Undergraduate Courses

BUSI 221

New Venture Development

This course presents factors to be considered by those interested in the ownership and management of small business enterprises. Includes who should be an entrepreneur, guidelines for starting a new business, basic legal considerations, and approaches for obtaining credit and capital. Revised course includes staffing, purchasing, supplier relations, cash flow management, and managerial skills needed to run any business or corporate department.

Topics (outline)

Project management skills for identifying all tasks necessary to launch a business
Industry financial ratios legal entity
Competitive marketing comparison & differential advantage
Pricing strategies
Facilities planning: space & lease requirements
Basic bookkeeping & operating forms
Payroll & insurance obligations
Job descriptions & fringe benefits
Managing people
“Soft” management skills
Inventory management & vendor relations
Valuing your business
Submission of launch plan
Submission of final business plan

Course Learning Outcome

Demonstrate project management skills
Prepare a business plan suitable for presenting to a bank loan officer for commercial financing
Identify the net profit ratio in their respective industry & how to extrapolate that into total sales needed to achieve their profit goal
Demonstrate primary marketing research by analyzing their current, existing competition for price, product line, distribution, & promotion.
Demonstrate how their pricing strategy will provide a differential advantage over the competition& allow achievement of their profit goal.
Apply facilities planning skills by hands-on exercises
Apply skills for basic bookkeeping & operating forms preparation
Analyze the 18 calculations necessary to process a single payroll & the withholding requirements for IRS & [state] department of taxation
Analyze workers compensation insurance requirements that are mandatory in each state.
Demonstrate the ability to write qualified job descriptions & to understand the costs & long term responsibilities of fringe benefits.
Demonstrate an understanding of how to manage people & create a motivating environment.
Demonstrate their use of ‘soft’ management skills.
Identify & prepare for inventory management decisions & primary / secondary vendor relations.
Calculate & demonstrate their ability to value their business.

3 Credits

BUSI 324

Introduction to Logistics and Transportation

The course studies the logistics and transportation industry as part of the growing emphasis on distribution technologies. Introduces basic understandings of the function areas of logistics management and their interrelationships and how transportation and distribution play a significant role in the success of a business.

Pre-requisite: Third year status or permission of the instructor.

Topics (outline):

Logistics' role in the economy and the organization
Supply chain
Customer service
Order processing and information systems
Inventory management
Managing materials flow
Transportation
Warehousing
Materials handling, computerization, and packaging

Course Learning Outcome

Analyze a basic logistical process using descriptive statistics and flowcharting
Explain the role of information systems in order processing and materials management
Explain the importance of customer service and discuss ways to measure customer satisfaction
Analyze basic inventory scenarios
Discuss strategies and trends in procurement activities
Explain the relationship between logistics and transportation in managing materials and product flow
Describe strategies and trends in materials handling and packaging
Explain the impact of computerization and information technology on logistics practices

3 Credits

BUSI 409

Core Concepts of Project Management

Focuses on the skills of project management and is organized around the project management life cycle, providing students with basic project management concepts: Projects, Project Manager, Organizational Structure, Team Make-up, Planning, Scheduling, Budgeting, PERT/CPM, Resources, Monitoring & Control, and Termination. Introduces the Framework and 9 Knowledge Areas of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®Guide) as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Course not intended for those students planning to take advanced course work in project management and may not be substituted for 0681-410 Introduction to Project Management. Students should have elementary management experience.

Pre-requisite: MGMT-160 World of Business or MGMT-215 Organizational Behavior; STAT-145 Introduction to Statistics I or MTSC-311 Business Statistics; or permission of instructor.

Topics (outline)

World of project management
Selecting projects
The project manager
The project in the organizational structure
Project management team
Project planning (scope and WBS)
Scheduling the project (network techniques, PERT, and CPM)
Resource allocation
Budgeting the project
Monitoring and information systems (earned value analysis)
Project control
Project evaluation
Project termination
Trends in project management
Presenting the complete project plan

Course Learning Outcome

Describe the unique nature of projects and the way many organizations utilize projects.
Apply financial techniques and simulation tools to assess project risk
Apply the fundamental concepts and techniques embodied in project management.
Recognize the project management Framework and apply the 9 Knowledge Areas.
Synthesize discrete groups of information into a meaningful composite.
Experience the behavioral facets of Project Management.
Create a comprehensive Project Plan for a “real life” project.
Appraise problematic project management situations to determine the best solutions.

