Business Administration
Sample Course Outlines
Business Forecasting and Planning
Course Overview
This course presents basic statistical techniques that are useful for preparing individual business forecasts and long-range plans. It provides a survey of those methodological tools most commonly applied in the fields of management, marketing, finance, strategic planning, and economics. The course emphasizes techniques of research design, forecasting, data analysis, model building, and business research methodology.
It will stress practical application and cutting-edge forecasting methodology developed to forecast business trends, and will employ several case studies describing these applications. The emphasis is on the application of techniques by management for decision making.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students will be capable of- Exploring data patterns and choosing a forecasting technique, using standard business research methodology
- Gaining access to and applying both primary and secondary research techniques
- Applying smoothing techniques and decomposing a time series into its underlying components
- Applying causal forecasting techniques, such as correlation, regression, and multiple regression analysis
- Forecasting time series data
- Technological and judgmental forecasting techniques
- Managing and monitoring the forecasting process
Grading
| Assignment | Percentage |
| Midterm Exam | 25% |
| Group Project | 30% |
| Final Exam | 35% |
| Class Participation | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Business Negotiating
Course Overview
The central aspect of international business involves negotiation—the establishment of the terms under which a business transaction will take place. Negotiation involves techniques, procedural steps, tactics, and strategy as well as an understanding of power and influence. International negotiation involves a further factor—the role of culture. Culture has an impact on how negotiations are conducted and what behaviors are and are not acceptable. In this seminar, international business students will acquire an understanding of the negotiation process and their personal and cultural approach to being a negotiator. This course will present a practical and positive approach to effectively negotiating all kinds of real-life situations.
Course Objectives
- To understand the role of negotiation in international business practice
- To discover how differences in international cultures impact negotiations
- To appreciate the difference between win-win and win-lose negotiation positions
- To analyze, through self-assessment instruments, one’s personal and cultural negotiation style
- To achieve familiarity and mastery of basic concepts in international negotiation
- To understand and be able to provide the proper management response to a variety of negotiating conditions
- To develop and revise a negotiation plan in light of changing business realities
- To understand the difference between buyer and seller strategies
- To apply a variety of negotiation strategies and tactics
- To summarize your experience in a variety of negotiation simulations
- To report a higher level of self-confidence in conducting negotiations
Grading
| Activity | Points |
| Class Participation | 10 |
| Oral Presentations and In-Class Casework | 50 |
| Casework Journal | 40 |
| Total | 100 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Essentials of Economics
Course Overview
This course is an introduction to the study of microeconomics. It introduces the theory of supply and demand, and how the theory is applied to explain the functioning of markets. It introduces different market structures and their relationship to market performance and efficiency, as well as labor and factor theory. The course also explores how public policy affects markets and how they operate, and concludes with a discussion of international trade and finance. Limitations of the market system are examined, along with remedies for these limitations. Environmental economics, a fascinating case of market failure, is covered.
Course Objectives
By course's end, you will be able to- Explain how demand is determined, and how a firm's costs are categorized
- Identify the true costs associated with making decisions
- Describe and understand the science of economics
- Describe how costs affect firms' decisions on pricing and production levels, and how those decisions are made in idealized market structures
- Discuss how firms make decisions on pricing and production levels in more realistic market structures, and the role of the government in regulating markets
- Identify ways in which firms decide what combination of inputs to use in the production process
- Describe how the price system is limited in terms of providing public goods, externalities, and inequitable distribution of wealth, and the solutions to these limitations
- Discuss economic decision making and how public policy is made regarding the international marketplace
Grading
| Activity | Points |
| Quiz #1 | 20 |
| Quiz #2 | 20 |
| Midterm | 100 |
| Final | 200 |
| Course Assignments | 55 |
| Class Experiment | 20 |
| Total | 415 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Introduction to Marketing
Course Overview
This is an introductory course in the principles of global marketing—definitions, concepts, policies, and development. In addition to teaching the theories of marketing, this course will provide practical applications to the real world.
Course Objectives
- To develop an understanding of the basic elements of marketing
- To understand marketing’s role in a company
- To develop a working knowledge of the marketing components (traditional “4 P’s” updated)
- To understand the impact of marketing decisions on the organization
- To demonstrate critical, logical, and analytical thinking through team and individual oral/written reports and presentations
- To demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in a business marketing context, both orally and in writing
Grading
Grades will be based on the quality of reports, project, examination, and classroom participation. Attendance is mandatory. Classroom participation is not possible if you are not in class. Participation is defined as actively adding to a discussion by offering insights or different approaches to marketing problems/solutions that demonstrate a solid working knowledge of the concepts and principles of marketing. Grades will be based on:
| Assignment | Percentage |
| Class Participation | 15% (includes case study) |
| Group Projects | 35% (survey, case) |
| Final Presentation/ppt | 20% |
| Final Written Paper | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Fundamentals of Finance
Course Objectives
Fundamentals of Finance provides an introduction to finance for students who want to make good business decisions using financial concepts but don’t want to make finance their career. The course is structured around two major decisions: what investments the firm should make and where it should find the cash for those investments. The emphasis throughout the course is on the practical application of financial concepts to common business decisions. You gain an understanding of how to
- Interpret the principal financial statements found in a company’s annual report
- Assess a company’s financial health
- Forecast the financing needs of a company
- Finance a firm’s operations using an optimal mix of debt and equity
- Measure the value an investment creates for shareholders
- Manage a company to create value for shareholders
Course Requirements
You are required to
- Read the assigned material in the course textbook and reader
- Prepare practice homework assignments contained in the course reader
- Participate in a team of three to four students to complete a group presentation and case study
- Demonstrate proficiency on midterm and final exams and spot quizzes
- Attend class and participate in classroom discussion
Read the assigned material before class. Practice problems relating to the assigned reading should be completed after the class. If you have questions relating to the practice problems please ask the instructor at the beginning of the next class.
