GSB-GRADUATE STUDIES-BUSINESS -- 2000-01 Catalog
College of Business

Advanced study planned and completed under the direction of the Director of Graduate Management Programs. Open only to graduate students who have demonstrated ability to do independent work. Prerequisite: Formal petition with approval.

Basic quantitative concepts used in the MBA program. Matrices, linear systems of equations, introduction to calculus. Probability, basic statistical concepts and regression. Use of computer software to solve problems. This course may not be used for credit toward graduation. 4 seminars.

Financial accounting model and accounting systems concepts. Principles and concepts used in preparing published financial statements. Interrelationships among those statements. Analysis and interpretation of their content. 4 seminars.

Introduction to matrices and the concepts of statistical analysis. Probability distributions, point and interval estimation of population means, proportions, and variances. Analysis of variance, regression, correlation, multiple regression, time series, and forecasting. Use of computers to solve problems. 3 seminars, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: GSB 502 or equivalent.

Examination of major organizational behavior (individual, interpersonal, group, and organizational) concepts, theories and constructs. Presented from an applied perspective with the purpose of increasing one's effectiveness and skill in understanding, analyzing, and managing organizational processes. 4 seminars.

Analysis from social, economic, political, legal and ethical perspectives of the changing domestic and international environment within which the American business enterprise operates. 4 seminars.

Managerial accounting with emphasis on communication and information to assist management in planning and control. Development of an operational understanding of cost systems, budgeting concepts, performance evaluation and other quantitative accounting techniques to assist management in planning and control. Accounting data in computer modeling applications. 3 seminars, 1 activity. Prerequisite: GSB 511.

Concepts and techniques of management science. Mathematical programming, decision theory, queuing models, network models, Markov analysis. Game theory. Dynamic programming. Use of computers to solve problems. 3 seminars, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: GSB 512.

Microeconomic analysis and its application to business decisions. Topics include the use of calculus and other quantitative techniques in economic analysis, market structures, pricing strategies, cost analysis and input selection. Examination of the economic impact of various governmental policies on the business firm. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 512.

Introduction to marketing management. Concepts and principles necessary to plan, direct and control the product, promotion, distribution and pricing strategies of the firm. 4 seminars.

Theories, practices and tools of financial decision making. Topics include financial statement analysis, financial forecasting, valuation, capital budgeting, capital structure, dividends, and an overview of financial markets and institutions. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 511 and GSB 512.

Overviews of management information systems and decision support systems. Structure of organizational information systems. Process of information systems development. File processing and integrated data base concept. Data communication and on line distributed systems. Management decision making using computer software packages. Report generation using word processing system. Interactive financial planning systems and the decision support systems. 3 seminars, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: GSB 511.

Theoretical framework and empirical dimensions of the aggregate economic environment in which business enterprise must operate. Understanding of national income accounting, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation, unemployment and balance of payments issues in static and dynamic contexts. Develops an ability to understand macroeconomic events in an evolving and interconnected world economy. 3 seminars, 1 activity. Prerequisite: GSB 523.

Production function and its interaction with other functional areas in an organization. Application of quantitative and statistical methods to planning, control and decision making in operations management. Topics include economics of plant location, logistics, material management, and quality control. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 522.

Examination of joint ventures and alliances between organizations using cross-cultural, interdisciplinary perspective. Alliance motives, types, and traits. Processes for partner selection, negotiation, structure, operation, and performance assessment of international and cross-cultural alliances. Lectures, case studies, and simulation. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Enrollment in MBA program or consent of instructor.

Application of interdisciplinary skills to business and corporate strategy formulation and implementation. Analysis of interdependence between external environments and internal systems. Focus on responsibilities, tasks, and skills of general managers. Case studies, group problem solving. Integrating course of MBA core curriculum. Course satisfies comprehensive examination requirement. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Must be taken within last 24 units prior to graduation and after completion of all MBA first-year required GSB courses or equivalent.

Service organizations such as financial services firms, professional services firms and health care organizations. The distinctive approaches required for marketing strategies unique to service organizations and other business entities which define themselves from a services perspective. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 524.

Issues which confront brand/product managers; includes content needed to design new product/brand marketing development programs. Appropriate for students pursuing career paths in consumer business/services sectors. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 524.

Integration of management concepts within complex multinational organizations. Interdisciplinary approach to identifying and assessing multinational and global competitive environments and strategies; structuring and managing interdependent multinational operations; addressing conflicts between domestic and international policies and practices in multinational enterprises. Case studies, simulations, group analysis and problem solving. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Completion of first year MBA core courses or consent of instructor.

Practical legal decisions required to conduct business for or with high technology companies. Methods to protect high technology developments in international markets, including copyrights, patents, trade secrets, trademarks and contracts. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 514 or equivalent.

Exploration in entrepreneurship with emphasis on the formation and management of new business ventures. Analysis of typical operating problems of these firms and application of appropriate techniques for their solution. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 513.

Examination of major theories and conceptual constructs relating to the operating requirements of complex organizations, including manufacturing, service, and nonprofit organizations; historical development of theory and practice; managerial behavior functions and processes. Current issues and actual cases. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 513.

Organization design approaches, configurations, principles, and processes. Diagnosis and redesign of a wide variety of complex organizations in the public, private, and international sectors. Organization design as an organization development technology. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 513.

Makes the student a knowledgeable user of marketing research information to develop and implement marketing plans. Emphasis on development of ability for using research information to formulate marketing objectives and strategies and to analyze marketing problems in depth. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 524.

