Pre-term Quantitative Methods (BUS050)
Credits:0
This intensive workshop for incoming students is designed to refresh the basic quantitative tools essential for the successful completion of the program. The course content provides the student with a number of mathematical and statistical tools frequently used in business analysis, marketing research, operations management and finance. Topics include: linear and exponential growth, data analysis and description statistics (mean, median, mode, range, variance, deviation), basic concepts of probability, hypothesis testing, introduction to linear regression, basics of linear programming, compound interest, discounting and calculation of Net Present Value. Topics may change according to the needs of the participating students. The main software used is Microsoft Excel. The course can be waived by placement test.
Effective Communications (BUS051)
Credits:2
This course prepares students to meet the challenge of professional oral communications. Through prepared and impromptu speeches, peer coaching, and lectures, it provides students with the opportunity to develop the necessary skills for effective public speaking, skills that will make them articulate, confident, organized, competent and persuasive speakers. The course exposes students to a variety of communication and presentation styles and modes, helps students develop critical listening skills, and improve their abilities to give, receive, and apply feedback.
Introduction to International Competitive Strategy (BUS300)
Credits:2
This course is intended to develop students’ ability to think strategically about business problems. At the same time it serves as an introduction to the use of the case method. The course is a systematic examination of models and techniques used to analyze a competitive situation within an industry from a strategic perspective. It examines the roles of key players in competitive situations and the fundamentals of analytical and factoriented strategic reasoning. Examples of applied competitive and industry analysis are emphasized. The course examines the different stages involved in making and implementing strategic decisions, defining the problem(s), establishing the criteria (both quantitative and qualitative), designing alternative solutions, and making a decision based on objective criteria and the ease of successful implementation of the solution chosen.
Managing People and Organizations (BUS305)
Credits:3
This course provides an intensive overview of the major concepts in organizational behavior and issues facing contemporary managers. The course approaches management as the processes and techniques used to reach organization goals by working with and through people and other resources. These processes include a study of individual differences, group behavior, organizational culture, job design and job satisfaction, motivation, decisionmaking, power and leadership, and communication. The course makes use of theories that transcend the workplace, such as the psychology of individual and group behavior. The course examines how people influence organizational events and how events within the organization influence people’s behavior. The course uses a combination of conceptual and experiential approaches, including case analyses, videos, simulations, group exercises and class discussions.
Managerial Negotiations (BUS306)
Credits:2
This course introduces students to negotiation skills and practices and improves their abilities to diagnose conflict situations. It provides a conceptual framework to diagnose problems and promote agreements, both outside and inside an organization. Upon completion of this course, students will have a sound understanding of using negotiation and conflict resolution skills in a variety of settings. Course format involves simulated negotiation and experiential exercises, case analysis, discussion, and lecture.
Human Resource Management (BUS307)
Credits:3
The objective of this course is to introduce the student to a general overview of personnel policies and best practices in organizations. The course will focus on human resources from the perspective of the human resource professional. Specific topics to be covered include staffing, training and development, performance evaluation, compensation, employee discipline, work safety/health, and labor/management relations to name a few. This course will rely heavily on case analysis, along with didactic lectures, group discussions, and presentations.
Career Development and Strategies (BUS308)
Credits:1
Drawing upon human resources management and organizational studies and using case studies, this course examines how career paths and systems operate within an organization given the need for coherence between them and the strategy of the organization. The course also introduces students to several skills, tools and techniques required for effective career planning and advancement. The course provides students with the opportunity to practice and improve themselves in the following areas: identifying career goals and paths, dealing with gaps in their critical career and professional skills, professional networking and liaising. Students also examine the challenges and opportunities associated with the application of knowledge and skills learned in the program to their current/future work environments.
Special Topics in Management (BUS309)
Credits:2
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to some of the emerging global trends in management. The course covers concepts and practice not covered by other management courses. The focus will be on areas that are likely to have wide applicability in Armenia and in the region. The primary method of instruction will be to use didactic lectures, case analysis and group presentations.
