Master of Business Administration

Why do so many businesses fail?  Why do so many others fail to produce lasting results?  Why do many businesses suffer from periodic crises, fluctuating sales, earnings, and morale?  Why do many social and governmental programs fail to achieve their desired objectives and some create results counter to their goals?

To address these questions, in this course the basic concepts of systems thinking will be introduced.  In general, systems thinking is a school of thought that focuses on recognizing the interconnections among the parts of a whole entity (the system) and synthesizing the interconnections into a unified view of the whole entity (the system).

This course addresses the issue of conflict from two positions: 1) through an examination of the causes, processes, costs, and benefits of social and work conflict and , 2) by offering methods for conflict resolution.  Using management and sociological theory and research, this course will address the relationship of social issues - e.g., difference and inequality, power and corruption - to organizational and institutional conflict.  Understanding that conflict can signal either a disruption in the operation of an organization or an opportunity for change and growth, this course will provide students with a broad-based perspective for making conflict an asset organizationally and interpersonally.  The latter part of the semester will be devoted to methods for conflict resolution including interactive mediation role play with a variety of conflicts faced by managers and leaders.

This class prepares students for the rigorous Project Management Professional exam sponsored by the Project Management Institute.  Topics explored are the five process groups and the nine knowledge areas.

This course offers a framework for understanding the entrepreneurial process and exposes students to challenges, problems, and issues faced by entrepreneurs who start new businesses.  Major objectives are for students to learn how to identify and evaluate venture (e.g., business, non-profits, grassroots) opportunities, develop a venture concept, assess and obtain the required resources, and manage its growth.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to financial accounting principles including accounting information cycle, the analysis and recording of business transactions, the preparation of working papers, and the resulting creation of financial statement.  The course introduces contemporary accounting theory and official pronouncements.

This course provides an understanding of the basic theoretical concepts of economic theory.  Examination of microeconomic and macroeconomic principles provides the basis for an explanation of how contemporary mixed capitalism systems function.  Attention is directed toward the development of the economic perspective in problem solving and the use of tools of economic analysis.

This course is a graduate-level introduction to data analysis, descriptive statistics, and statistical inference. Data analysis and descriptive statistics include graphical analysis, measures of location and dispersion, an introduction to probability, and a consideration of probability distributions, including the Binomial, Normal, t, Poisson, Chi Square, and F. Statistical inference encompasses procedures for determining whether data fits some distribution, and also procedures such as regression and correlation for estimating values based on some statistical association.

The basic purpose of the course is to provide the student with broad overview of the vast and varied literature concerned with the nature of organizations and theory and research pertaining to management in organizations. Since management approaches are ultimately linked to their organizational context, the first part of the course focuses on the theory of organizations and is aimed toward the development of an understanding of organizations in terms of structure, function, process, and environment. The second half of the course concerns behavior in organizations and focuses on the individual within the organization. Topics covered and linked to theory include leadership, motivation, interpersonal relationships, decision making, and problem solving. The course will prepare students to face supervisory management problems, organizational dynamics, work design and ethical considerations for working with people within organization systems.

Optimality conditions and techniques are analyzed in this course within the framework of demand theory, production theory, cost and pricing analysis. Emphasis is on the application of microeconomic theory to firm-level decision making.

This course introduces the student to the U.S. legal system as it pertains to business and provides an understanding of how various aspects of the law influence and impact the role of a business manager and the decisions made by a business manager.  The course focuses on those areas of law which affect virtually every business, highlighting the relationship between law, business and commerce.  The rationale behind laws that affect business practice and the application of law to specific business situations are explored.

This course focuses on the strategies and best practices required to create and sustain competitive advantage in the evolving global environment.  Students explore the value chain product, process innovation methods, and other dynamic industry.

The role of the financial manager is examined in context with the legal, operating, and tax environment of contemporary business firms. Attention is focused on financial analysis and planning, the time value of money, risk-return relationships, cash flow and asset/liability management, as well as investment priorities, capital structure, valuation techniques, and capital budgeting applications. Special concerns dealing with mergers, restructuring, and international finance are also addressed.

This course addresses how to design and implement the best combination of marketing efforts to carry out a firm's strategy in its markets.  Specifically, this course seeks to develop the student's understanding of how the firm can benefit by creating and delivering value to its customers and skills in applying the analytical concepts and tools of marketing.

As the challenges and opportunities facing businesses, organizations, and societies grow more complex, and as stakeholders grow more diverse, an approach known as design thinking is playing a greater role in finding meaningful paths forward. Design thinking is an action-oriented problem solving methodology that employs various design-based techniques to gain insight and yield creative solutions for complex challenges. At the heart of this approach is a deep sensitivity to the needs of people. In this course, students will unpack each fundamental step of the design thinking process and become familiar with the design thinker's mindset and toolkit.

Companies are increasingly shifting some of the marketing efforts to digital technologies such as
search engines, social media and mobile. These technologies influence customers and also
have an impact on firm performance. It is important for business students to understand some
of these digital strategies and familiarize with some of the technologies underlying them. This
course is an introductory graduate level elective course designed to provide insights into some of
the marketing strategies using Internet-based (digital) technologies.

Increasingly, executives and managers are being asked to lead their organizations in ways that consider impacts outside of profit-generation and maximizing shareholder value.  Specifically, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement in business is redefining the goals of business, and driving companies to operate in ways that enhance society and the natural environment, instead of contributing negatively to them.  This course explores the ways the CSR movement is shaping business strategy and decisions at the executive levels.