Exploration of models of labor-management relationships from adversarial to cooperative, in both non-union and union, private and public sectors. Emphasis on labor-management relationships maximizing commitment and performance. Analysis of employee influence. Work organization, reward systems, conflict resolution. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 513.

Managerial approach to important legal issues affecting business and the market system. Focus on those aspects of law which affect managers directly including contracts, products liability and corporations in perspective; principles of partnership authority, liability, and control; managerial duty and liability to the corporation; public control of managerial activity. 4 seminars.

Principles and techniques of quality and performance management as applied to organizations in the private and public sector. Emphasis on competitive implications. Integration of fundamental management techniques, existing improvement efforts, technical tools, and new management technologies focused on continuous organizational improvement. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 513.

Case studies using the concepts of GSB 512 Quantitative Business Analysis and GSB 522 Management Science, applied to selected problems in business and industry. These involve concepts of linear programming, quadratic programming, goal programming and advanced forecasting concepts. Solutions of these models obtained using computers. 3 seminars, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: GSB 522.

Managerial concepts and techniques appropriate for analysis and decision making within international businesses.

Environmental and organizational factors influencing multinational operations. Assessing international market opportunities and entry modes. Complexities of multinational management strategy, structure and systems. Case studies and simulations. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Second-year standing or consent of instructor.

Strategic role of manufacturing in the overall corporate competitive strategy. Matching manufacturing capabilities and marketing needs, capacity planning, matching process technology with product requirements. The experience curve, vertical integration, managing change, CIM, robotics, and managing international production. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 534.

Marketing of business goods and services to other businesses, governmental agencies and social institutions by the manufacturer. Market analysis, sales forecasting, product strategy, effective use of sales force and industrial advertising media. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 524.

Practice in the application of analytical tools and techniques to current and potential marketing problems. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 524.

Emphasis on marketing of high-technology products, processes, systems and services. Strategic high-tech product planning and high-tech new product development in the context of marketing management. Market forecast for a non-existing new high-tech product. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 524.

Major functional areas of human resource management, including human resource planning, job analysis, recruitment, selection, performance measurement, employee training and career development, compensation, legal compliance and employee rights. Emphasis on analysis of human resource problems as they arise in real-world settings. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 513.

Application of financial theory and models to a variety of financial problems. Analysis and formulation of financial plans developed primarily through the use of cases and other real world examples. Working capital management, investment decisions under conditions of risk, and financing and capital structure decisions. 3 seminars, 1 activity. Prerequisite: GSB 531.

Stock, bond and options market. Emphasis on operations of markets, the efficient markets hypothesis and portfolio theory. Setting investment objectives and managing portfolios given efficient capital markets. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 531.

Structure of money and capital markets and the financial institutions that operate in these markets. Evaluation of contemporary thought on the evolving market and institutional arrangements. Emphasis on the management policies of the institution. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 531.

Analysis of the problems facing the financial manager of an international company. Topics include the international monetary system, mechanics of the foreign exchange market, determinants of exchange rates, financing and investment in foreign currencies, trade financing, international capital budgeting, and international working capital management. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 531.

Advanced study analysis and part-time work experience in student's career field; current innovations, practices, and problems in administration, supervision, and organization of business, industry, and government. Must have demonstrated ability to do independent work and research in career field. A maximum of 8 units can be used toward graduation. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor and adviser.

Role of management in establishing and directing accounting policy. Coverage includes the impact of management decisions on external reporting and taxes and the impact of financial reporting requirements on management decisions. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 521.

Designing organizations as sociotechnical systems. Manager's role and functions in managing technology. Organizations as sociotechnical systems. Sociotechnical system theory. Sociotechnical system analysis and design. Managing sociotechnical systems. Design experiments that foster the innovative process. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 513.

In-depth study of major industry using analytical tools developed in first-year courses. Intensive investigation of the dynamic environment, markets, technology, financial and economic structures, history and other key factors. Further prospects for the industry explored through preparation of a comprehensive forecast. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Second-year standing.

Advanced study analysis and full-time work experience in student's career field; current innovations, practices, and problems in administration, supervision, and organization of business, industry, and government. Must have demonstrated ability to do independent work and research in career field. A maximum of 8 units can be used toward graduation. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor and adviser.

Overviews of information technology trends and implications. Information systems (IS) functions and organization. Strategic planning for information systems. Integration of IS plan with corporate strategy. IS administration and control. Management of IS development and computer operations. IS issues in a multinational environment. 3 seminars, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: GSB 532.

Examination of the techniques and conclusions of representative future studies by research institutions such as the Rand Corporation, Hudson Institute and The Club of Rome. Analysis of the implications of those conclusions for the operations and role of business in society. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 514.

Managing planned change within complex organizations. Managing change and development models and interventions, including action research, team development, intergroup conflict, structural, and comprehensive approaches. Design and use of action programs to improve organizational effectiveness. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Second-year standing.

Applications to business planning of selected economic forecasting techniques. Classical time series analysis, Box-Jenkins (ARIMA) models, adaptive (Kalman) filtering models, leading indicators and input-output analysis. Use of computers in solving problems. 3 seminars, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: GSB 533.

Selected problems analyzed at an advanced level in a particular field, such as international trade, public finance, urban, industrial organization or transportation. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: GSB 533.

To permit students to correlate experience and academic knowledge. Placement in a supervised work program in a business or public organization. Minimum forty hours of work experience per two units of credit. A maximum of 8 units can be used toward graduation. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor and adviser.

Advanced individual research planned and completed under the direction of a member of the college faculty. Designed to meet the needs of qualified students who wish to pursue investigations which they cannot follow effectively in regularly offered elective courses. Prerequisite: Second-year standing.