Course Descriptions

CORE COURSES

Management and Organizations
MGMT-UB.0001 4 credits. Fall and spring.
Prerequisite: sophomore standing.
This course addresses contemporary management challenges stemming from changing organizational structures, complex environmental conditions, new technological developments, and increasingly diverse workforces. It highlights critical management issues involved in planning, organizing, controlling, and leading an organization. Ultimately, it aims to strengthen students’ managerial potential by providing general frameworks for analyzing, diagnosing, and responding to both fundamental and complex organizational situations. It also provides opportunities for students to enhance their communication and interpersonal skills, which are essential to effective management. The structure of the course encourages learning at multiple levels: through in-class lectures, exercises, and discussions, in small teams carrying out projects, and in individual reading, study, and analysis.


International Studies Program
MGMT-UB.0011 4 credits. Spring.
Prerequisite: SOIM-UB 6, ECON-UB 11 and junior standing.
The International Studies Program (ISP) builds on the historical and cultural courses of the first two years of undergraduate study and on Economics of Global Business (ECON-UB 11). Students develop frameworks and techniques for analyzing how countries differ and the impact of those differences on opportunities for the growth and profitability of multinational firms headquartered in or investing in different countries. Students also develop concepts and tools useful in formulating competitive strategy for multinational firms competing in global industries. Working in teams, students carry out an in-depth study of a company located in a foreign country. This study consists of three parts: (1) a written proposal; (2) research and data collection from secondary sources, augmented by primary research on-site in the foreign country during the spring semester break; and (3) preparation of a final report and oral presentation of findings. Team work and oral and written presentation skills are an integral part of the ISP. This course cannot be taken to meet any elective requirements for the management major.


ELECTIVE COURSES

International Business Management
MGMT-UB.0004 4 credits. Fall and spring.
Co-requisites: MGMT-UB.0011, Recommended: MGMT-UB.0100 and junior standing.
This course examines the strategic management issues facing companies that conduct business overseas. The specific objectives are to (1) develop an awareness of the peculiarities of the foreign environment that affect the management strategies of international firms; (2) understand how to adapt home management methods to competing within and across diverse foreign markets; and (3) design a comprehensive plan for taking advantage of management opportunities and challenges that exist at the international level.


Managing People and Teams
MGMT-UB.0007 4 credits. Fall and spring.
Prerequisite: MGMT-UB.0001.
This course combines theory with skill building to help students learn how to be effective managers and team members. Emphasis is placed on topics such as conflict management and negotiation, power and politics, managing collaboration in and across teams, motivating effort, evaluating performance, and giving feedback. Students learn (1) how organizations can improve their effectiveness through better management of people and (2) how individual managers can be more effective in working with and leading others. Builds on the Management and Organizational Analysis course by providing a more in-depth look at behavior within organizations. Extensive use is made of experiential exercises and small group discussions.


Managing Innovation
MGMT-UB.0008 4 credits. Spring.
Prerequisite: MGMT-UB.0001, Recommended MGMT-UB.0100
Technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship are some of the most frequently used terms in today’s business environment. Indeed, we are bombarded by products and technologies that are changing how we live and work, e.g., MP3 and wireless or high definition television. The following are some of the topics that are covered. What is technology? What are the forces that shape its evolution? How should we forecast? What roles do strategic alliances, standards, and intellectual property play? How should we create product development teams? How should we create organizations that foster innovation? What is the role of creativity in the development of new technologies?


Managing in Creative Industries,
MGMT-UB.0009 4-credits. Spring
The purpose of the course is to expose students to the dynamics of cultural industries (e.g., art, theatre, music, film, photography, architecture, and so on), and to train students to think strategically about the nature of cultural products, what drives their supply and demand, the factors that affect the value of cultural products and how firms can profit from them. In order to address these issues, it is important to understand that a key feature of these industries is that symbolic and aesthetic attributes are at the very core of value creation. This implies that the value of cultural products depends largely on third parties, e.g., critics, dealers, foundations, users, etc.


Strategic Analysis
MGMT-UB.0018 4 credits.
Prerequisite: MGMT-UB.0001.
Many companies bestow a management title on key talent and expect appropriate behavior to follow. That is not the most effective way to develop future business leaders. Increasing self-awareness and being open to feedback are important first steps in leading today’s business for tomorrow’s results. This course focuses primarily on the practical aspects of managing. While based on solid research, it stresses a hands-on approach to improving students’ management skills. Each session focuses on (a) developing personal skills: self-awareness, managing stress, solving problems, and creativity; (b) interpersonal skills: coaching, counseling, supportive communication, gaining power and influence, motivating self and others, and managing conflict; and (c) group skills: empowering, delegating, and building effective teams.


