Course Descriptions

KDES 650

Design and Innovation Process Management

The concept of Design and Innovation Process Management is developed through the interrelationships between the organizational systems of organizational learning, financial, process, and customer systems and those of research, analysis, synthesis, and implementation as related to product/problem formulation. This information will be prefaced with an introduction to the concepts of design thinking, strategic design value, and interdisciplinary collaboration and their direct effect on successful innovative business practices. The course will involve case study investigation and collaborative interaction to explore parameters of the design and innovation process and will require an integrated comprehensive project.

KDES 651

Design Communication Management

(Prerequisite KDES 650)

The concept of Design Communication Management is developed by examining communication systems within design and innovation processes that involve research, analysis, synthesis, and implementation as related to product/problem formulation and their interrelationships with the organizational systems of organizational learning, financial, process, and customer systems. The course will involve case study investigation and collaborative interaction to explore parameters and challenges of design communication and will require an integrated comprehensive project.

KDES 750

Sustainable Design and Systems

(Prerequisite KDES 650)

The concepts of Sustainable Design and Sustainable Systems are developed through examining their interrelationships with the organizational systems of organizational learning, financial, process, and customer systems. Sustainable organizations and product development systems and processes involving research, analysis, synthesis, and implementation will be fully explored. The course will involve collaborative interaction in the case study investigation of the management of sustainable systems/business practices and sustainable design development. An integrated comprehensive project will be required.

KDES 751

Leadership by Design

(Prerequisite KDES 650)

The concept of Leadership by Design is developed through exploring those elements common to leaders and organizations in which innovation success is achieved through structuring the interrelationships between design process, design communications, consumer-centric design thinking, and organizational systems and using research, analysis, synthesis, and implementation to foster a creative culture throughout the organization. The course will involve case studies and collaborative interaction to explore parameters of design-centered leadership and will require an integrated comprehensive project.

MISM 610

Database Management and Administration

Students investigate progressive database management and administration principles. Topics include design, implementation, and management techniques. Students utilize data definition and manipulation languages on leading database platforms. Emerging trends in database technology are also scrutinized.

MISM 629

Legal and Ethical Issues in Business

This course will investigate legal and ethical issues including ethical practices, privacy, copyright and licensing. Issues dealing with proprietary and personal information, as well as electronic technologies will be studied. An understanding of current and future impact on information systems corporate liability and management strategies will be explored.

MISM 646

Systems Integration

(prerequisite: MMBA 665)

This course investigates concepts, technologies, and solutions for integrating multiple applications and platforms. Strategies dealing with multiple platforms, domains, technologies, and their challenges are explored. Students will learn Web service integration and other middleware techniques.

MISM 659

Application Development

(prerequisite: MISM 610)

This course is designed for students who want to use the most current tools and technology to create e-business applications. It covers platform architecture, object-oriented programming, class libraries, web form controls, data controls, universal data interchange format, and web services. Hands-on experience will be included throughout the sessions.

MISM 661

Principles of Information Security Management

(prerequisite: MISM 670)

Students investigate concepts and methodologies of information security and the Information Security Lifecycle (Protection). Topics include information security administration and Security+ and CISSP.

MISM 662

Advanced Network Security

(prerequisite: MISM 670)

Students investigate concepts and methodologies of incidence response, cyber forensics (acquisition, preservation, analysis, and presentation of evidence) and the information security lifecycle. Topics include: cyber laws, cyber crimes, incidence response, pre-incident preparation, detection, notification, initial response, strategic decisions, response, recovery, and reporting.

MISM 670

Network Management and Design

Students will examine the basic components of Local Area Networks including topologies, protocols, and wiring schemes. Operating environments explored will be both peer to peer and at least one server based network. Once exposed to managing these environments, the student will employ their analytical skills in determining the strengths and weaknesses of each of the environments.

MISM 671

Advanced Network Management and Design

(prerequisite: MISM 670)

Students study the components of local area networks including an in-depth examination of the TCP/IP protocol and Internet, Intranet and Extranet connectivity. At least two server-based network operating environments will be explored. Students will receive hands-on exposure to tools available to manage resources on the network such as users and user accounts, disk space, various server functions such as file server, web server, firewalls and ftp server.

MISM 680 and 690

Current/Special Topics in Information Systems Management

Information Systems Management is a rapidly changing discipline. The 680 & 690 courses are designed to investigate current emerging topics that are new and important but have not been included in the existing ISM course structure. Courses may be suggested by faculty members or by students in the program. A variety of individual, group, and team-based learning activities are utilized throughout the course with an emphasis on collaboration.

MISM 740

Business Intelligence

(prerequisite: MISM 610)

An investigation of business intelligence and evaluation of analytical data used in strategic decision making. Topics include tracking, managing and understanding organized data, as well as identifying and measuring performance metrics. Includes applied decision making using appropriate tools and techniques. Decision support systems, data warehousing and emerging topics are explored.

MISM 799

Integrated Capstone Project

(final semester)

A team or individual capstone project will be proposed, approved, and developed.

MMBA 601

Professional Skills Development

Introduction to Professional skills that include performance metrics, team skills, executive presentations, research, writing and APA reference format.

