Courses & Specialization

This course explores the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline of marketing in order to develop a conceptual framework to critique the practice of marketing in the early 21st century. This course utilizes extensive case analysis techniques to enhance the manager’s ability to develop and critique marketing plans in the for-profit, nonprofit business sectors and international business.

Managerial Accounting provides managers with an understanding of internal reporting of operating results, including the tools they need to interpret key financial information and improve overall performance. Management accounting plays a vital decision making role in today’s lean organization. Topics include cost concepts and applications, cost-volume-profit relationships, product costing, budgeting, and standard costing.

This course applies economic theories and quantitative methods to management decision making. Solutions for many important management decision problems in the areas of product selection, pricing, investment, and organization design can be found in managerial economics using relevant economic theories and quantitative methods. Topics include theory of the firm, theory of consumer demand, industrial organization, game theory, forecasting, statistical estimation, decision making under uncertainty, capital budgeting.

This course provides an opportunity for the manager to develop good understanding in the area of capital investment and financing. The capital investment decision allocates scarce resources to projects in the organization and involves asset valuation, capital budgeting, risk management, working capital management, and performance assessment. The financing decision chooses sources of cash to finance the investment decisions and involves capital structure, financial instruments, the risk-return trade-off, financial planning, and the cost of capital. Ethical 210 TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY | Academic Calendar 2019-20 considerations and management in the global context from a Christian worldview are integrated into these topics.

This course focuses on the strategic use of human resource practices to reinforce and support the core capabilities of the organization. With a special emphasis on doing business in the global marketplace, the course reviews the functions of human resource management, organizational behaviour, and organizational theory within a business and a non-profit setting. This course examines how organizations plan for, attract, retain, and manage employees for a sustained competitive advantage.

This course provides an overview and understanding of the issues involved in the strategic management of the information and knowledge assets of national, international, and transnational organizations. The course examines a broad range of issues and problems associated with information systems (IS) and knowledge management systems (KMS) and their alignment with the strategic goals of an organization. The course includes a comparative study of present theories with particular attention to the role of computer-based information and knowledge management systems in the organizational policy of a variety of business, government, and other institutions.

This course considers the various operative models by which firms attempt to create value. It is assumed that business operations are conducted to realize the aims of the business strategy. Toward that end, students develop the skills and the thinking necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the operations. Topics include quality, production/supply chain planning, production/supply chain execution, process design, and project management. Analytical methods are introduced when appropriate. Specific consideration is given to the correct management of the service content of the firm’s products.

This course introduces students to cutting edge leadership theory, techniques, and tools. Topics include: general leadership principles, motivation and behavioral change, decision-making, vision setting, understanding group dynamics, team building, communication processes, understanding power, and conflict resolution. The course includes a self-assessment of leadership skills and focuses on values and ethics in the marketplace, surveying perspectives of morality as they relate to particular business leadership issues. This includes examination of ethical issues arising in the areas of corporate social responsibility, dispute resolution, employee rights, advertising, and the use of information technology.

This course focuses on competitive strategy at the corporate and business unit level. Strategy development is highly complex and this course helps students develop skills that identify and properly address issues. The format of the class is designed for thought and practice on the part of 206 TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY | Academic Calendar 2019-20 each student. Key topics include: learning curve, relative market share, value chain; Porter’s 5 Forces, BCG, GE, PIMS, EVA, and other such concepts; mission statement, competitive positioning, SWOT and other aspects of analyzing one’s own organization; forecasting – sources of information, trends, and analysis; critically analyzing situations and persuasively presenting solutions to various audiences; ethics and corporate responsibilities; and implementation strategies.

Prerequisite(s): MBA 501, 521, 542, and 552.

(includes Applied Research Project) 

This course includes the study of the competitiveness of companies in different countries and regions given ever-changing economic conditions and government policies. General trends in the increasingly interdependent global economy are reviewed. With an integrated global economy, the production process is increasingly fragmented, and the implications of this fragmentation on competitiveness are reviewed. Other topics included in the course are: the emergence of the Chinese and Indian economies and their impact on the global economy, the acceleration of regional economic integration in Europe, North America, and Asia, and the implication of such for the global economy.

This course examines a number of issues particularly critical to the management of international businesses or multinational firms. These topics include an examination of comparative management practices including similarities and differences in cross-cultural management styles; a comparison of Pacific Rim, European Union, and North American value systems; and an analysis of best practices and their impact in industries such as automotive, electronics, education, and medical services. The course includes discussion of current international business issues including: the future of globalization, the impact of outsourcing, and particular areas of corporate risk including foreign exchange and the political/social climate. The course also explores current economic and business planning in multilingual organizations.

This course provides students with an understanding of the legal environment in which Canadian businesses operate. The course focuses on key areas of the legal environment that particularly impact business decision-making. This includes an understanding of the Canadian legal system, risk management, business torts, contractual principles, corporate formation and governance, and employment law. The course also examines the often challenging legal regime within which international businesses operate. This includes an overview of key legal systems around the world, international dispute resolution, understanding treaties and conventions, international contract issues, and intellectual property concerns.

This course explores important accounting and finance issues for firms operating in a multinational environment. The course provides an overview of international differences in accounting and financial reporting and the need for international harmonization of accounting standards. It particularly examines accounting and finance issues faced by corporations operating in the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. The course also explores the implication of governments, standard setting bodies, and other regulators in both developed and emerging markets increasingly requiring the use of IFRS either by listed companies or all companies.

This course is designed to develop a critical managerial perspective on key financial management issues confronting firms operating in a global environment. Through developing an understanding of financial markets, systems, and institutions, students will address a wide range of topics including equity, debt, foreign exchange, and credit instruments, as well as the principal derivative products. In a step-by-step fashion, making extensive use of real-world cases and examples, students will engage in such topics as: money markets, foreign exchange, bond markets, cash equity markets, equity valuation techniques, swaps, forwards, futures, credit derivatives, options, option risk management and convertible bonds. This course is offered as an option for Great Wall MBA students instead of MBA 665.

Prerequisite(s): MBA 542, MBA 661, MBA 664 (3-0 or 3-0)