The Matriculation: A Study of the UP-MBA Enrollment Process Executive SummarY Introduction: NEO, a 20-something computer programmer who is currently dissatisfied with his boring, unchallenging, and grossly underpaid job situation, applies for an MBA degree at the U. P. College of Business Administration He passes the exams with flying colors; Neo is now qualified to enroll in one of the most prestigious MBA programs in the country. After the first tri-sem enrollment which goes without a hitch, he decided to study the enrollment process in detail for the next tri-semester. He was going to try to identify and document any areas for improvement, to be submitted to the powers-that-be for consideration and possible implementation.
Problem Identification: ! What can be done to FURTHER IMPROVE the enrollment process (with regards to time, convenience and possible future expansion? )! What is the ideal situation that will maximize student satisfaction without breaking the budget of the college? Analytical Framework! We shall attempt to analyze the existing enrollment process-its strengths, advantages, weaknesses, and other pertinent facts- with regards to the time and effort required for every step. ! We shall be taking the perspective of an enrolling student (Neo) that shall use data gathered from first-hand empirical exposure to the whole process. ! Tools such as Flow Diagrams, SWOT analysis, Comparative Analysis Tables, etc. shall be used to visualize and organize the data to be gathered. ! Aside from the empirical data, we shall be attempting to gather data from other schools offering the same program, and perform a comparative analysis to determine any areas for improvement. Observations/Recommendations: 1: Re-evaluate the conveniences of the enrollment process, the need for a “one-stop-shop.” 2: Consider AUTOMATION of the Registration Process.
Implementing Steps! Re-evaluate the structure of classes whether larger classes for electives can be held. ! Plan and come up with a preliminary project costing for a computerized enrollment system. ! Evaluate the possibility of payment handling at the college level for night programs of MBA and MS Finance. ! Consider 24-hour Registration “KIOSKS” to be located outside the college available for students without regular Internet/Computer access.
BA 242 SECTION H: Case # 1 Contents Executive Summary Table of Contents Prologue/ Introduction Case Analysis i) Problem Definition/Case Issues ii) Analytical Framework iii) Background iv) Analysis v) Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Analysis vi) Recommendations vii) Implementation Plan Conclusion/Epilogue Appendices prologue The following paper is an Analysis of the UP MBA Application process. To make it a little more interesting, I will borrow certain characters and make several allusions to the popular cyber thriller “The Matrix” by the Wachowski Brothers. INTRODUCTION /SynopsiS Our story begins with NEO, a 20-something computer programmer who is currently dissatisfied with his boring, unchallenging, and grossly underpaid job situation at META CORTEX Enterprises Inc. , a multinational software firm based in the Philippines.
Having read something in WIRED magazine about the potential salary / career boost that an MBA degree promises, he facilitates his review for the annual MBA entrance exams at the U. P. College of Business Administration by enrolling in the various pre-program workshops offered by the college. The exam was a lot different from what he had expected. He was worried because he had prepared for a GMAT-like exam because the Oracle had told him to do so.
Much to his consternation on the scheduled exam day, he noticed that the structure was a far cry from the GMAT reviewers he had uploaded to his brain. After several sleepless nights and stressful days, he finally summons the courage to call up The ORACLE (a. k. a.
ANNABELLE), to find out if he passed the program or not. Fortunately-despite some inadequacies in the workshop proper and the misguidance of the Oracle- he passes the exams with flying colors. Neo is now qualified to enroll in one of the most prestigious MBA programs in the country, and he excitedly goes about the business of enrolling for the first trimester. POST-ENROLLMENT During the first trimester enrollment session, Neo successfully completes the process with no significant delays or feelings of disgruntlement from long queues and the like. This is despite the fact that it is a FULLY MANUAL, OLD-FASHIONED SYSTEM with no option to register or pay electronically. The present system is sufficient for the current level of program operations, because the program restricts its population to a specific number of enrollees per term to prevent such problems, as well as to preserve the integrity of the program.
Furthermore, the program is highly specialized and relatively independent of other colleges, so it can very well stand on its own without regards to critical linkages and the like. However, Neo’s pragmatic logical side- long trained in the logic and precision of computer languages and code- cannot help but wonder if the whole process can be streamlined to make it more convenient for the students to enroll. (He actually thought that the feeling of “everything’s allright” in the enrollment process probably stemmed from the euphoria of passing the entrance exams, and would wane considerably as the student progressed through his studies).