3 Credits

BUSI 410

Project Management

Addresses project management from a multidisciplinary perspective, covering the fundamental nature of and techniques for managing a broad range of projects—public, commercial, and non-profit. Topics include Project Environment, Planning, Conflict Resolution, Budgeting, Scheduling, Resource Allocation, Monitoring/Controlling, and Project Termination. Addresses the behavioral and quantitative facets of project management. Incorporates the use of spreadsheets, project management software, and simulation for risk analysis software. Introduces the Framework and 9 Knowledge Areas of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®Guide) as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Students should have elementary management experience.

Pre-requisite: MGMT-160 World of Business or MGMT-215 Organizational Behavior; STAT-145 Introduction to Statistics I or MTSC-311 Business Statistics; or permission of instructor.

Topics (outline)

Projects in contemporary organizations
Strategic management and project selection
The project manager
Negotiation and the management of conflict
The project in the organizational structure
Project activity planning (scope and WBS)
Budgeting and cost estimation
Scheduling (network techniques, PERT, and CPM)
Resource allocation
Monitoring and information systems (Earned Value Analysis)
Project control
Project auditing
Project termination
Trends in project management
Presenting the complete project plan

Course Learning Outcome

Describe the unique nature of projects and the way many organizations utilize projects.
Apply financial techniques and simulation tools to assess project risk
Apply the fundamental concepts and techniques embodied in project management.
Recognize the project management framework and apply the 9 knowledge areas.
Integrate discrete groups of information into a meaningful composite.
Recognize the behavioral facets of project management.
Complete a comprehensive project plan for a “real life” project.
Appraise problematic project management situations to determine the best solutions.

3 Credits

BUSI 411

Advanced Project Management

Course covers the advanced project management topics necessary for implementation of and excellence in project management. It deals with turning the principles and theory of project management into practice. Addresses the best practices for project management in the world; project portfolio management and ROI; the project office and Six Sigma; project risk management and integrated projects; corporate cultures, behavior, and cultural failures; informal, adaptive, and extreme project management; and critical chain project management. Integrates aspects of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide).

Pre-requisite: Project Management (BUSI-410); or permission of the instructor.

Topics (outline)

Understanding Advanced Project Management
Project Management Methodologies and Maturity Model
Integrated Processes and Project Risk Management
Culture
Training and Education and ROI
Informal Project Management and the Small Project
Behavioral Excellence
The Project Office
Six Sigma and the PMO
Project Portfolio Management and ROI
Adaptive and Extreme Project Management
Critical Chain Project Management
Global Project Management
Mergers, Acquisitions, and Procurement
Presenting the Case Study

Course Learning Outcome

Apply advanced project management skills necessary for achieving excellence in project management.
Describe the best practices around the world for project management.
Assemble discrete groups of information into a meaningful composite.
Recognize the behavioral facets of project management.
Assess a significant completed project for causes of failure and devise corrective actions.
Assess global projects to determine the best practices.

3 Credits

BUSI 412

International Project Management

With the increasing frequency of globalization, mergers, and acquisitions, international projects are becoming more prevalent and approaching the norm for many organizations. This course addresses a wide range of international projects—based in different industries and multiple countries. It deals with cultural and social differences within firms; cultural and social differences among countries and within countries; languages and dialect variations; different management practices and structures; religious practices; legal, regulatory, and reporting requirements; technology and infrastructure differences in different regions; and time zone differences. Incorporates aspects of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide).

Pre-requisite: Advanced Project Management (BUSI-411); or permission of the instructor.

Topics (outline)

The international project and global factors
The global project management framework
Cross-cultural collaboration and global project leadership
Trust building, conflict resolution, and coaching over distance
Stakeholders and communication channels
Meeting rules, templates, and global creativity
Global communication strategy and techniques
Global project structure
Selection of international human resources
Global program and project offices
Organizational support
Global collaborative networks
Implementation and adoption of collaborative tools
Implementing the global project management framework
Presenting the complete global project plan

Course Learning Outcome

Explain the unique characteristics and constraints of an international project.
Analyze the business challenges a project manager faces when conducting a global project in a given country.
Assemble discrete groups of information into a meaningful composite
Recognize the behavioral facets of global project management
Complete a realistic Project Plan for a typical international project.
Appraise global project problems to determine the best solutions.

3 Credits