International Business Management (BUS310)
Credits:3
This course introduces students to fundamental as well as current major topics in international business by focusing on the economic, cultural, social, political and organizational issues raised by the international operations of the firm. The course explores the firm’s motivations for international expansion, its choices of entering foreign markets, and examines the key components involved in operating facilities, strategic positioning and organizational structure in foreign markets. The course also covers the fundamental elements of cross-cultural management and working in an international context by examining the impact of cultural differences in key management activities. The course places a special emphasis on exploring the challenges and opportunities facing Armenian firms in their expansion into the Russian, European and other markets as well as the strategic and operational challenges and opportunities facing multinational firms in the South Caucasus and in the Armenian market, in particular.
Entrepreneurship (BUS311)
Credits:3
The course is designed to explore the complexities of creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture. Concentration is on the impact of innovative behavior and its implication to decision-making. The primary focus of the course is on the behaviors involved in forming new enterprises: recognizing and evaluating opportunities; developing a network of support; building an organization; acquiring resources; identifying customers; estimating demand; selling, writing and presenting a business plan; and exploring the ethical issues entrepreneurs face. The course format includes case studies and discussion, in-class exercises, readings, and guest speakers.
Legal Environment of Business (BUS312)
Credits:2
This course provides students with a basic understanding of how legal, regulatory and political processes affect business strategy and decision making. Readings and lectures provide students with a basic background in the theoretical foundations and practical workings of the two main legal systems of the world, how they evolved and presently work. The course includes a survey of basic rules of criminal law, intentional torts, and negligence; the rules affecting the making and performance of contracts; general contract law as well as specific rules that exist in the sale of goods and merchandise, and in the purchase, ownership and sale of real property; and the choices available for dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, and trial at court.
Corporate Ethics and Responsibility (BUS313)
Credits:2
This course examines contemporary issues in ethical behavior in organizations. Drawing from the fields of philosophy, law, ethics, business and society, and management, the course explores decision dilemmas that require multidisciplinary thinking as it pertains to corporate ethics and responsibility in today’s global marketplace. Emphasis is to practice decision principles that allow students to take into account their own moral principles in making business decisions. This course is taught drawing heavily on the case method along with didactic lectures, group discussions, and group presentations.
Leading Organizational Change (BUS314)
Credits:3
This course provides students with a broad understanding of the theoretical and operational underpinnings of management of change and corporate renewal in four domains: developing a strategic vision, designing new structures and processes, aligning individual motivation with organizational culture, and gaining support for the implementation of change. The course examines the impact of power and influence on decision-making, the politics of change, participative change approaches, reengineering, and organizational adaptation. The course relies heavily on case analysis, along with didactic lectures, group discussions, and presentations.
International Strategic Management (BUS315)
Credits:3
This course provides an opportunity for students to integrate concepts from prior functional courses through the development and implementation of a business strategy. The course format involves lectures, class discussion, comprehensive case studies and an intensive business strategy simulation. The latter requires student teams to formulate and implement strategy for a simulated firm within a highly competitive industry. The course is designed to deepen students understanding of strategy formulation, competitive advantage, rivalry and competition, negotiation, financial control, operational excellence, and team building.
Organizational Leadership (BUS316)
Credits:3
This course will focus on an overview of the fundamental concepts of leadership in today’s global marketplace. The course will serve as an introduction to tools for topics such as strategic thinking, leading change and performance, critical thinking, leading teams and groups, influencing others, conflict resolution and Emotional Intelligence to name a few. The method of instruction for this course will combine didactic lectures, self-assessments, case analysis and group interactions.
Leadership (BUS317)
Credits:2
Leading entails taking risks and working in the face of danger. For some, leading may seem romantic, and others may take leading as means to acquire high positions, authority, supporters/votes or wealth. True leadership though is not about any of those. Exercising leadership requires disrupting the status quo and taking risks, which may endanger a person’s reputation, career and even life. Usually, when the systems and its factions resist changing, people tend to “play it safe”. Those who choose to lead face the danger of being taken out of the game too soon. This course will provide the participants the opportunity to learn how to lead in political and organizational systems where there is chaos and conflict, and which are facing tough adaptive challenges. Being structured on theoretical and practical concepts, the course draws a distinction between authority and leadership, provides diagnostic tools, which will help the participants to understand why organizations and other social systems avoid working on difficult issues and challenges. It also teaches skills enabling the students to effectively intervene in organizational and other social systems, mobilize resources and achieve progress.
