responsibility for accuracy of results, think critically about them, and never substitute them for professional human judgment.
  • Monitor GenAI output for bias and risks for vulnerable populations and underrepresented groups.

As GenAI continues to evolve, students should also stay abreast of best practices and changing risks and benefits.

Please note that individual courses or assignments may have specific guidelines regarding AI use — please refer to your faculty’s directions or assignment instructions for details.

The Student Orientation has a module "Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Students", please refer to this module for more information about navigating the use of AI.

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

UNE uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. 

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements.

Late Policy

Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace. In a professional environment, deadlines matter because work impacts teams, clients, and decisions, and this course reflects those expectations.

Quizzes and Tests: 

Quizzes and tests must be completed by the posted deadline .

  • No late submissions are accepted
  • Students are encouraged to plan accordingly, as these are time-sensitive assessments

Assignments: 

Each assignment includes an automatic 48-hour grace period after the posted deadline.

  • No penalty
  • No explanation required

After the grace period:

  • Up to 5 days late: 10% deduction per day
  • More than 5 days late: Not accepted without prior instructor approval

Discussion posts:

Discussion activities depend on timely participation and peer engagement and therefore do not include a grace period.

  • Initial posts: Must be submitted by the deadline; late initial posts are not accepted
  • Response posts: May be submitted within 48 hours after the deadline for up to 50% of the response post grade.

Students are expected to communicate proactively if they anticipate difficulty meeting a deadline. In cases of significant or unforeseen circumstances, extensions may be considered at the instructor’s discretion.

UNE Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.

Attendance Policy

Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Business will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET of the first week. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean’s Office.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.