Also, he thought of the FUTURE, and what would happen if the College decided to expand its operations (i. e.
, take on more MBA students, move to a bigger building, etc).
In any case, he decided to study the enrollment process in detail for the next tri-semester. He was going to try to identify and document any areas for improvement, to be submitted to the powers-that-be for consideration and possible implementation. Problem Definition Even if there is actually no REAL OVERWHELMING problem at the present level of operations, the existing situation is far from ideal. Being such, the following issues will have to be tackled: ! What can be done to FURTHER IMPROVE the enrollment process (with regards to time, convenience and possible future expansion? )! What is the ideal situation that will maximize student satisfaction without breaking the budget of the college? Analytical FrameworK To help Neo address these issues, the group shall do the following: ! We shall attempt to analyze the existing enrollment process-its strengths, advantages, weaknesses, and other pertinent facts- with regards to the time and effort required for every step. ! We shall be taking the perspective of an enrolling student (Neo) that shall use data gathered from first-hand empirical exposure to the whole process.
Particular attention shall be given to the following: Detailed Enumeration of Activities Estimated time required for each activity (low-high estimate) Person/Office involved in the activity Location of the aforementioned person / office Flow of activities Tools such as Flow Diagrams, SWOT analysis, Comparative Analysis Tables, etc. shall be used to visualize and organize the data to be gathered. ! Aside from the empirical data, we shall be attempting to gather data from other schools offering the same program, and perform a comparative analysis to determine any areas for improvement. ! Other Notes and Observations shall be infused to the analysis. ! After a thorough analysis of the existing situation, we shall recommend what activities or processes are believed to be “removable”, and propose implementing steps to instigate any changes if necessary. At this point, no cost will not be considered as a factor, so this will be called the “Utopian” Solution.
! After proposing the “Utopian” Solution, other factors such as cost/ time required for implementation / etc . shall be considered, so as to come up with an “Ideal” solution that will maximize student convenience and satisfaction while keeping the costs to the college at a reasonable level. (Of course, the “utopian” solution for a person such as NEO would be to FULLY COMPUTERIZE the entire system, so that you never have to go to school for documents or paperwork until the very first day of classes. Due to advancements in technology and the continuing affordability of powerful computer systems, this is actually quite feasible and “doable” in a short span of time. ) UP MBA PROGRAM: BACKGROUND The MBA Program of the University of the Philippines aims to help managers gain a distinct advantage in their profession, whether they are in industrial, financial, government or non-profit institutions.
The MBA Program seeks candidates of high caliber — i. e. , students with strong academic backgrounds, professional experience, personal maturity and the interest and discipline to develop their managerial and leadership potential. On the average, 50 students are admitted into the Full-time Program, and twice as many in the Managers’ Program. To achieve this goal, the College offers a broad-based program curriculum which hopes to strike a balance between technical training and practical problem-solving, that is founded on current management theories and approaches.
It is complemented by case analyses, company / industry studies, business games and other experiential learning methods. A conscious effort has been made to develop a curriculum responsive to the unique features of the Philippine and Asian environments. MBA students engage in an intensive study in current management concepts and techniques through a core curriculum covering the functional areas in business as well as economics, applied mathematics and statistics and behavioral science. Students are encouraged to gain added functional expertise by pursuing elective courses offered at the College of Business Administration or in allied graduate units of the University. ACADEMIC INFORMATION The two programs of study are: Full-Time Program and Part-Time or Managers’ Program. The Full-Time program can be completed in five trimesters (1 2/3 years) and the Managers’ program in eight trimesters (2 2/3 years).
The degree requirements are the same for both, each with a minimum of 42 academic credit units. ^0 FIRST TRIMESTER – June to Mid-September ^0 SECOND TRIMESTER – mid-September to December ^0 THIRD TRIMESTER – January to April AnalySis of Existing System At present, the UP MBA Enrollment system is a FULLY MANUAL PROCESS, with no facilities as of yet to register / pay electronically. Process Flow Diagram The UP MBA Enlistment is a series of activities that the MBA student undergoes to officially enroll in a particular trimester. The process starts with the MBA student obtaining permission from the MBA Coordinator to enroll in the current semester. Once given the permission, the student selects a subject schedule from the choices (if any).
He will then proceed to fill up the documents given to him (Form-5, etc.
).