Current significant topics in the speciailization will be presented by faculty

Current significant topics in the speciailization will be presented by faculty

Current significant topics in the speciailization will be presented by faculty

System dynamics is a modeling process to quantify problems that unfold through time in mathematical models that are simulated to investigate sources of undesirable dynamics and find successful improvement strategies. System dynamics embodies an iterative process in which a problem that is pervasive throughout a system is defined, the structure of the system that generates the problem will be studied, and policies or practices that can change the system structure and behavior and therefore alleviate/solve the problem will be reviewed and introduced.
The understanding of the system structure requires the determination of how critical variables affect other variables, even if the other variables are downstream from the critical variables under
consideration. To determine variable interrelationships, not only must the analyst establish the causal relationships among the elements of the system but also distinguish those among the physical, organizational, and decision-making relationships.
In this course, you will consider problems that manifest themselves in complex systems. Examples of these include but are not limited to: the performance degradation associated with the introduction of new technologies in organizations, the tragedy of the commons and other market failures that lead to rationales for government intervention; fluctuating sales, production and earnings; the diffusion of new technologies; and environmental challenges, and epidemics. You will use one of several simulation software packages throughout the course to understand, evaluate, and improve upon complex problems and establish a relationship between the real world and a virtual simulation world by generating and evaluating corresponding system simulation models.

The major goals of human resources management are to acquire, develop and maintain an organization's human capital.  Efficient and effective management of an organization's human capital is a source of competitiveness and sustainability.  The dynamic and largely uncontrollable nature of global, political, social, economic, and technological external forces requires leadership commitment to the on-going strategic development of an employee's skill set.  Therefore, focused outcomes-driven training and development is critically important and a strategic driver of organizational success.

In this course, students will be introduced to two critical human resource functions: (1) talent acquisition and retention for staffing the organization, and; (2) the training and development processes for improving organizational performance and creating a learning organization.

The course presents the theoretical framework and practical tactics for acquisition and retention of talent necessary to achieve the business objectives of the organization.  Topics will include: employment and staffing strategy, human resource planning, recruitment, assessment, selection and decision-making, negotiation and retention strategies.  The importance of linking staffing and talent management to business strategies, objectives and competitive challenges will be emphasized.  Students will learn the principles and techniques for competing in the war for talent.

The course will also provide an introduction to the concepts, processes and issues associated with workforce training and development.  This includes strategy and assessment of training requirements and the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of training programs.  In addition, we will discuss best practices in individual, management, leadership and organizational development.

The role of federal and state government regulation of labor relations is examined.  Current problems and issues in labor economics including wages, hours, and working conditions are examined within the framework of the system of labor law and the collective bargaining process.  The relationship of labor organizations to management decisions and technological and economic change is analyzed.

Historical and contemporary leadership theories and concepts with an emphasis on the ethical dimensions of leadership are studied.  Competencies and influences of leaders and followers are presented with a focus on personal leadership and character assessments.

"People are our most important asset."  This is a phrase that can be found, in one form or another, in most annual reports and CEO speeches.  This course examines the development, execution and application of people strategy in the management of human capital and organizational performance.  Emphasis is placed on vertically intergrating best practices in human resource management with the overall business strategy by providing practical understanding of Strategic Human Resource Management (SMRH) through contemporary case study, team presentations and exercises.

This course introduces students to the types and kinds of investmnet instruments available in today's financial markets and the techniques for evaluating the attractiveness of any single investment or portfolio of investments in order to meet the objectives of investors.  It will examine the theory of investments and offer a practical guide to analysis and decision making.  The course is rigorous and demanding in terms of content, stressing risk, profitability, and portfolio construction.

The course examines the functions, policies, organizations and regulations of financial institutions and markets.  Topics include: commercial banking system and other depository institutions, regulation of financial system, market for interest bearing securities, derivative instruments and their application, futures, and options.  In addition, the factors that determine the structure of interest rates are examined.

This course covers the integration of computer-based technology into the modern organization.  Topics include the use of software applications to solve organizational issues.  An examination of E-Commerce, IT systems development and information security.  Ethical and social issues related to the use of computer technology are considered.

A practitioner-oriented course emphasizing the management of al aspects of the new or small firm.  Considers techniques for both taking advantage of business opportunities and solving problems of developing businesses.  key functional areas examined include marketing, financing, production, and human resources.  Provides the student an opportunity to participate in problem-solving field projects for local small businesses.

This course focuses on revenue development for an organization.  The issues involved in sales management encompass a wide variety of activities.  The intent of this course is to develop an awareness of how these varied activities channel into three interrelated processes:  1) The formulation of a strategic sales program; 2) The implementation of that program, from the selection of personnel to the specific policies; 3) The evaluation and control processes necessary to insure that the mission is accomplished.

This course offers students a basis for a comprehensive understanding of management practices and concepts aimed at enhancing organizational quality and productivity.  Literature in health and management is reviewed and analyzed for quality approaches, quality best practices, quality initiatives, and perspectives from selected organizations.  Topics include statistical measurement techniques, system analysis, work design, and root cause analysis. 

This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of business strategy and the notion that the development of strategy links the organization's mission with strategic theory, planning, and implementation to create a sustainable competitive advantage.  This course introduces the formal strategic planning process and industry standard theory, method, and tools and focuses heavily on the synthesis and application of this process to analyze, address, and solve strategic issues that organizations face in multiple competitive environments.

This multi-disciplinary management capstone course examines how today's organizations identify, select, foster and implement their competitive strategies.  Topics include: developing new corporate paradigms, screening of environmental opportunities, the role of human and technical innovation and building organizational excellence through transformational management.  This course is open to MS Organization Management and Health Service Administration students by advisement only.