Corporate Strategy (BUS318)
Credits:3
The main purpose of the course is to learn skills as a chief strategist of a firm with global and diverse outlook. The course will teach how a good strategist can size up the external environment of a firm in its entirety. Also, the course will concentrate on a firm’s internal activities and assets aimed at attaining a competitive advantage in an external environment. The third distinctive dimension of the course is to learn how to sustain the advantage of a company over time in the face of competitive dynamics. Students’ evaluations include class participation, group presentation and the final exam. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.
Special Topics in Leadership (BUS319)
Credits:2
This course is designed to provide an in-depth examination of contemporary issues in organizational leadership. It is customized for students aspiring to acquire the necessary leadership skills and attributes to successfully compete in leadership roles in today’s global marketplace. Emphasis will be on helping each student become an ethical, effective, and empowered leader while inspiring excellence. The primary teaching method for this course will be case analysis, leadership training and experiential exercises.
Data Analysis for Business Decisions (BUS320)
Credits:3
This course is an introduction to statistical methods and techniques as tools for management decision-making. Specific topics to be covered include: sampling and sampling distributions, parametric and non-parametric statistical inference methods, simple and multiple regression, and forecasting techniques as applied to business and management problems. Students will gain the ability to build forecasting models using a variety of techniques, employing mathematical and statistical models including regression techniques, time series analysis, and business and economic indicators for forecasting. Students will also learn to use various computer software including Excel, SPSS and Access.
Data Mining for Business (BUS321)
Credits:3
We will examine how data analysis technologies can be used to improve decision making. We will study the fundamental principles and techniques of data mining, and we analyze real-world examples and cases to place data-mining techniques in context and to develop data-analytic thinking. We will work “hands-on” with data mining software. As an applied course, the emphasis will be less on the inner working of each method and more on when and how to use each technique and how to interpret results. Students will be graded based on project presentations, homework assignments, midterm and end-term exams. There are three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.
Managerial Economics (BUS322)
Credits:3
This course focuses on the economic decisions made by managers of business firms, and the structures of various market environments within which these decisions are made. The course reviews the application of fundamental concepts, such as opportunity costs, transaction costs and market power as they apply to managerial and individual decisionmaking. In addition, the course covers utility analysis, demand, supply, and cost functions, and applies these models to pricing and vertical integration issues. An introduction to the economics of information and uncertainty is included.
Business Analytics (BUS324)
Credits:2
This is a course on the use of decision models for business analytics. Its main topics include constrained optimization and decision making under uncertainty. The emphasis is on models that are widely used in diverse industries and functional areas, including operations, finance, accounting, and marketing. The course has a twofold purpose. First, it seeks to introduce you to simple models and ideas that provide useful (and often surprising) qualitative insights about a large spectrum of managerial problems. Second, it aims to give you a feeling for the kinds of problems that can be tackled quantitatively, the methods and software available for doing so, and some of the issues involved in gathering the relevant data. Whether or not students explicitly use these decision models in the future, the course will have impact on the way they think about available data and how it can be used to provide more value in management decisions.
Leadership (BUS325)
Credits:3
Leading entails taking risks and working in the face of danger. For some, leading may seem romantic, and others may take leading as means to acquire high positions, authority, supporters/votes or wealth. True leadership though is not about any of those. Exercising leadership requires disrupting the status quo and taking risks, which may endanger a person’s reputation, career and even life. Usually, when the systems and its factions resist changing, people tend to “play it safe”. Those who choose to lead face the danger of being taken out of the game too soon. This course will provide the participants the opportunity to learn how to lead in political and organizational systems where there is chaos and conflict, and which are facing tough adaptive challenges. Being structured on theoretical and practical concepts, the course draws a distinction between authority and leadership, provides diagnostic tools, which will help the participants to understand why organizations and other social systems avoid working on difficult issues and challenges. It also teaches skills enabling the students to effectively intervene in organizational and other social systems, mobilize resources and achieve progress.
Microfoundations of Competitiveness (BUS327)
Credits:3
The course explores the determinants of national and regional competitiveness building from the perspective of firms, clusters, sub-national units, nations, and groups of neighboring countries. It focuses on the sources of national or regional productivity, which are rooted in the strategies and operating practices of locally based firms, the vitality of clusters, and the quality of the business environment in which competition takes place. Through lectures, class discussions and group projects, students will analyze competitiveness at multiple levels – nations, sub-national units and neighboring countries. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.