The accomplished documents are then forwarded to the librarian, for library deficiency checking. After which, the student will proceed to the assessors to have the corresponding fees indicated in the document. After assessment, the student proceeds to the registrar to pay enrolment fees. The student will present the official receipt to the MBA Coordinator in order to receive his / her class cards. Below is a Process Flow Diagram of the current procedure of the UP MBA enlistment: The Proposed System The authors of this study would like to propose to have the enlistment done on-line.
The students can then enlist without having to go to the college. The new system will begin with the students receiving a notice of eligibility to enroll, either from the BA Information Systems Group or from the MBA Coordinator. The students can then log-in to a system where they can choose their schedule, check their deficiencies and have their papers assessed. Payment in the new system can be done electronically (bank transfers, ATM, Credit cards) or personally through the MBA Coordinator. The idea of a “One-Stop-Shop” is the basis of this new system. Below is the Process Flow Diagram of the proposed system.
PROCESS / TIME / FLOW ANALYSIS: EXISTING SYSTEM PROCESS / TIME / FLOW ANALYSIS: PROPOSED SYSTEM Comparative AnalysiS OVERVIEW OF THE ENLISTMENT PROCESS OF OTHER B-SCHOOLS For our purposes of study we limited the analysis to two other B-schools, De La Salle and the Ateneo Graduate School. The enlistment procedure for the De La Salle resembles that of the UP system. The student first has to obtain an approval to enroll form the program director, before he or she can proceed in the enrolment process. La Salle’s difference form UP is in the completion of forms. UP students manually encode almost every form (Form-5, Class Cards, etc. ) while La Salle students enjoy some convenience as some of their forms are automatically printed.
Payments for both schools are remitted to their respective registrars/ accounting office. The Ateneo Graduate School of Business recently launched their on-line enlistment program, allowing the students to do their enlistment on-line. Payment however, is still done personally at the school’s registrar. Below are the details of the enlistment of the De La Salle and Ateneo School of Business as derived from their respective websites: De La Salle University The graduate students accepted to the program must observe the following enrolment procedures: 1. Obtain the approval of the Graduate Studies Director to enroll.
Any student with two “Incomplete” (Inc. ) grades will not be allowed to enroll. 2. Obtain the consent of the Graduate Studies Director to enroll in the subjects listed on the Course Approval Form (CAF).
Foreign students must present their clearance from the Liaison Officer for Foreign Students (Registrar’s Office).
3. Proceed to the Registrar’s Office Graduate Studies Section for the encoding of subjects and the printing of the Enrolment Assessment Form (EAF).
Grantees of the Student Financial Assistance Program (STUFAP) should proceed to the STUFAP Office for approval / renewal of scholarship grant. Faculty development grantees should accomplish the Application for Study Grant Form (obtainable from the Office of the Vice President for Academics).
This must be submitted together with the EAF to the Accounting Office. 4. Pay the assessed tuition and other fees at the Accounting Office. Note: A student is enrolled only after payment has been made or grant approval has been submitted to the Accounting Office. Ateneo Graduate School of Business 1. The online registration will be available ON-CAMPUS in the Makati, Sta.
Rosa, Subic, and Cebu campuses from September 15 to 20 by means of computers found in these campuses. Our technical staff and the registrar’s staff will be available to assist you. 2. Students who wish to register OFF-CAMPUS online from their offices or homes can access our website and click on the appropriate buttons to access the site. Our website is web 3. To access, please use your student identification number as user name and your family name as your password.
4. Then proceed and follow the instructions for registration. 5. For payment of tuition fees, please proceed to your respective campuses: Cashier for the Makati students, the site assistants for Subic, Sta. Rosa, and Cebu campuses. All payments must reach the Cashier and the site assistants and validated no later than 7: 00 PM of the same day.
Failure to pay on or before this time will cancel your enrollment. 6. Paying online is not yet available because we are still in the process of finalizing the arrangements with various banks including PAY PLUS. We hope to have this facility ready in the next enrollment period.
7. If you cannot yet enroll ONLINE, please proceed to our respective campuses for your enrollment and our staff will be glad to assist you. S. w. o.
t. analysis UP-Diliman College of Business Administration – Integral unit of UP Diliman! Offers BS BA, BS BAA, MBA, MS in Finance and Ph. D. in BA! Only MBA and MS Finance follow the trimestral schedule! Has about 270 students in MBA! UP is composed of the two-year Day Program and the three-year Night Program! Both consist of the same 13 basic breadth courses and then 8 elective courses. ! Courses are structured ladder-type based on pre-required subjects, with seasonal electives courses.