MMBA 605

Numerical and Data Analysis

Interpretation and application of descriptive and inferential statistics, graphical techniques, advanced software analytical tools including the embedded optimization, database, and data analysis tools and their use in analyzing and synthesizing organizational information.

MMBA 606

Financial & Accounting Systems & Analysis

The structure and analysis of organizational accounting and financial systems, including the building and tracking of organizational budgets and variances; the use of various budgetary techniques, including ZBB and program budgeting, the use and analysis balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements; the use of ratio analysis; and, the use of the concepts of present value, and compound interest when performing capital budgeting, make/buy decision, and buy/make decisions.

MMBA 607

Computational Tools, Techs, & Integrating Systems

The use of personal computers in the organizational environment including the effective integration of applications for increasing distributed processing productivity; application of effective database, spreadsheet and graphics applications to perform analysis and create presentations; and, the effective use of the Internet within the organizational environment to perform research and effectively locate needed information through the use of search engines, metasearch engines, client-based metasearch engines and proprietary database services.

MMBA 612

Introduction to Performance Metric Systems

The concepts of performance metric-based management systems is developed, including the concepts of leading and lagging performance metrics, and the interrelationships between the four major systems in every organization: financial, organizational learning, process, and customer systems. The interrelationship between the Balanced Scorecard and Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria as performance metric systems will be explored. The course will include an integrated project.

MMBA 615

Quality Improvement Principles and Applications

Learners explore the philosophy, principles, and practices of continuous quality improvement through the four lenses of Deming’s system of profound knowledge systems thinking, understanding variation and diversity, practical psychology of leadership and management, and generation and leverage of knowledge. Learners typically complete a mix of projects, readings, cases, and papers, as well as design, implement and evaluate a practical rapid cycle improvement project.

MMBA 625

Organizational Leadership and Corporate Citizenship

The concepts of effective leadership will be developed within the framework of a performance-metric-based organization. Differences in leadership style between traditional and performance-metric-based organizations will be explored. The role of the organization as an effective corporate citizen will be considered. An individual or team-based project will be required.

MMBA 635

Organizational Resource Systems

Students will learn to investigate, synthesize and invoke organizational resources to support the application of performance metrics as a means of attaining continuous quality improvement. Strategic and operational interrelationships across all resource forms (e.g., people, systems, technology, etc.) will be explored in relation to enhancing managerial efficiency and effectiveness. The dynamics of constructive organizational change will be explored from the perspective of employees, partners, collaborators, investors, and customers. A team project(s) is required.

MMBA 640

Project Management

This course examines the role of project management and its use in business and organizations today. Each of the following constituent elements for successful project management is included in the course: defining a project, working with project teams, performing projects budgeting, performing a work breakdown analysis, creating a project schedule, and performing project monitoring and evaluation.

MMBA 665

Information and Analysis Systems

The use of information systems and information technology to support a performance-metric-based information system is developed. Course considerations include the role of database technology and specialized software systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, etc.) in providing these information resources. The management of information systems within the framework of a performance-metric-based management system is considered. An integrating course project is required.

MMBA 705

Business Process Reengineering

The course teaches what business process reengineering is; how it differs from continuous process improvement; and why it is important in business worldwide. Common systems/process analysis and BPR tools are addressed. The implications of information on the BPR process are examined.

MMBA 710

Strategic Planning Systems

This course will present strategic planning processes within the context of a performance-metric-based management philosophy. Course coverage includes implementation and execution of business strategy at the corporate-level, SBU-level, and functional-level. Patterned strategies will be examined along with their associated environmental and resource underpinnings. An appreciation for the concept of ‘sustainable competitive advantage’ will be cultivated. The concept of fact-based strategic decision-making will be introduced. Finally, neo-strategies tracing to globalization and entrepreneurship will be examined.

MMBA 720

Global Business

Introduces the globalization of business including the underlying political, cultural, and economic driving forces. Current international trade tensions and contemporary long-run globalization scenarios will be considered. The International Monetary System of market-based currency exchange and related business issues will be presented. Cultural-specific law and norms affecting marketing administration, operating & finance practices, legal compliance, etc... will be studied to illuminate important managerial considerations. The dynamics of culture and cultural evolution will be examined as forces encouraging global approaches to business.

MMBA 730

Customer and Market Systems and Analysis

The measurement and analysis of customer requirements/needs and customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction are considered in the framework of a performance-metric-based management philosophy. The use of survey instruments and focus groups and the tracking and analysis of this data is emphasized. A hands-on project is required that provides practice and demonstrates the mastery of these topics.

MMBA 760

Process and Value Stream Management Systems

The concept of the value stream and what provides value to the customer is explored. Definitions, concepts, and measures of process quality and quantity are developed. Customer and supplier/partner process strategies are also considered. The course requires a substantial integrating project.

MMBA 799

Integrated Business Experience

This capstone course integrates the seven core areas of the MBA program—performance metrics, human resources, organizational leadership, information systems, strategic planning, customer/market systems, and value stream management. This integration is accomplished through a robust computer simulation of real-world B-to-B competition that includes analysis, modeling competitive outcomes, and decision making.