Economic Policy for Development and Competitiveness (BUS328)
Credits:2
The course combines a macroeconomic view of development and competitiveness and a microeconomic or business-level view. The macroeconomic analysis provides a contextual background for the discussions on the evaluation of business opportunities. Particularly, the course focuses on public policy as a basic element for ensuring national and industry-level competitiveness. The course draws on economic development theory and refers to specific cases, as well as business cases to examine the challenges of equitable economic growth; reviews the role of technology, innovation, public-private partnerships, and entrepreneurship in promoting sustainable economic development; and analyzes public policies affecting poverty and inequality. A substantial part of the analysis is conducted in the Armenian economy context.
Special Topics in Economics (BUS329)
Credits:3
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to some of the emerging global trends in Economics. The course covers concepts and practice not covered by other Economics courses. The focus will be on areas that are likely to have wide applicability in Armenia and in the region.
Financial Management (BUS330)
Credits:3
This course focuses on the firm’s goal to maximize shareholder value. Topics include risk, return and pricing of financial assets, time value of money, investment decisions, capital markets, and cost of capital and corporate financing decisions.
Data, Analysis and Decisions (BUS331)
Credits:3
This course reviews a range of econometric methods that can be used for supporting business and management. Starting with an introduction to business and management decisions that need data analysis, the course will proceed to advanced econometric methods for addressing specific problems stemming either from the nature of the data generation process or from the relationships being examined. The course will develop econometric skills in several ways. First, the course will review numerous econometric models and in each case discuss the type of problems the model is suited for, how to test hypotheses, and the shortcomings of various models. Second, students will be asked to prepare 2 presentations that will introduce a specific problem that a decision maker (manager) is facing (can face) and provide recommendations based on available data and econometric analysis. Third, to assist in the development of data management, modeling, analysis, and interpretative skills, students will use Stata to analyze data. Students will be graded based on group and individual presentations, midterm exam, final report, and class participation. This is a 3 unit elective course, with three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.
Corporate Finance (BUS332)
Credits:3
This course builds upon BUS330 by examining advanced topics in corporate finance including dividend policy, mergers & acquisitions, cost of capital, capital budgeting and financial decision-making. Course concepts are integrated into the standard theories of risk and return, valuation of assets, the role of financial markets, and market structure.
Advanced Corporate Finance (BUS333)
Credits:2
This course builds upon BUS 332 by delving deeper into the theory behind capital budgeting and valuation theory to examine new techniques for making these decisions, such as using option pricing models to make a capital budgeting decision, instead of the traditional net present value. The course covers mergers, leveraged buy-outs, divestitures and financial distress, along with the financial management of non-profit businesses. Additionally, the course examines in some detail the capital structure decision in terms of hybrid financing, and the most current instruments available for long funding of a corporation.
Commercial Banking (BUS334)
Credits:2
This course involves the study of modern commercial bank management, reasons for regulation; economics of banking, risk management including credit and interest rate risk, standards of liquidity, capital and solvency and recent changes in the modern commercial bank environment.
Banking Operations and Simulations (BUS335)
Credits:3
This course offers students a chance to take the theoretical underpinnings of commercial bank management and macroeconomics and apply it directly to operating a bank in a simulated environment. The Stanford Bank Computer Simulation will be enlisted to afford students an opportunity to simulate the managing of a large, metropolitan bank. Based on the economic data provided, students will need to forecast the direction of interest rates, set rates for loans and deposits, set fees for services, open or close branches, allocate the time of the bank’s officers, and make other equally critical, logistical decisions that are in fact made every day by professional bank practitioners. The course will probe in great detail how bank profitability and value are impacted by operational decisions.
Management of Financial Institutions (BUS336)
Credits:3
This course focuses on the study of financial policies and practices of commercial banks, savings and loan associations, pension funds, insurance companies, and other major financial institutions. It will review the current major problems facing senior managers in these financial institutions.
Risk Management (BUS337)
Credits:2
This course provides a broad-based survey of the fundamental risks faced by financial institutions and other firms. These include interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, off-balance sheet risk, technology and operational risk, foreign exchange risk, energy risk, country of sovereign risk, liquidity risk, insolvency risk, model risk, and a myriad of others. Effective management of these risks is central to the performance of any firm. The course explores the various techniques used to identify risk, measure risk, and manage risk. The knowledge gained in basic finance, portfolio management, derivatives, business management, economics, and statistics will be made practical.