! One class of 35 students each in two year levels, and Two classes of 35 students each in three year levels. MBA APPLICATION: THE EXISTING SYSTEM! Every January, about 1, 000 college graduates with minimum required work experience take the entrance exam! Top-ranked examinees take interviews! Selected applicants undergo summer workshop in three basic fields! By May, students who pass the three fields are accepted and begin enrollment. STRENGTHS! Easy to Adjust! Existing system allows instant notifications, pre-advising and process adjustments, with actual presence of MBA Program Secretary or staff! No breakdowns! Fully manual enlistment and matriculation does not crash. ! Central University Cashier! All responsibility of payments and receipts are assigned to University Accounting Office WEAKNESSES! One-Night Schedule! Each of the three year levels are assigned only one night to avail of night-time enlistment and matriculation. ! Requires Actual Presence for Priority! Students are required to be present on those nights to avail of enlistment priority. ! Need to Travel to Cashier! Students need to travel to the university cashier is many blocks away, requiring a jeep ney ride.
OPPORTUNITIES! No Computer Investment! No need for program or server for enlistment and assessment! No Cashier Problems! Payment management handled by Univ. Acct g Office! Special to MBA Schedule! Only MBA and MS Finance follow trimester system in UP. ! No required subjects in other UP units. THREATS! Inconvenient to Many Students! Some students find inconvenience in: ! Competing for enlistment priority for limited slots in course offerings! Except for enlistment day, payments only up to 4 PM! Inefficient Image! Low-tech image considering tuition fees as high as competitors such as A DMU, D LSU, and UA&P AUTOMATED SYSTEM ADVANTAGES: ! Less Waiting Time! Less Transportation Time/Effort! Eliminates Bottleneck of Queuing! Less Stress! No Redundancy in filling up forms! Convenience of Electronic Payments AUTOMATED SYSTEM POSSIBLE PROBLEMS and POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: ! Security (System can break down / be hacked) Password System Use Secure Sites/Firewalls etc. ! Not everybody has access to an Internet enabled Computer all of the time Consider the use of 24-hour KIOSKS to be located within the college premises (like an ATM machine)! Not everybody has a credit card Accept bank-to-bank transfers / ATM payments / cash payments. Electronic payment is just an OPTION.
! Possible large setup cost Consider “phasing” of the hardware Include upgrade ability / open source in software proposal. ! Linking the Independent System to the Main UP System Use a BRIDGE program to link ONLY the information the main system needs (e. g. list of graduates, etc)! Linking the Accounting /Payments Systems Same as above, but use a more secure protocol. ! Unforeseen Events (Change MAT, Dropping, etc) Provisions for such events must be carefully studied and built into the software observations /recommendations Main Recommendation (s): STEP 1: Re-evaluate the conveniences of the enrollment process, the need for a “one-stop-shop.” ! The student should only stay in ONE BUILDING; ideally ON THE SAME FLOOR and IN ADJACENT ROOMS for the whole registration process, and not be subjected to unnecessary motion / travel ! Due to the fact that most MBA students are also working, consider the EXTENSION OF HOURS during the registration process.
! Consider “discounts” for early payment and heavier fines for delayed payments. ! Flow/Steps should be clearly posted and visible; if possible, registration guidelines should be distributed electronically ahead of time. ! EPN’s (Enlistment Priority Numbers) should include the earliest / latest possible time to be serviced, so that the student will not have to wait for service. STEP 2: Consider AUTOMATION of the Registration Process.
CONCEPTUAL SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS: ! Electronic Mail Notification System (Entrance Exam Passed or Failed)! Automatic Generation of Schedules / Drop Down menus for Registration! Automatic / ON-Line Registration! One-time input of repetitive data; everything should be filed in a database for easy data retrieval! Automatic Generation of forms (form 5, class cards)! Automatic Checking/Assessment (javascript)! “Bridge Program” for possible linkage to the UP System’s main servers Implementing steps! Verify the College’s plans of Expansion! Re-evaluate the structure of classes whether larger classes for electives can be held. ! Plan and come up with a preliminary project costing for a computerized enrollment system. ! Evaluate the possibility of payment handling at the college level for night programs of MBA and MS Finance. ! Consider 24-hour Registration “KIOSKS” to be located outside the college available for students without regular Internet/Computer access.