The course assumes no prior knowledge of finance or accounting. Although the course emphasizes conceptual understanding over detailed numerical analysis, basic high school math such as solving an equation with one unknown is used.
Grading
| Activity | Points |
| Midterm Exam | 20 |
| Final Exam | 50 |
| Spot Quizzes | 5 |
| Group Presentation | 5 |
| Case Study | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Global Business and Marketing Strategy
Course Overview
This course is the capstone course for several of the International Diploma Programs. Its purpose is to provide knowledge and skills in strategic management as well as to apply principles learned in other courses in the Business Administration, International Business, and Marketing International Diploma Programs. You will be a member of a team that will:
- Run a business—that is, act as senior management for a large company
- Attempt to manage your company in order to make a profit, the goal of business
- Compete with other teams to be successful in a complex international market
- Learn to think as a general manager rather than as a marketer, accountant, or finance person
- Experience the strategic process of setting a goal and achieving that goal, taking into account all the elements of your company—production, human resources, finance, marketing—as a means to execute your strategy.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to- Work together with other international students to “run a company”—i.e., manage and coordinate individual departments to produce an integrated business strategy
- Make decisions from a company-wide rather than a silo perspective
- Analyze and respond to competitors in a dynamic international market
- Integrate production with marketing, human resources, and international trade, as well as with the financial aspects of a business
- Understand and perform the basic financial calculations required to run a business
- Develop strategies and revise them in light of your company’s changing situation
- Analyze results to identify options for your company under stress conditions
- Evaluate tradeoffs between preserving short-term profitability and the long-range need to strengthen your company’s competitive position
- Apply what you are learning from your other courses
Grading
| Assignment | Percentage |
| Active Class Participation [individual] | 10% |
| Quizzes [3 x 10%] | 30% |
| Team Score on Simulation | 40% |
| Individual Final Paper | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Management Accounting
Course Overview
This course introduces the basic accounting financial statements and how to use the information presented to make managerial decisions. The class will incorporate reading assignments, videos, small group work, group presentations, and real-life experiences of the instructor and the students.
Course Objectives
When you finish this course you will be able to make business decisions using relevant accounting data and will be able to- Analyze and interpret financial statements
- Define various cost terms, concepts, and classifications
- Understand how costs are gathered and assigned to products and projects
- Predict cost behavior
- Develop a budget
- Explain budget variances
- Integrate the concepts of segment reporting, profitability analysis, and decentralization
- Choose between multiple investment options using Net Present Value (NPV) analysis
Grading
Students will be evaluated and provided feedback on the following areas and graded according to this point system:
| Activity | Points |
| Quiz # 1 | 20 |
| Quiz # 2 | 20 |
| Course Participation and Attendance * | 10 |
| Group Project | 10 |
| Final Exam | 40 |
| Total | 100 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
*Course participation and attendance are both required and expected. This score is based on your attendance at each class, your participation in group activities, and your positive contribution to class discussions. Missing a class without an excuse will result in the loss of one point per absence.
Organization and Management
Course Objectives
American management approach provides both shareholder profitability as well as employee opportunity. The “command and control” system of the past has been replaced by today’s team-based management approach suitable to “knowledge workers.” In this course you will explore, experience, and critique these management concepts and practices and will explore the question Are these concepts and approaches solely useful in the American context or can and should they be applied worldwide? Students will experience a variety of management challenges and experience their own supervisory and work style as they face challenges with their team.
When you have finished this course you will be able to
- Describe basic management functions and activities
- Describe several leading approaches to human behavior
- Identify and describe differences between the traditional “command and control” organizational structure and management style and the “new economy/team” approach
- Diagnose organizational problems and conflicts and develop plans
- Use class exercises and relevant readings to describe and critique the management approach in present use in your country
- Analyze and critique your own management style
- Develop an appreciation for culture—the way things are done differently in countries other than your own
- Work together cooperatively on joint projects with class members from other countries/cultures
Grading
| Class Participation | 20% |
| Exercise Reflection | 20% |
| Personal Feedback Session | 20% |
| Mastery of Reader | 20% |
| Essay Exam | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.