Investment Analysis and Management (BUS338)
Credits:3
This course will address theory and practice of investment analysis. Topics include organization of security markets, legal and institutional environment, financial intermediation, security classification and general principles of asset valuation with application to specific securities.
Special Topics in Finance (BUS339)
Credits:2
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to some of the emerging global trends in Finance. The course covers concepts and practice not covered by other Finance courses. The focus will be on areas that are likely to have wide applicability in Armenia and in the region.
International Financial Management (BUS340)
Credits:2
This course approaches financial management within an international context. Topics include international monetary system and financial markets, management of foreign investments, financing for development, foreign exchange markets and risks, international diversification, and global funds.
Financial Accounting (BUS345)
Credits:3
This is a foundation course designed to provide a basic understanding of the theory and practice of accounting, with emphasis upon principles, concepts and controls involved with Financial Accounting. The objective of financial accounting is to collect accurate, systematic, and timely financial data and other financial information, and to compile and consolidate it in an organized and systematic way, according to the principles and rules of accounting, for external reporting purpose.
Managerial Accounting and Control (BUS346)
Credits:2
Managerial Accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, analyzing and communicating financial information needed by management to plan, evaluate and control an organization’s operations. In this course students understand the role of a management accountant in organizations; identify relevant and irrelevant revenues and costs; understand cost-volume-profit analyses; calculate and interpret product costs, construct income statements and identify inventory balances, understand the budget process and responsibility accounting, and understand standard cost systems and production cost variances.
Financial Statement Analysis (BUS348)
Credits:3
This course provides a framework for using financial statements in business analyses. Emphasis is placed on understanding business as a financial system where management makes decisions in three key areas: investment, financing and operations. The course will outline the main financial statements used in the decision-making process and the main profitability and risk ratios used in comparing/assessing companies across different sizes and industries. The course will also include studying the main accounting principles used for compiling financial statements and analyzing qualitative information appearing in the financial statements and, finally, the role of financial Information in Valuation.
Taxation and Business Decisions (BUS350)
Credits:2
Taxation related issues are also studied in another required course, Economic policy for development and competitiveness, and, in order to provide a richer set of choices for students in specialization, we propose the above change. Topics in this course are specific to the Armenian and global taxation, and, given that students acquire general and self-content knowledge in the above mentioned required course, students are better to self-select whether they want to further study peculiarities of taxation.
Cost Accounting (BUS351)
Credits:2
Intense competition in product markets has forced firms to look inward to become more cost-efficient. Tracing various resource costs accurately to products has become increasingly important as product margins are squeezed. Through a number of case studies supplemented by some lectures, this course exposes students to recent advances in cost accounting, and highlights important inputs into the design of cost systems. The cases cover a variety of decision-making settings and illustrate the role of cost information in these settings. Specific topics to be covered include the important characteristics of good costing systems, various cost allocation systems, reporting and the control of scrap/spoilage/rework products, accounting controls for production activities and for decentralized operations, including transfer pricing, customers profitability analysis, sales mix variances and performance measurement, and capital budgeting.
Armenian Taxation (BUS352)
Credits:2
This course focuses on all relevant Armenian Tax issues. Emphasis will be placed on taxes impacting business activities including: profits tax, income tax, VAT, excise tax, property tax, and tax administration. This course has a strong practical element in that students will be required to prepare various types of tax computations and offer advice on tax planning. Comparisons will also be made to tax regimes in developed market economies.
Audit Evaluation & Control (BUS353)
Credits:3
The focus of this course is on independent auditors’ examinations of accounting information systems and related internal controls and evidential matter as a basis for expressing an opinion on financial statements. In this course students will develop a sound understanding of auditing theory and concepts. The rationale and objectives of specific auditing techniques will be emphasized. The focus will be on helping students develop analytical and critical thinking skills. It will also cover professional ethics, internal controls, and International Standards of Auditing.
Advanced Financial Accounting (BUS355)
Credits:3
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the advanced topics such as Business Combinations, Consolidations, Accounting for Multinational Enterprises, Partnership, Governmental Accounting and Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations. At the completion of this course, the student will be able to apply the equity method to accounting for investments; understand the difference between pooling of interest and purchase methods of accounting for investment; prepare consolidated financial statements; prepare and discuss segment reporting; explain the accounting issues, presentation and alternatives relating to foreign current transactions and translations; and explain how governmental and nonprofit accounting differs from for-profit accounting.
