BYU Strategy - Marriott School of Business

Syllabus

Author

Scott Murff

Published

January 6, 2026

Syllabus

WINTER 2026

Instructor Scott Murff
Optional Co-Working Time Fridays, 9:00–10:50 AM
Office Hours Fridays, 9:30–10:30 AM
Location 284 TNRB
LMS LearningSuite
Note

LearningSuite is only used for submitting your final video reflection and reviewing your grades. All other course content and information is exclusively on this website.

Friday Class Time

AIM lists the course as Fridays 9:00–10:50 AM in 284 TNRB. You’re welcome to use this entire block for co-working, peer support, and office hours with Professor Murff, especially if you’re working remotely and would benefit from working along side others, even on different projects. Professor Murff will generally be present from 9:30 to 10:30a.

Required Sessions (9:30–10:30 AM):

There are only two required sessions throughout the semester:

  • January 16 – Kick-off and expectations
  • April 10 – End-of-semester wrap-up

All other Fridays are optional but encouraged.

Grading

Grades are based on weekly update emails, end-of-semester mentor feedback, a video reflection, and a company feedback survey.

Grade Components (340 points possible)

Component Points Weight
Weekly Update Emails 140 pts 41%
Mentor Feedback 140 pts 41%
Video Reflection 40 pts 12%
Company Feedback Survey 20 pts 6%
Base Total 340 pts 100%
Extra Credit (BYU Student Ratings) 10 pts +3%

Weekly Emails (140 points)

14 emails × 10 points each

Status Points
On time (Saturday by 11:59 PM) 10 pts
Late (by Monday 12:00 PM noon) 5 pts
After Monday noon 0 pts

See Weekly Updates for format and expectations.

Mentor Feedback (140 points)

At the end of the internship, your mentor will evaluate you on 5 dimensions using a 1-7 scale. Each score is multiplied by 4. See the Mentor Evaluation Survey to understand exactly what your mentor will be asked.

Category Max Points
Timeliness 28
Communication 28
Agency 28
Technical Competency 28
Contribution 28
Total 140
Mentor Score (1-7) Points
7 28
6 24
5 20
4 16
3 12
2 8
1 4

Video Reflection (40 points)

After receiving your mentor’s feedback, you will record a 2-5 minute video reflection. This is your opportunity to demonstrate self-awareness, engage thoughtfully with feedback, and show a growth mindset.

Due Date: April 22, 2026

Submission: Upload to YouTube (unlisted) or Loom and submit the link via Learning Suite.

Prompt: Address the following in your video:

  1. Strongest area: Which category (Timeliness, Communication, Agency, Technical Competency, or Contribution) best reflects your strengths this semester? Give an example.

  2. Growth area: Which category needs the most work? What got in the way?

  3. Mentor’s feedback: React to one specific thing your mentor wrote in their comments or suggestions. Do you agree? What will you do with it?

  4. Next time: If you could restart this internship knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?

Keep it conversational—I’m looking for honest self-assessment, not polish.

Rubric:

Criteria Excellent (10) Good (7) Adequate (4) Weak (0-2)
Self-awareness Accurately owns strengths and growth areas Mostly accurate, somewhat surface Vague or generic Defensive or no insight
Engages feedback References specific mentor comments Acknowledges feedback generally Mentions feedback in passing Ignores or dismisses
Growth mindset Concrete plan for improvement General intentions Minimal forward-looking No reflection on change
Clarity Organized, right length, professional Minor issues Rambling or too brief Unprepared or inappropriate

Company Feedback Survey (20 points)

At the end of your internship, you’ll complete a brief survey providing feedback on your company and mentor experience. This helps us improve the program and gives partners actionable insights.

Due Date: April 15, 2026 (same as internship end date)

Survey Dimensions (rate 1-7):

Dimension Question
Mentorship My mentor provided regular guidance and actionable feedback
Meaningful Work I worked on real product problems that mattered to the team
Growth I developed new PM skills during this internship
Clarity Expectations and goals for my work were clear

You’ll also be able to comment on the scores for each dimension.

Scoring: Full 20 points for completing the survey. Responses are shared with your company.

Extra Credit (10 points)

Complete the BYU end-of-semester student ratings survey (about this course and instructor) to earn 10 extra credit points.

Grading Scale

Grade % Points (of 340)
A 93–100% 317–340
A- 90–92% 306–316
B+ 87–89% 296–305
B 83–86% 283–295
B- 80–82% 272–282
C+ 77–79% 262–271
C 73–76% 249–261
C- 70–72% 238–248
D+ 67–69% 228–237
D 63–66% 215–227
D- 60–62% 204–214
E Below 60% Below 204

Example Grading Scenarios

The following scenarios assume you complete all weekly emails on time, submit an excellent video reflection, and complete the company feedback survey. Only mentor feedback varies.

