A systems perspective of organizations is explored. Learners integrate systems thinking and change theory to leverage best practices within the context of today’s uncertain environment to enhance an organization’s effectiveness. Specifics addressed include organizational design and its challenges such as structure and control, issues of culture, strategy in light of globalization, technology, change, decision-making, innovation, conflict, power and politics.

The effective and appropriate use of teams as a competitive advantage is explored. In order to understand the seemingly chaotic dynamics of groups, learners experience strategies to drive groups to a higher level of performance. Learners utilize various methods of group analysis, design, and implementation, while being provided the opportunity to experiment and take risks with creative strategies. Conflict styles are addressed as well as effective methods for having difficult conversations. Sensitizing strategies for the appreciation of diversity, including gender, sexual orientation, race and culture are explored.

This course examines macroeconomic concepts relevant for today’s economy and the government policies impacting organizations. Learners analyze corporate financial statements to gain insight and influence change. Management analytical abilities are honed through a deep understanding of financial objectives and their management including knowledge of ratio analysis, corporate responsibility, financial planning, capital budgeting, and financial markets. The course also prepares learners to meet the demands of a global economy by addressing trade, protectionism, and international finance. The class concludes with a study of personal finance.

This course presents a comprehensive, integrative, and practical focus on ethical leadership and management. In this learning community, foundational knowledge and practical approaches are developed to balance stakeholder interests, to ensure financial transparency and to address economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Learners will examine the intersections of the concepts of ethics and leadership from a wide range of disciplines, contexts, and professions, as well as the application for individuals, teams, organizations, and across a global perspective.

Characteristics of the virtual organization are examined along with emerging technologies and virtual influence methods that drive organizational productivity. Specifics addressed include the traps, pitfalls and solutions common to emerging technologies. Issues relating to commercialization and market adoption rates, strategy uncertainty, financing, and the leveraging of strategic alliances including “people” challenges are tackled. Finally, a focus on cybersecurity including threats and common issues such as what to do when getting hacked are reviewed.

Issues relating to the collection, analysis and dynamic application of data for critically informed decisions and performance improvement are explored. This course focuses on a classic understanding of research methodology as well as descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Ethical standards in treatment of human subjects, data, and analysis are addressed.

The process of formulating and executing a strategy is explored. Learners gain knowledge and skills in the areas of crafting a usable vision, mission, and set of core values for an organization; analytical tools of organization and industry analysis, setting measurable organizational objectives; defining the steps (the “how”) to achieve these objectives; executing; and monitoring/adjusting/correcting the strategy.

Project management techniques are introduced to harmonize and balance creativity with time and cost considerations. Theory on project life cycle and how to execute, monitor, control and close process groups are some of the concepts this course addresses. The idea of “agile” in project management and its relevance to innovation is discussed.

Learners gain knowledge of a wide range of organizational change theory, as well as various models and design practices when implementing organizational change. This course emphasizes how leaders can be effective in generating organizational transformation. Learners integrate knowledge or organizational change theory into their role as a change agent.

Learners develop a five chapter Master’s thesis that details their understanding of leadership and their own personal development based upon their understanding and application of program learning. The comprehensive is completed after all coursework, and its submission and acceptance are required for graduation.