| School/Faculty/Institute | Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences | ||||
| Course Code | IR 331 | ||||
| Course Title in English | Strategic Decision Making | ||||
| Course Title in Turkish | Stratejik Karar Verme | ||||
| Language of Instruction | EN | ||||
| Type of Course | Flipped Classroom | ||||
| Level of Course | Intermediate | ||||
| Semester | Spring | ||||
| Contact Hours per Week |
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| Estimated Student Workload | 133 hours per semester | ||||
| Number of Credits | 5 ECTS | ||||
| Grading Mode | Standard Letter Grade | ||||
| Pre-requisites | None | ||||
| Co-requisites | None | ||||
| Expected Prior Knowledge | None | ||||
| Registration Restrictions | Only Undergraduate Students | ||||
| Overall Educational Objective | Teaching strategic thinking and decision making | ||||
| Course Description | This course aims at introducing undergraduate students from all disciplines to the concepts of strategy, strategic thinking, and strategic decision-making in an interdependent and uncertain international security environment. Students will be first given the theoretical foundations of strategic thinking and decision-making through the assigned book chapters and journal articles. Then, students will enhance their understanding of strategic thinking and planning, strategic decision-making processes, and the significance of leadership in difficult crisis times through the case studies that will be presented by the first-hand observers who have been involved in the crisis in mention. |
Course Learning Outcomes and CompetencesUpon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:1) Know the basic concepts of strategy and strategic thinking; 2) Understand the stages of strategic decision-making processes; 3) Analyze real world cases of international crises presented by first-hand observers. |
| Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. | |||
| 2) Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts | |||
| 3) Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice | |||
| 4) Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. | |||
| 5) Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software | |||
| 6) Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies | |||
| 7) Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems | |||
| 8) Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies | |||
| 9) Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life | |||
| 10) Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad |
| N None | S Supportive | H Highly Related |
| Program Outcomes and Competences | Level | Assessed by | |
| 1) | Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. | N | |
| 2) | Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts | S | Participation |
| 3) | Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice | S | Participation |
| 4) | Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. | H | Exam |
| 5) | Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software | S | Participation |
| 6) | Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies | S | Participation |
| 7) | Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems | S | Participation |
| 8) | Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies | H | Participation |
| 9) | Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life | H | Exam |
| 10) | Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad | H | Exam |
| Prepared by and Date | MUSTAFA KİBAROĞLU , January 2024 |
| Course Coordinator | MUSTAFA KİBAROĞLU |
| Semester | Spring |
| Name of Instructor | Asst. Prof. Dr. BARIŞ ÇAĞLAR |
| Week | Subject |
| 1) | Introduction & Ground Rules |
| 2) | What is Strategy? |
| 3) | Evolution of Strategic Thinking and Planning |
| 4) | Evolution of Strategic Thinking and Planning |
| 5) | Strategic Decision-Making Processes |
| 6) | Strategic Decision-Making Processes |
| 7) | Mid-Term Examination |
| 8) | Case Study: US-USSR, Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) |
| 9) | Case Study: Türkiye-Greece: Kardak Crisis (1996) |
| 10) | Case Study: Türkiye-Greece, S-300 Crisis (1998) |
| 11) | Case Study: Türkiye-Greece, S-300 Crisis (1998) |
| 12) | Case Study: Türkiye-Israel, “Mavi Marmara” Crisis (2010) |
| 13) | Case Study: Türkiye-Russia, SU-24 Crisis (2015) |
| 14) | Case Study: Russia-Ukraine Crisis and the War (2022) |
| 15) | Final Exams Week |
| 16) | Final Exams Week |
| Required/Recommended Readings | • Carl Von Clausewitz, On War, Michael Howard and Peter Paret (eds.), Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1993. • Peter Paret, Gordon A. Craig, Felix Gilbert, Makers of Modern Strategy from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age, Princeton University Press, 2010, • Graham Allison and Philip Zelikow, Essence of Decision, Longman, New York, 1999. • Mustafa Kibaroğlu and Ayşegül Kibaroğlu, Global Security Watch – Turkey: A Reference Handbook, Praeger Security International, Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport, Connecticut, 2009. • Instructor’s personal website: www.mustafakibaroglu.com | |||||||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Flipped Learning method | |||||||||||||||
| Homework and Projects | There are three requirements that must be fulfilled successfully to get a passing grade: • First requirement is active participation in the group discussions as well as in the debates that will occasionally take place after some of the case study lectures, which will count for 25% of the students’ overall grade; • Second requirement is to take the Quizzes after each of the 7 case study lectures, which will count for 35% of the overall grade; • Third requirement is to take the Mid-Term Exam, tentatively scheduled on ../../.., which will count for 40% of the overall grade. | |||||||||||||||
| Laboratory Work | N/A | |||||||||||||||
| Computer Use | N/A | |||||||||||||||
| Other Activities | N/A | |||||||||||||||
| Assessment Methods |
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| Course Administration |
mustafa.kibaroglu@mef.edu.tr Rectorate Building Attendance and active participation are required. There would be no make-up exams unless medical report provided. MEF university values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the code of student conduct and disciplinary procedures. Any improper behavior, academic dishonesty or plagiarism is subject to the YÖK Disciplinary Regulation. |
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| Activity | No/Weeks | Hours | Calculation | ||||
| No/Weeks per Semester | Preparing for the Activity | Spent in the Activity Itself | Completing the Activity Requirements | ||||
| Course Hours | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 98 | ||
| Presentations / Seminar | 10 | 1 | 1 | 20 | |||
| Midterm(s) | 1 | 12 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Total Workload | 133 | ||||||
| Total Workload/25 | 5.3 | ||||||
| ECTS | 5 | ||||||