International Accounting (BUS357)
Credits:2
This course examines the international dimension of financial reporting and analysis. It provides students with an in-depth look at the multinational enterprise and the preparation and presentation of financial statements in different nations. Topics covered include international corporate taxation, transfer pricing, foreign currency translation, financial disclosure, and international accounting harmonization.
Special Topics in Accounting (BUS359)
Credits:3
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to some of the emerging global trends in Accounting. The course covers concepts and practice not covered by other Accounting courses. The focus will be on areas that are likely to have wide applicability in Armenia and in the region.
Marketing Management (BUS360)
Credits:3
This course is an introduction to the role of marketing within the business firm. Quantitative methods and behavioral theories are utilized. It provides the student an opportunity to apply analytical concepts and techniques developed in psychology, economics, quantitative analysis, accounting, and finance to marketing problems. The course will utilize case studies, and oral and written presentations. Specific topics to be covered include: customer analysis and buyer behavior, market segmentation, market research, distribution channels, product pricing and strategy, pricing, advertising, and sales force management.
Services Marketing (BUS362)
Credits:2
Services marketing is intended to broaden the understanding of how marketing is practiced in the service industry. The course will apply the principles of service marketing to organizations in the private, non-profit and public sectors. Service Marketing is designed to help individuals understand the critical elements in the development of customer satisfaction and service quality in today’s competitive business world.
International Marketing (BUS364)
Credits:2
The international arena is a requirement for any firm that wishes to achieve its maximum growth potential. The main objectives of this course are to present the main approaches to international marketing (from export to global marketing), help students to tackle strategic marketing problems facing international companies, and familiarize students with tools and techniques required in a complex and ever changing environment.
Marketing Research (BUS365)
Credits:3
The objective of this course is to examine marketing research as an information providing activity for the purpose of management decision-making. Students will acquire the skills to examine alternative research designs and their relative strengths and weaknesses; to develop the meaning of measurement and scaling and their application in marketing research; to have a general understanding of the process of obtaining information by surveys of respondents, and to discuss the analysis of data obtained through marketing research Upon successful completion of this course, the students will understand how to develop a research proposal, compose questionnaires, and conduct market data analysis.
Advertising Management (BUS366)
Credits:3
This course is designed to give students the basic understanding of advertising principles and practices. Methods used and effectiveness of various types of advertising will be analyzed. Because our environment has grown increasingly complex and technology is rapidly changing, it is essential that students understand the role played by advertising in our society and the advertising consequences: every principle and practice that stimulates the purchase act.
Special Topics in Marketing (BUS369)
Credits:2
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to some of the emerging global trends in marketing and advertising. The subjects of Armenian market trends are investigated, as well as, global technology and developments which then are applied to the country’s transitional business techniques. Different topics will be covered.
Special Topics in Marketing: Strategic Marketing (BUS370)
Credits:2
It is an integrative course designed to provide an executive perspective of strategy. This course focuses on making and analyzing complex decisions to describe the firm’s 38 _x000D_ strategies for long-term survival and growth in competitive markets. Techniques for analysis of environmental conditions and trends, opportunities and threats, and resource strengths and limitations are examined. The primary method of instruction will be case analysis.
Measurement Issues in Marketing (BUS372)
Credits:2
The objective of this course is to acquaint student will the application of various multivariate techniques to specific marketing problem areas. Students will learn how to apply factor analysis, discriminant analysis, cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, and conjoint analysis to develop segmentation, product development, pricing and advertising models.
Innovation Marketing (BUS373)
Credits:2
Students will learn about the wisdom acquired over many years regarding the managerial practice in new product development, innovation management, and launching of new products in the market. By the end of the course students are expected to be learn about the innovation process, how to create a successful innovation, the process of design and marketing new products, how to bring an existing product, service or technology into the market, and how state of the art innovation analytic methods can reduce risks and improve the possibilities of market success.
Competition Law (BUS375)
Credits:3
This course studies the relevant markets from the competition law perspectives. It Identifies and describes the ways by which IPR violations and enforcement may constitute anti-competitive practices and explains the limits on commercial communications in terms of misleading and discrediting. The course describes main types of regulation of unilateral and collective anti-competitive practices, mergers and acquisitions, as well as explains key challenges of anti-trust enforcement (including cross-border situations). The course will explore the rationale behind each land-mark case of the EU and US antitrust law and highlight the differences of regulation in the EU and US regimes. Student will learn about anti-trust regulations and enforcement practices, aimed at increasing competitiveness without engaging in anti-competitive conduct.