Conclusion/ EPILOGUE Now that Neo has performed the appropriate studies, he believes that the College can benefit from his ideas / recommendations . Not necessarily to be implemented all at once, but at least little by little. He believes that future generations of MBA students will reap the benefits of his ideas due to the maximization of their time and convenience. appendices MBA PROGRAM COURSES AND ELECTIVES The UP MBA Program curriculum, founded on the latest management concepts, balances technical training with practical problem solving. The Program’s courses are delivered by a seasoned full-time faculty, in tandem with lecturers who are prominent practitioners in industry. The learning process is enhanced by a specialized library with the Philippines’ largest collection of business management books and journals, well-appointed facilities, and up-to-date learning equipment.
The study program consists of a total of 21 core and elective courses. The core courses are in economics, Quantitative methods, managerial accounting, finance, marketing, production/ operations, human behavior in organizations, and business policy. Elective courses may be taken at CBA or in other colleges of the University. These “concentration” courses may be in areas like investment theory and practice, advanced topics in finance, international finance, management of technology, new enterprise planning and management, special topics in policy formulation and implementation, management information systems, controllership, advertising, personnel and industrial relations, and managing with emerging technologies. oBA 201 (ECONOMIC ANALYSIS) Macroeconomic theory and policy, with reference to the Philippine business environment. BA 203 (MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS) The application of microeconomic analysis in business decisions, including the analysis of the behavior of firms under various market structures and types of government intervention.
Prerequisite: BA 215 or consent of instructor oBA 213 (ADVANCED MANAGEMENT SCIENCE IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS) The application of advanced operations research / management science techniques and models to specific business problems. Prerequisites: BA 211 and BA 212, or BA 215, Consent of Instructor oBA 214 (PHILIPPINE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT) Sociological, technological, legal, psychological, economic and other factors which influence business decision-making in the Philippines. oBA 215 (BASIC QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR BUSINESS DECISIONS) Mathematical and statistical techniques for sound business decisions, particularly in the functional areas of management. Balances the technical and managerial aspects of model-building, and focuses on the applicability of quantitative approaches to usual business problems. Prerequisites: Knowledge of basic calculus and elementary statistics, familiarity with college algebra and introductory calculus, computer proficiency. oBA 220 (MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING AND CONTROL I) Financial accounting policy within the framework of accounting conventions, principles, measurements and procedures for internal control and for the preparation of public reports and management’s use of financial accounting data.
oBA 221 (MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING AND CONTROL II) Managerial cost accounting, responsibility accounting, management control systems and basic concepts of formal long-range planning systems. Prerequisites: BA 220, computer proficiency oBA 224 (INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT) Deals with case problems on investment analysis and management for individuals and institutions. Prerequisite: BA 223 or BA 280. 2 oBA 226 (CONTROLLERSHIP) Work of controller in a business firm in connection with the construction, control, and interpretation of accounts for internal use. Prerequisite: BA 221 oBA 238 (NEW ENTERPRISE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT) Problems involved in planning and founding new enterprises.
Examination of business opportunities. oBA 227 (SEMINAR IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT) Special topics that may vary with every offering. Prerequisite: BA 223 or BA 280. 2 oBA 228 (MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS) Deals with problems and policies in the effective management of financial institutions including bank lending and institutional investments. The course also covers a study of the character and structure of the money and capital markets, and of the functions of investment banking firms as financial intermediaries. Prerequisite: BA 223 or BA 280.
2 oBA 232 (FUNDAMENTALS OF MARKETING MANAGEMENT) The basic nature of the marketing philosophy (the marketing concept), market opportunities and threats, marketing strengths and weaknesses and the major marketing program. Inclusion of a “strategy” (versus a “tool”) orientation shall develop a deeper understanding of the processes involved in marketing strategy formulation and implementation. Prerequisite: BA 201 oBA 233 (ADVERTISING) Study and application of principles and theories of advertising. Covers problems in profitable use of advertising, in stimulating primary and selective demand, and in building promotional programs and agency relations. Prerequisites: BA 231, BA 232 and BA 212 or BA 215 oBA 234 (MARKETING RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS) Principles and methods of marketing research and appraisal of the results.