Mentor Scores Mentor Points Total With Extra Credit Grade (no EC) Grade (with EC)
All 7s 140 340 350 A A
All 6s 120 320 330 A A
All 5s 100 300 310 B+ A-
All 4s 80 280 290 B- B

Credit Hours

Enrollment Hours/Week Credit Hours
Standard 10 hours 3.0 credits
Extended Up to 20 hours 6.0 credits

Instructor Bio

Scott Murff is an Associate Teaching Professor of Strategy at the BYU Marriott School of Business, where he also serves as program director and teaches courses on business strategy, decision-making, and artificial intelligence. He brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of business and technology, having worked as a consultant, product manager, and data scientist.

Prior to joining BYU, Scott spent nearly seven years at McKinsey & Company in roles ranging from analytics specialist consultant to principal product manager, where he led product development and performance management initiatives for Fortune 500 clients. His earlier career includes building forecasting models as a VP at Zions Bancorporation and conducting regulatory research at the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Scott holds a Master’s degree in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University and a B.A. in Economics with a minor in Math, from BYU. He is passionate about helping students apply AI, analytics, and strategy to meaningful real-world problems with both rigor and purpose.

Getting Help

The following resources are available to get help:

  • Use email or Teams to contact the TAs and Professor Murff
  • Attend office hours

Mission and Aims

The mission of Brigham Young University — founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life. That assistance should provide a period of intensive learning in a stimulating setting where a commitment to excellence is expected and the full realization of human potential is pursued.

BYU seeks to develop students of faith, intellect, and character who have the skills and the desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives.

A BYU education should be (1) spiritually strengthening, (2) intellectually enlarging, and (3) character building, leading to (4) lifelong learning and service.

Building on the foundational Mission and Aims, the Marriott School of Business aspires to transform the world through Christlike leadership by developing leaders of faith, intellect, and character guided by the following 4 values:

  • Faith in Christ - We value deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. Our faith gives us the capacity to envision a better future, the confidence to make that future happen, and the courage to act in the face of challenges.

  • Integrity in Action - We value integrity and hold ourselves to the highest moral and ethical standards. Acting with integrity builds trust, strengthens character, and focuses our ambitions on things of eternal consequence.

  • Respect for All - We value respect for all individuals as children of God and recognize the inherent worth, divine potential, and agency of each person. A climate of respect and belonging enhances our learning, facilitates collaboration, and encourages personal growth.

  • Excellence - We value excellence in learning, teaching, research, management, and leadership. An expectation of excellence magnifies our influence and motivates us to continually improve.

We evaluate our decisions and actions by the impact they will have on the academic experience, professional preparation, character development, emotional well-being, and spiritual growth of our students.

Honor Code

In keeping with the principles of the BYU Honor Code, students are expected to be honest in all of their academic work. Academic honesty means, most fundamentally, that any work you present as your own must in fact be your own work and not that of another. Violations of this principle may result in a failing grade in the course and additional disciplinary action by the university. Students are also expected to adhere to the Dress and Grooming Standards. Adherence demonstrates respect for yourself and others and ensures an effective learning and working environment. It is the university’s expectation, and every instructor’s expectation in class, that each student will abide by all Honor Code standards. Please call the Honor Code Office at 422-2847 if you have questions about those standards.

Preventing & Responding to Sexual Misconduct

The health and well-being of students is of paramount importance at Brigham Young University. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment (including sexual violence), there are many resources available for assistance.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, BYU prohibits unlawful sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, against any participant in its education programs or activities. The university also prohibits sexual harassment by its personnel and students. Sexual harassment occurs when

a person is subjected to unwelcome sexual speech or conduct so severe, pervasive, and offensive that it effectively denies their ability to access any BYU education program or activity; any aid, benefit, or service of BYU is conditioned on a person’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; or a person suffers sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking on the basis of sex. University policy requires all faculty members to promptly report incidents of sexual harassment that come to their attention in any way, including through face-to-face conversations, a written class assignment or paper, class discussion, email, text, or social media post. Incidents of sexual harassment should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at t9coordinator@byu.edu or (801) 422-8692 or 1085 WSC. Reports may also be submitted online at https://titleix.byu.edu/report or 1-888-238-1062 (24-hours a day).

BYU offers confidential resources for those affected by sexual harassment, including the university’s Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate, as well as a number of non-confidential resources and services that may be helpful. Additional information about Title IX, the university’s Sexual Harassment Policy, reporting requirements, and resources can be found at http://titleix.byu.edu or by contacting the university’s Title IX Coordinator.

Student Disability

Brigham Young University is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Whether an impairment is substantially limiting depends on its nature and severity, its duration or expected duration, and its permanent or expected permanent or long-term impact. Examples include vision or hearing impairments, physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, emotional disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety), learning disorders, and attention disorders (e.g., ADHD). If you have a disability which impairs your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the University Accessibility Center (UAC), 2170 WSC or 801-422-2767 to request a reasonable accommodation. The UAC can also assess students for learning, attention, and emotional concerns. If you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 801-422-5895, eo_manager@byu.edu, or visit https://hrs.byu.edu/equal-opportunity for help.