Venture Capital Management (BUS377)
Credits:2
This course on Venture Capital (VC) management provides knowledge and skills necessary to be part of a VC/Acceleration program team, as well as critical insights for those who want to engage in startup business development. The course has both lecture component (involving also guest speakers from the startup ecosystem) as well as interactive assignments related to real companies. By successfully completing this course the students are expected to develop knowledge and skills to analyze venture deals, actively participate in due diligence, deliver presentations on venture investing. Instructor led discussions and lectures, and assessment by projects, presentations, and exams.
Business Intelligence (BUS378)
Credits:2
This course provides an introduction to the main concepts of Business Intelligence (BI). It aims to supply the necessary skillset for querying and reporting data, working with databases and using dashboards for visualization. Leading BI tools will be introduced during the course. Multidimensional analysis of the business data will be conducted through Online Analytical Processing cubes (OLAP). Business performance management problems will be addressed through descriptive analytics, and predictive models will be applied whenever appropriate.
Operations & Process Management (BUS380)
Credits:2
The focus of this course will be on the quantitative aspects of the elements, which contribute to the effective and efficient operations of an enterprise. Emphasis will be equally placed on the means for attaining organizational objectives for both service and manufacturing oriented entities. Topical areas will be the planning for and management of services and/or products, the design of processes, facility location and layout, forecasting, scheduling, and quality control.
Management of Information Resources (BUS381)
Credits:2
This course is designed to make the students knowledgeable about the fundamentals underlying the design, implementation, control, evaluation, and strategic use of modern, computer-based information systems for business data processing, office automation, information reporting, and decision-making. The course focuses on using and managing information technologies to derive business value and to secure a competitive advantage.
Supply Chain Management (BUS382)
Credits:2
This course focuses upon the strategic importance of supply chain management. The purpose of the course is to design and manage business- to-business to retail supply chain purchasing and distribution systems, and to formulate an integrated supply chain strategy that is supportive of various corporate strategies. New purchasing and distribution opportunities for businesses and inter/intra company communications systems designed for creating a more efficient marketplace are explored.
Digital Commerce (BUS384)
Credits:2
This course covers e-commerce applications, methodologies, and services that address business solutions needed for electronic procurement, supplier management, and customer relationship management. Real-life examples and case studies are examined to provide the student with working knowledge of constructing an E-Business, Business and Revenue Models, E-Marketplaces, Internet auctions, Internet and Web Programming, Legal Issues and E-Commerce /Digital Commerce strategy.
Project Management (BUS385)
Credits:2
In this course students learn project management skills that are essential for current or future managers regardless of their career concentration. Some of the topics covered include life cycle models; project selection; project monitoring and control; planning with uncertainty; managing scope, risk, quality, time and costs; procurement; human resources and communications; the critical chain method; and managing multiple projects. It also discusses commercial project management software and how to overcome its limited functionality to address the requirements of managing risky, complex projects in practice.
Managing Companies at the Base of the Pyramid (BUS388)
Credits:2
This is a General Management course aimed at graduate students – potential entrepreneurs, managers and executives – who are interested in exploring new market-based approaches to poverty alleviation and addressing the needs of marginalized part of the population, especially in developing countries such as Armenia. The course integrates concepts of non-profit management, microfinance, inclusive growth and international business to stimulate the analytical thinking and leadership skills necessary for launching and managing Base-of- the-Pyramid (BoP) ventures. Through combination of lectures, international and local case studies, readings, videos and guest sessions, the course will engage students in discussions aimed at: 1) identifying the opportunities related to innovative perspectives on serving BoP markets; and 2) developing the strategies, business models, managerial practices and partnerships required to productively explore those opportunities. 2 hours of instructor-led class time per week
Experimental and Survey Design (BUS389)
Credits:2
This course will provide the students with strong background in experimental and survey design through structured lectures and classroom discussions. Given the latest developments in behavioral sciences, the course will also illustrate how behavioral/experimental methods can be applied to understand the decisions of individuals in such aspects as savings, tax compliance, investments and the like. Third the course will also tackle how experimental/behavioral methods can be used to study aspects of organizational structure and economic performance. Students will be evaluated based on 1) individual and group participation in the class, 2) individual written critique on the papers assigned as home reading and the discussion of the critique in the classroom, 3) a designed survey or experiment based on a research question agreed with the instructor.
