Course Descriptions - Summer/Fall 2023

An introduction to managerial decisions in the marketing area and approaches to making these decisions. Among the topics considered are the institutional framework of retail and industrial markets; buyer behavior; and product line, promotion, pricing, and distribution decisions and strategies. Impact and relevance of electronic markets are also considered. This class will be delivered in the new Hybrid delivery format.

This course deals with defining, organizing and managing activities associated with complex, multidisciplinary projects. Such endeavors are critical to raise an organization's level of performance and enable it to have a competitive edge. When applied in the real world, many aspects of MBA education require extraordinary and coordinated effort by various parts of the organization for implementation. In times of rapidly changing technologies and managerial processes, the need for cross-functional teams to achieve long- and short-term goals is increasingly imperative.

This course will examine human resources from a strategic perspective, emphasizing the contribution of HR decisions to the development of a high-performance organization. Human resources management will be treated as a dynamic system that enables organizations to cope more quickly and effectively with a rapidly changing environment. The course will focus on topics that confront managers in a variety of organizational roles, such as reward systems, performance management and the selection and retention of high performance employees. Emphasis will be given to the identification, evaluation and solution of specific HR problems facing managers with these responsibilities.

The scope and objectives of corporate financial management are introduced along with the concept of the risk-return trade-off. The various sources of capital are discussed, along with their costs. Financial planning with special emphasis on the evaluation of capital projects is considered. The implications of the efficient market hypothesis are considered throughout the course.

Prerequisites: MGA 604, MGQ 606 or concurrent registration in MGQ 606.

A study of the patterns and fluctuations of growth of the aggregate level of economic activity in a modern complex society. Among the topics included are the measurement and determination of national income; the nature and role of money and interest rates; inflation; the role of expectations; the role of trade; macroeconomic forecasting; alternative fiscal and monetary policies and their role in promoting stability and progress; and macro aspects of legislation.

An analysis of how the business sector relates to the principal forces operating in the legal, political and social environment. Particular attention is given to constraints and freedoms offered under common, corporate and regulation. Also examined are contemporary problems in corporate governance, such as business and professional standards, code of ethics and corporate social responsibility.

The aim of this course is to provide the analytic techniques and tools to help develop an understanding of how competitive advantage can be created and sustained. This is an integrative course that examines the firm as a whole and adopts the perspective of the general manager. It draws together and builds on ideas from courses in functional areas such as marketing, finance and operations. There is extensive use of cases. Specific topics covered include analyzing industries, analyzing firm resources and capabilities, understanding organization structure and management systems, developing competitive strategies and understanding competitive behavior, determining the scope of the firm, developing corporate strategies, managing the multibusiness firm, and understanding corporate governance mechanisms.

Prerequisites: MGA 604, MGF 631 and MGM 625.

This course covers the application of management knowledge and skills in the strategic guidance and operational direction of health systems service organizations. Attention is given to unique aspects of the challenge of managing the delivery of health services, particularly to such issues as managing relationships with medical staffs, regulatory bodies, other professional groups and third-party payers. The integration of management functions such as finance and accounting, marketing, human resources and service production, amid rapidly changing expectations will also be covered in assigned case analysis.

Prerequisite: None.

The class will focus on the major challenges facing the health care industry and innovative solutions being developed across the country. Topics will include access, cost, long-term value analysis, implementing the Accountable Care Act, government and private health plans, accountable care organizations, electronic medical records, health information exchanges, centers of excellence, managing chronic disease, end-of-life issues, primary and preventative care, private practice, and collaboration and teamwork.

Prerequisite: None