The course, BUS 704, Policy, Planning and Strategy Systems, serves as a capstone course in the MBA program. Students normally take this course near the end of their program, immediately prior to taking the comprehensive examination (which contains a case study from the course).

The course is based on lengthy case studies representing a broad range of types of organizations. To successfully complete these case studies, students must demonstrate their ability to:

• Write in a succinct and organized manner; demonstrating their ability to take positions and support those positions with reasoned arguments and documented facts.
• Integrate new knowledge from the course with knowledge gained from the other, functional courses they have completed in the MBA program
• Successfully demonstrate their ability to apply theory to practice in realistic, practical, and appropriate ways.
• Demonstrate an ability to both analyze situations and information, and synthesize disparate information into an integrated whole.