Entrepreneurship (BUS390)
Credits:2
The purpose of this integrative practicum is to understand how new business opportunities are identified and commercialized. The course structure follows the evolutionary process of a new venture: Idea assessment, organization formation, capitalization, growth, and exit. The course integrates much of what students have learned in their first year courses and challenges them to apply the newly acquired knowledge and tools to a real business situation. The course combines theoretical and applied learning, including lectures, guest speakers, traditional case studies and “live” new venture projects. Under the guidance of the faculty and with the support of mentors, student teams take a multidisciplinary approach to the preparation and presentation of a business plan for a real new venture. In the process, students are expected to make difficult business choices with less than perfect information, dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty. Students conclude their project with an oral presentation in addition to a full written report
Start-up Management (BUS391)
Credits:2
This course aims to provide the necessary skillset for establishing and running a_x000D_ successful modern startup. It focuses on best practices of Silicon Valley and covers the fundamentals,_x000D_ which can establish a base for executing all stages of startup creation, idea selection, measurement,_x000D_ product building, user acquisition, innovation management, execution, fundraising, and choosing an_x000D_ exit strategy. By the end of the course, students will be able to choose ideas to work on, form teams,_x000D_ incorporate, develop the product, fundraise and commercialize their ideas. The course structure is_x000D_ case-based with guest speakers from Silicon Valley, as well as local entrepreneurs with recent case_x000D_ discussions based on first-hand experience. The final projects are expected to be high quality ideas_x000D_ that can be implemented/funded further.
Strategic Project Consulting (BUS392)
Credits:4
The third-year integrative practicum combines theoretical and applied learning, including lectures, guest speakers, traditional case studies and “live” projects that requires student teams apply classroom learning to complex, real-world business challenges for partner organizations. Under the guidance of the faculty member(s) and with the support of mentors, student teams develop practical problem-solving and consulting skills while their partners – ranging from multinational corporations to local nonprofit organizations – benefit from the student’s experience and knowhow. Students are expected to integrate and apply the knowledge and tools acquired in the previous two years of MBA studies and in their professional career to a real business situation; enhance and develop their project management and consulting skills; and hone their leadership skills. Students conclude their project with an oral presentation in addition to a full written report.
Business Policy and Strategy (BUS395)
Credits:4
This FTMBA course provides an opportunity for students to cap and integrate concepts from prior functional courses through the development and implementation of a business strategy. The course is designed to deepen students understanding of strategy formulation, competitive advantage, rivalry and competition, negotiation, financial control, operational excellence, and team building. The course format involves lectures, class discussion, comprehensive case studies, an intensive business strategy simulation, and a consulting project. The strategy simulation requires multifunctional teams of students to formulate and implement strategy for a simulated firm within a highly competitive industry. The consulting project module challenges students with real-world problems faced by partner organizations in specific functional areas. Student teams, formed according to their selected MBA concentration tracks, work with the functional managers and senior executives at these organizations to develop applicable solutions. Students conclude their project with an oral presentation in addition to a full written report.
MBA Capstone (BUS396)
Credits:4
The MBA Capstone course provides an opportunity for students to cap and integrate concepts from prior functional courses through the development and implementation of business models. The course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of strategy formulation, competitive advantage, rivalry and competition, and strategy execution (negotiation, financial control, operational excellence, and team building). Throughout the course, the teams will work to develop a written project under the mentorship of their advising instructor. During instructor-led 4 weekly class meetings (equals 1 credit), students will review key components of research methods. Afterwards, teams start working on their research project under the faculty supervision. At the end of the course, student teams will present their projects to faculty and peers and often to business leaders and knowledgeable professionals. Students’ grades will be based upon the quality of the oral presentation and written reports, proficiency in each of the functional areas of business, ability to make strategic and analytical decisions, and competence working both independently and collaboratively.
Independent Study (BUS399)
Credits:3
Pre-term Quantitative Methods (BUS50)
Credits:1.68
Effective Communications (BUS51)
Credits:2