EMBA Course Descriptions

The title captures the emphasis on a strategic framework for understanding the EMBA curriculum and practical strategies for thinking and working well as teams of executives with (present or future) leadership responsibilities. The course provides the following:

• Time to get to know and work with each other.
• Opportunities to develop relationships with multiple EMBA program faculty.
• Key skills and knowledge needed to function effectively in the EMBA program and in the workplace.
• A framework, rooted in corporate strategy, for understanding the relevance and interrelations among the various subject areas studied during the course of the program.

This course surveys concepts underlying financial accounting and external reporting and provides an understanding of accounting methods, standards, and terminology so that students can interpret and evaluate financial statements. Students are encouraged to participate in class and group discussions involving contemporary investment issues and decisions.

The course assesses environmental, institutional, industrial, strategic, and organizational features of globalization and business. The class considers several frameworks that guide managers’ understanding of the idea of globalization and business, reviews how managers interpret the operational challenges and opportunities of globalization, and discusses the implications of globalization to professional development. The purpose of the course is to study the phenomena of globalization and business in ways that help managers clarify the basis for their success and identify ways to sustain it.

This course emphasizes quality management primarily via statistical process control. It focuses on data analysis for the purpose of measurement, inference, quality and productivity improvement. Descriptive statistics, graphical analysis, exploratory data analysis, applications of common distributions, and models such as regression are covered.

This course provides a business-oriented overview of microeconomics and macroeconomic theory. Approximately two-thirds of the course will focus on microeconomics and one-third on macroeconomics.

The course develops a knowledge base and requisite skills for managing individual, group, and organizational processes through the use of diagnostic models, cases, and/or experiential resources.

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of the finance function with an emphasis on the decision-making techniques relevant to financial and nonfinancial managers. Topics include valuation, risk and return, capital budgeting, cost of capital, financial analysis and planning, and working capital management.

This course deals with management of marketing functions to modern profit and nonprofit enterprise. The major purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the marketing management process. It is intended to help students:

• Develop an awareness of the major type of marketing problems faced by an organization, with emphasis on sound analytical approaches to effective decisions.
• Analyze critically the task of marketing under contemporary conditions and to examine the major functions that comprise the marketing task.
• Evaluate various types of policies that can be employed in guiding the marketing activity.

This course includes materials relating to, but not limited to, decision analysis tools, mathematical programming, operations strategy, process management, planning and inventory management concepts.

This course includes topics relating to ethics in organizations and problems and challenges in dealing with demands of the external environment including global issues.

Using a series of leadership and managemetn assessments, including feedback from peers and direct report, participants will gain an objective view of both their leadership strenghts and developmental needs. Working with an experienced executive coach, in several one on one sessions, each participant will develop a customized leadership development plan which they will place into action over the next several months. Emphasis will be placed on helping people understand the dynamics of personal chance and how to move from awareness to action.

Several peer coaching sessions will be included to help individuals learn how to receive and give effective developmental feedback as well as help reinforce their personal change efforts. The course will provide an overview of leadership, using both research and best practices, to help each person develop their own unique leadership brand.

A management control system refers to the set of procedures, tools, performance measures and systems that organizations use to influence and direct managerial behavior in order to accomplish the organization’s strategic objectives. The impact of information technology (IT) on the design and implementation of these systems as well as the strategic use of technology to transform the organization and maintain competitive advantage is stressed. Extensive use is made of cases.

This course emphasizes total organization function and performance in a global environment. It examines general management responsibilities for determining objectives and future strategies and seeking commitment for their implementation, and it integrates functional course concepts to enhance decision-making and communication skills through individual and group analysis of specific companies.

The course examines major policy-making areas in corporate finance and the impact of alternative policies on the value of the firm. Emphasis is placed on strengthening financial decision-making skills. Advanced topics include capital investment policy, financing and capital structure policies, dividend policy, and corporate control.

This course examines selected topics of current interest in various areas of finance, including corporate financial management, investment analysis and portfolio management, or financial institutions and markets.

International business issues are woven throughout the Executive MBA curriculum. The final semester of the program features a 10-day international study abroad experience. The destination of the trip is determined each year by the Executive Education Committee based on student interest, contemporary business issues and world events, logistics, company contacts, and international academic institution relationships. During the trip, the class will visit businesses in one or more countries, meeting with top executives of both local and multinational corporations. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with local government officials and professors from local business schools or one of our international partner institutions. University of Delaware faculty who accompany the students will help connect the students’ experiences to academic theory and business practices. Students return with a deeper appreciation and understanding of conducting business in foreign countries.