Developing Managerial Skills
MGMT-UB.0021 4 credits.  Fall
Prerequisite: MGMT-UB.0001.
Many companies bestow a management title on key talent and expect appropriate behavior to follow, but that is not the most effective way to develop future business leaders. Increasing self-awareness and openness to feedback are important first steps in leading today’s business for tomorrow’s results. This course focuses primarily on the  practical aspects of managing. While based on solid research, it stresses a hands-on approach to improving students’ management skills. Each session focuses on developing (1) personal skills: self-awareness, managing stress, solving problems, and creativity; (2) interpersonal skills: coaching, counseling, supportive communication, gaining power and influence, motivating self and others, and managing conflict; and (3) group skills: empowering, delegating, and building effective teams.


Women in Business Leadership
MGMT-UB.0023 4 credits Spring
In the past half century, women have played increasingly prominent roles in the U.S. labor force, as workers, managers, and executives. This phenomenon, arguably one of the most significant in contemporary demography, has vast implications for organizations, individuals—both female and male—and the economy as a whole. In addition to the societal issues raised by women’s increased labor force participation, practical, day-to-day issues have arisen that must be addressed by individuals and the organizations in which they work. The goal of this course is to assist students in developing an informed perspective on the organizational dynamics businesses will face during the next decade; to recognize how business organizations can capitalize on the talent pool that has been created; and to provide insight into the opportunities and obstacles students may encounter because of the changes described.


Managing Change
MGMT-UB.0025 4 credits. Spring.
Prerequisite: MGMT-UB.0001. Recommended: MGMT-UB.0007.
Managing change is a central concern for today’s managers, as business environments become increasingly competitive, knowledge driven, and complex. Managing change is the primary focus of the management consulting industry. Yet according to management experts, 70 percent of corporate change initiatives fail for various reasons including internal resistance and distrust, difficulties aligning the new strategic direction with existing capabilities, and lack of vision. Managing in turbulent times requires a solid understanding of what change is about, what are its critical aspects, and how one can lead change initiatives in a disciplined and successful way. Case analysis and applied projects are the major vehicles for learning in this course. Assignments are designed not only to assess students’ grasp of relevant theories and analytical tools, but also to enhance communication skills relevant to general management. This course is particularly relevant for students who plan to pursue careers as general managers or management consultants.


Family Business Management
MGMT-UB.0028 4 credits. Spring
Prerequisite: MGMT-UB.0001
Most companies around the world are controlled by their founders or founding families, including not only private firms but also more than half of all public corporations in the U.S. and more than two thirds of public corporations around the world. Family control raises unique challenges as well as value-creating opportunities for these companies and their various stakeholders. This course introduces students to the management, governance, and financial issues faced by family businesses and related organizations such as family offices and family foundations, and to the different career opportunities in and around them.


Negotiation and Consensus-Building
MGMT-UB.0030 4 credits. Fall & Spring.
Effective negotiation and consensus-building skills are essential for success in almost any work life domain—whether your goal is to be an entrepreneur, film producer, business manager, or political leader. The purpose of this course is to study how people reach agreement and to develop an analytical approach for reaching more effective agreements in organizational settings. Course draws from research in psychology and economics to provide academic content, while making use of role-playing exercises and experiential learning to emphasize key applied lessons.


Growth Strategy and Management
MGMT-UB.0035 4 credits.
Prerequisite: MGMT-UB.0001 and sophomore standing.
This course focuses on concepts and tools required to devise and implement strategies that enable businesses to make the leap from entrepreneurial ventures to professionally managed firms. It addresses strategic and managerial challenges during the growth phase of small to mid-size firms. In this course, we adopt the perspective of the founder and/or top management of entrepreneurial small firms who must be concerned with the overall viability of their business. The course should appeal to aspiring entrepreneurs, managers, consultants, investors and analysts.


Power & Politics
MGMT-UB.0066  4 credits.
Prerequisite: MGMT-UB.0001
Politics is not a dirty word! This course is about how to conquer the world, or at least survive the corporate jungle, without losing our soul. Even if you don’t want to play politics, good or bad, you still need the skills from this course to ensure that you don’t become a victim of politics. Through this course you will:

• Grasp how power and politics affect your career; • Learn the skills toward political aspects of managing; • Understand your own political mindscape; • Develop a personal agenda for successful political management of your career


Patterns of Entrepreneurship
MGMT-UB.0085 4 credits. Fall and spring.
Prerequisites: MGMT-UB.0001.
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. Case studies are the principal teaching method, supplemented by lectures, business cases, and guest speakers. Major objectives are for students to learn how to identify and evaluate business opportunities, develop a business concept and assess and obtain the required resources, and manage the growth of new ventures.


Independent Study in Management and Organizations
Prerequisite: permission of the undergraduate faculty adviser.
For students of academic quality who wish to engage in intensive independent study of management issues or to pursue a career-related subject area of managerial significance. Requires the completion of an individual report based on the student’s investigation, research, and critical analysis. Must be supervised by regular, full-time faculty and approved by the management department’s undergraduate faculty adviser.