• To see how each of these electives fits into a Scheller College of Business concentration or certificate, check out concentration and certificate requirements at http://mgt.gatech.edu/programs/under/current/index.html.
• For information about assigned course professors, days/times and classroom locations, go to www.oscar.gatech.edu. Titles for Special Topics courses (4803) are listed on the second line of course title in OSCAR.
• The electives listed below are not offered every term.

The list may change slightly during registration. Some courses have pre-requisites, so please check Oscar before you register.

3076 - Investments

The course is divided into three sections. The first begins with an overview of the institutional setting, including an introduction to the process of investment planning for both short- and long-term needs; a description of the essential characteristics of various investment vehicles; the organization and operation of the securities markets; a critical survey of the more important sources of investment information (with emphasis on those available in the Georgia Tech Library as well as on the Internet); an examination of the concepts of return and risk, the ways in which they can be measured, and their significance in terms of investor objectives; and closes with an introduction to the principles of optimal portfolio formation and administration.

The second section is devoted in its entirety to an analysis of the major types of securities available to investors. It begins with an examination of common stock, moves to a consideration of fixed return securities, and concludes with a look at preferred stock and convertible securities. The principal emphasis throughout is on fundamental security analysis with its stress on principles and techniques of security valuation; however the student is also introduced to the nature and essentials of technical security analysis. The concept of efficient markets is also examined in this section.

Three specialized topics are included in the final section of the course. They consist of a study of techniques designed to monitor the performance of a portfolio, an examination of mutual funds and the role they can play in an investment program, and finally an introduction to options, including rights, warrants, puts and calls. This later topic is intended to serve as an introduction to the elective course in Derivative Securities (MGT 3084) which those students particularly interested in this subject may choose to take.

3079 - Management of Financial Institutions

The objective of this course is to introduce the students to the role of bank and non-bank financial intermediaries and the management of their operations. The course will provide an introduction to the various kinds of financial institutions, discuss their operations and highlight their differences from other forms of corporations.

The main focus of the course is to discuss the various risks faced by financial institutions and a detailed analysis of the various tools and instruments used to manage these risks. Special emphasis will be placed on the valuation of various fixed income securities which play a major role in the operation of the financial intermediaries.

The course is structured into three parts: (a) introduction of financial institutions, (b) measurement of the various risks faced by these institutions, and (c) management and hedging of these risks. Areas of asset securitization, off-balance-sheet financial activities, and international financing and operations will also be covered.

3310 - Marketing Research

This course is designed to introduce you to the concepts, methods, and applications of marketing research. Basically, the role of marketing research in the business world is to help marketing managers make sound decisions. Thus, the various concepts and techniques you learn in this class will help you develop and carry out marketing research projects and implement findings in order to improve marketing practices.

This course has an applied orientation; therefore, you will be expected to participate in discussions of class materials, cases, and current events. Also, you must be prepared to use what you learned from the basic marketing management course and the introductory statistics course, both theoretical and practical components, and apply this knowledge to designing and conducting a marketing research project and interpreting marketing research data.

3510 - Management of Technology

This course focuses on analysis of the challenges associated with managing a firm's resources (technology, work force, materials, information, knowledge) for long-term competitive advantage. Particular emphasis is placed on planning under conditions including rapid technological innovation (in products and processes), international competition, and changing markets. Specific topics include positioning strategies, innovation and diffusion, technology strategy, technology transfer, performance measurement, technology justification, and implementation of new technology.

Students are typically exposed to cases in actual manufacturing and service industry domains, readings from publications such as the Harvard Business Review (deals with management practice), and leading research in academic journals such as Administrative Science Quarterly, Management Science, and Production and Operations Management.

3606 - International Business Law

Previously taught as MGT 4803 (International Business Law). No credit allowed for both MGT 3606 and MGT 4803 (International Business Law). International Business Law is designed to introduce students to the legal environment of international trade and private commercial transactions. Specific areas of study will include the legal environment of international trade and business, the regulation of U.S. trade, the GATT, import and export regulation, customs law, regional trade agreements, international contracting, intellectual property rights protections and licensing, and the sale of services. The emphases of the course are recognition of legal problems and the discovery and application of appropriate principles of international and domestic law that may assist in resolving these problems.