Prerequisite: BA 230 or BA 232 oBA 236 (FOREIGN MARKETING) Study of the export-import trade with emphasis on analyzing the commercial feasibility of export products. Prerequisite: BA 230 or BA 232 oBA 237 (SEMINAR IN MARKETING MANAGEMENT) Special topics that may vary with every offering. Prerequisite: BA 231 or BA 232 oBA 238 (NEW ENTERPRISE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT) Problems involved in planning and founding new enterprises. Examination of business opportunities. Prerequisites: BA 223 or BA 280. 2, BA 231 or BA 232, and BA 241 or BA 242 oBA 242 (FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT) The scope and responsibility of the production and operations management function – planning, organizing and assembling of resources as well as the directing and controlling of production operations or activities in manufacturing or service organizations.
Prerequisite: BA 215 or BA 212 oBA 243 (MANAGING INNOVATION) Technological innovation as a source of competitive advantage and innovations in other aspects of business, e. g. , marketing, financial and organizational innovations. Prerequisite: BA 242 and consent of instructor oBA 245 (MANUFACTURING POLICY) Comprehensive case studies on broad policy problems of selected industries. This course intends to integrate the various courses in industrial management. Prerequisite: Graduating students only.
oBA 246 (SEMINAR IN PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT) Special topics that may vary with every offering. Prerequisite: BA 241 or BA 242 oBA 251 (FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR) Facets of management practice concerning individuals and groups in organizations. Focusing on the human aspects of management, this course aims to enable students to understand individual and group behavior including leader behavior, and other aspects of the organization system such as organization design, human resource policies and practices, organizational change, organization culture and organization development, and how these affect organizational behavior. Prerequisite: None oBA 252 (PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) Personnel policies and the functions of the personnel and industrial relations manager are studied through readings depicting actual situations dealing with personnel problems.
oBA 256 (SEMINAR IN PERSONNEL AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) Selected problems in personnel administration and labor relations. oBA 260 (MONEY AND BANKING) Theories, problems, and policies concerning money, credit, and the banking system. Emphasis given to Philippine conditions. Prerequisite: BA 201 oBA 262 (INTERNATIONAL FINANCE) Management of foreign exchange risk. The methods of financing foreign trade and investment, financing procedures for export-import transactions, gold movements, capital movements and the role of international finance institutions. Prerequisite: BA 260 or BA 223 or BA 280.
2 oBA 270 (AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT) Management problems of firms in national and international and other agricultural industries. Prerequisite: BA 231 or BA 232 oBA 280. 1 (FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT) Provides an understanding of the essential concepts and principles on firm valuation and the key decision areas of investment, financing and dividend policy. Involves application of financial analysis tools learned from BA 220 to short-term and long-term concerns of financial management. The central themes will be on firm and shareholder value, the risk-return tradeoffs of the firm’s financial policies, and how these policies are influenced by the business and competitive environment in which the firm operates. The basic knowledge and skills for relating to the financial objectives of the firm and the general framework that the finance manager uses in pursuing these objectives shall be acquired.
Prerequisite: BA 220 oBA 280. 2 (CORPORATE FINANCE AND FINANCIAL MARKETS) Deepens understanding of the financial management framework, and broadens the knowledge and skills base to the level required for pursuing more advanced or specialized topics in finance. Strengthens skills in financial forecasting and planning, investment evaluation and portfolio theory, financial structure choices and design, valuation of basic types of securities, and the functions and structures of financial markets, aside from the general features and uses of financial derivatives. Prerequisite: BA 280. 1 oBA 286 (MANAGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY) The uses and potentials of information technology in managing organizations. The potentials of IT in support of individual and organizational information processing at functional or strategic levels, and the analysis of the impact of new systems on existing ones will be covered.
Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor oBA 290 (GENERAL MANAGEMENT) A pragmatic approach to problem-solving in organizational management. The analysis of organization problems and development of analytical skills involved demonstrate the importance of viewing functional tasks from a generalist’s standpoint. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor oBA 291. 1 (STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT I) Integration of the various tool and functional area courses into a unified whole aimed at developing a general management point of view. The important analytical and conceptual approaches that are used to make business and corporate strategy decisions as the process through which these decisions are made and implemented, to develop cross-functional and holistic thinking skills.
Prerequisite: All tool and functional area courses. Passing of the comprehensive examination oBA 291. 2 (STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT II) The role of general managers in sustaining and enhancing corporate performance. The determination and appraisal of an organization’s resources and plans as basis for strategic action. oBA 299 (SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY) Special topics that may vary with every offering.
Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor.