PF Strategic Business Management (BUS-425) Anyone?

[Bub212]

Hi,

I am looking into taking the PF BUS-425 Strategic Business Management course and have a few questions. I was hoping some folks here have taken it and can help clear some things up.

I called PF yesterday and a very nice woman told me that the course is completely self paced, that there are NO online lectures, there were online discussions that count as class participation and a proctored final at the end (which is on paper and anyone with an Associates degree or higher can watch me take the test as long as it is not my direct manager). BUT I remember (or at least I thought I did) reading posts here and on other forums, that there were 3 online webinars that students had to login for at a certain time (once a week i think it was).

Sooo...for anyone who has take the PF Strategic Business Management recently, can you tell me a little about it? Were there periodic quizzes/discussion forums? Did you have to write papers?

Thanks in advance! I appreciate your help.

[stretcharmy]

There are 3 webinars that are not webinars. Basically online chat. No audio, no video.

There are 4-5 quizes and the working is a bit confusing compared to SL or CLEP/DSST. once you get it, its not to bad.

There is NO proctored final. But there is a case study paper. Not too difficult.

[Bub212]

Thank you for your reply. Were the quizzes all online? Were you able to finish the course in fewer than the 12 weeks allotted?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks again for your help!

[stretcharmy]

I see no reason as to why you couldn't finish in 3 weeks. I finished all the quizzes in a few days (online). The webinars are once a week so three weeks is the minimum timeframe. I got a little lazy and procrastinated on the paper till the last week. The only PITA is that the webinars are 10pm eastern, so if your not on the west coast it's kind of a pain.

Again, the quizzes used odd wording and answers were close so you could easily pick the wrong one. Make sure to read the question slowly and make sure the answer is in the right context. They have answers in the negated context to trip you up.

[Bub212]

Thank you again for all the info. I am on the east coast so the 10pm thing is a bummer, but being able to complete it in 3 weeks is great!

[LaterBloomer]

Recently, I signed up for this course. As I'd purchased an older edition text in anticipation of taking the TECEP, I figured I'd start before the new text book came in. The first exam was 25 questions. I got three wrong, and while there was a place on the grading form to reference where the correct answer could be researched, it was blank. According to the web site, I can take the test again within the next 30 days. PF will give me the higher grade. I'm considering it. Does anyone know how the second exam compares to the first?

For the first chapters, I didn't find the study guide helpful. It simply seemed to reiterate what the textbook said, and didn't expound upon it. I posted to the class forum. My post was better thought out than some of the other posters, and not as good as other posters. It didn't matter. Simply posting gave you a passing grade. (It's pass/fail.)

I'm putting a hold on stats and college algebra for the moment. I'm trying not to make them insurmountable obstacles to my BSBA, but it's hard.

[LaterBloomer]

Okay, the explanation for the failure by PF to reference the source of the correct answer is now clear. The second test you can take within 30 days? It's the same as the first test. As I'd marked which questions I got wrong, I just had to research them. Each question had four options. Usually, one answer was obvious, or two answers were obviously wrong. Sometimes, however, the answers were nuanced. Fortunately, I was able to pass the exam with 100% on the second go. This is important as I'm not sure that my final project will by my shining glory. Analysis is not my strong suit.

[michaelfrye1970]

This is by far one of the easier classes I have taken. The online quizzes you can look at before you even take them, so you can do them at your pace and not have to worry about getting stopped in the middle. I use the word "easier" because the discussions, online webinar(chatroom), and even the final paper are all your own opinions so you can't be wrong as long as you put some actual thought into the answer. I completed all of the work during the first week and just had to wait to do the webinars. During that time I went ahead and did the Financial management with them.

[UptonSinclair]

I am taking this course now. The exams are typical publisher test bank questions. They are based on the wording in the book rather than a broad understanding of the topic. I am down to the final project and webinars at this point but hope to finish up soon. The next webinar is June 22, but there are no others schedule for July yet.

[LaterBloomer]

Upton, you must be right. I just finished the final exam, and they asked the same questions three times in it!!! It really messed with my mind. I thought I had misread something. Nope, same question. I just have a couple of postings, and the webinars. Have you started on your final project?