What to study for TECEP BUS 421 Strategic Management

[kic10]

I am new to this website and I am planning on taking the TECEP exam for BUS 421 Strategic Management. What Advice on what to study and what to expect on the Exam?

Also, by reading some of the postings, Can the Penn foster Class 425 Business management be transfer to Thomas Edison for Bus 421 Strategic management?

Thank you

[cooperalex2004]

You'll want to check this out:
http://www2.tesc.edu/tecep_desc/BUS-421.pdf

It is a three hour exam with multiple choice and three essays so I'd recommend you buy the book they mention.

Based on the ACE recommendation for that Penn Foster course I'd say it would work, the recommend UL credit for "Strategic Management". Here is the full ACE recommendation for that:

Strategic Business Management (BUS 425)
Credit Type: Course
ACE Course Number: 0218
Organization: Penn Foster College
Location: Penn Foster College, AZ.
Length: 52 weeks.
Dates Offered: 3/1/2011 - Present
Prerequisites: Principles of Management (BUS 110), Corporate Finance (FIN 310), Marketing (MKT 301), and Business Law 1 (BUS 213).
Objective: The course objective is to provide a foundational understanding of the strategic management process including how organizations develop and implement strategies for achieving objectives and goals.
Learning Outcome: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to discuss strategy, good strategy, good strategy execution, and good management; explain the five phases of the strategy-making, strategy-executing process; list the seven questions to ask when evaluating a company's external environment; list the five questions to ask when examining a company's resources and competitive position; discuss driving forces, strategic group mapping, and key success factors; perform a SWOT analysis and define benchmarking; list the five generic competitive strategies; explain supplemental strategies, providing examples; define what motivating factors might lead a firm to expand into or choose to compete in foreign markets; discuss a variety of conditions requiring tailoring of these strategies to fit specific industries or company situations, including diversification; address ethical and social responsibility considerations, including the three categories of management morality; describe the framework for executing strategy; understand the importance of selective staffing and building core competencies and competitive capabilities to successfully execute strategy; define which resources are essential for successful strategy execution; discuss best practices, TQM, Six Sigma, business process reengineering, benchmarking and other continuous improvement techniques; and explain the importance of a corporate culture that promotes good strategy execution.
Instruction: This is a distance delivered course. Major topics covered in the course are introduction and overview; core concepts and analytical tools; crafting a strategy; and executing the strategy. Methods of instruction include self-study, lesson exams, discussion board postings, online class participation, and a proctored final exam.
Credit Recommendation: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Strategic Management (3/11).

[kic10]

Thank you so much for the info!!

You'll want to check this out:
http://www2.tesc.edu/tecep_desc/BUS-421.pdf

It is a three hour exam with multiple choice and three essays so I'd recommend you buy the book they mention.

Based on the ACE recommendation for that Penn Foster course I'd say it would work, the recommend UL credit for "Strategic Management". Here is the full ACE recommendation for that:

Strategic Business Management (BUS 425)
Credit Type: Course
ACE Course Number: 0218
Organization: Penn Foster College
Location: Penn Foster College, AZ.
Length: 52 weeks.
Dates Offered: 3/1/2011 - Present
Prerequisites: Principles of Management (BUS 110), Corporate Finance (FIN 310), Marketing (MKT 301), and Business Law 1 (BUS 213).
Objective: The course objective is to provide a foundational understanding of the strategic management process including how organizations develop and implement strategies for achieving objectives and goals.
Learning Outcome: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to discuss strategy, good strategy, good strategy execution, and good management; explain the five phases of the strategy-making, strategy-executing process; list the seven questions to ask when evaluating a company's external environment; list the five questions to ask when examining a company's resources and competitive position; discuss driving forces, strategic group mapping, and key success factors; perform a SWOT analysis and define benchmarking; list the five generic competitive strategies; explain supplemental strategies, providing examples; define what motivating factors might lead a firm to expand into or choose to compete in foreign markets; discuss a variety of conditions requiring tailoring of these strategies to fit specific industries or company situations, including diversification; address ethical and social responsibility considerations, including the three categories of management morality; describe the framework for executing strategy; understand the importance of selective staffing and building core competencies and competitive capabilities to successfully execute strategy; define which resources are essential for successful strategy execution; discuss best practices, TQM, Six Sigma, business process reengineering, benchmarking and other continuous improvement techniques; and explain the importance of a corporate culture that promotes good strategy execution.
Instruction: This is a distance delivered course. Major topics covered in the course are introduction and overview; core concepts and analytical tools; crafting a strategy; and executing the strategy. Methods of instruction include self-study, lesson exams, discussion board postings, online class participation, and a proctored final exam.
Credit Recommendation: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Strategic Management (3/11).

[Yanji]

The test description and included sample questions are quite accurate. If you feel really comfortable with the sample questions, chances are you could probably even pass without studying. With that being said, here's a few of the most important things to understand which were on my test:

Core Competencies
Five Forces
SWOT
Vision/Mission, similarities/differences between the two
Value chain

This is not a really "hardcore" exam. The most important thing is to memorise key terms and using a bit of intuition. If you have any experience in business, you should be able to easily pass with only a quick flip through the textbook. The essay questions are a great opportunity to show off what you've learned from previous coursework/experience too.

[kic10]

Thank you for the info!!. Very Helpful.