3609 - Legal Aspects of Real Estate

(Previously taught as MGT 4803 (Legal Aspects of Real Estate). No credit allowed for both MGT 3609 and MGT 4803 (Legal Aspects of Real Estate). This course introduces students to legal considerations in real estate transactions and land use planning. Students will become familiar with the nature and scope of real estate, the rights of others in such property and types of ownership. Students will study aspects of transactions for the sale, purchase and lease of real estate, including the retention of agents, the preparation of sales contracts and leases, the procurement of title insurance and financing and the conduct of closings. Additionally, students will become familiar with legal principles governing the regulation of real estate and land use planning, including the rights and duties of landowners and occupants and the impact of zoning and environmental laws. The emphases of the course are issue recognition and the resolution of such issues through application of legal principles. Anticipating and expecting various legal issues which will invariably impact an entrepreneurial venture can save you valuable time and money and assist you in avoiding mistakes. Being strategically prepared to address these issues will cause you to better execute when these issues arise.

4010 - Business Taxation

The central objective of this course is to give you an overview of the federal income tax system as it relates to business activities. This course examines the basics of income taxation as it relates to multiple entities. This course will provide the necessary tax background for a variety of accounting, financial, and managerial careers.

The course will also help you prepare for several qualifying examinations in accounting and finance such as: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The course will take a tax analysis and planning approach. The basic concepts of federal income taxation will be covered through lecture and problem solving.

4015 - Advanced Managerial Accounting

This course examines case studies in managerial accounting. Some of the topics discussed are costing systems, job-order versus process cost systems, absorption versus variable costing, activity-based cost activity-based management, service center allocation, transfer pricing, and non-financial performance measurement.

4026 - Financial Reporting & Analysis I

The objectives of this course are to gain a thorough understanding of fundamental accounting techniques and to explore the accounting theory underlying such techniques. Course coverage includes assets (most of the left-hand side of the balance sheet), revenue recognition, stockholders’ equity, and earnings (income items).

4027 - Financial Report & Analysis II

This course is a continuation of MGT 4026, Financial Reporting and Analysis I. The topical coverage of MGT 4027 includes financial reporting and issues of financial analysis associated with: the statement of cash flows (more advanced that the 4026 coverage), income taxes (more advanced than that in 4026), leases, pensions, and investments.

A distinctive feature of this course, as well as MGT 4026, is the joint attention given to (1) developing the ability to apply generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the topical areas identified as well as (2) drawing out the implications of the financial reporting for financial analysis. The subjects of financial reporting and analysis are treated on an integrated basis. The broad framework of financial quality is employed to draw out some of the financial-analytical implications of various financial reporting topics. The implications of financial reporting for a range of financial ratios are also considered. While an equity-investor orientation is common for intermediate / advanced financial courses, this course employs a more creditor / lender perspective. This has the benefit of broadening the scope of the analysis for most students as well as drawing on the comparative strengths and experience of your instructor.

4028 - Financial Reporting and Analysis of Technology Firms

Financial Reporting and Analysis of Technology Firms focuses on financial reporting and analysis issues facing firms from a broad range of industries whose common bond is research and development of new technology, including the application of technology to new or enhanced products and services. The course is presented in three interrelated parts; each part seeks to fulfill one of three overall course objectives.

Part 1 clarifies the accounting and reporting standards that are particularly troublesome for technology firms. Standards that guide the reporting of activities of technology firms are sometimes arbitrary and are often misunderstood.

Part 2 is devoted to cash flow analysis.

In Part 3 attention turns to identifies financial warnings, available in the financial statements and notes that can be useful in anticipating future declines in corporate earnings and cash flow.

4041 - Auditing & Financial Control Systems

The course is designed to provide the student with the insight about auditing: what is it, why it is important, what it entails, and why users of financial statements should care about it. The course is designed for students interested in various aspects of accounting and finance. Topics covered in the course include the demand for assurance services, management fraud, the legal liability of public accounting firms, an overview of the audit process, and ethical issues facing accountants.

4052 - Systems Analysis and Design

This course is on the development life cycle of business information systems. It covers analysis and design tools and methodology. Modern corporate information systems support both an organization’s highly structured, operational activities (e.g. inventories, sales marketing, personnel) as well as the ad hoc, complex business decision problems (e.g. new product introduction, plant expansion, downsizing, stock offerings). Without intelligently designed information systems, an organization will have a difficult time being competitive in the market.

The overall course objective is to provide you with the concepts and skills you need to analyze and design information systems. The course concentrates on the front-end of the systems development process while only lightly touching upon the development of computer programs and their testing and maintenance. Therefore the focus will be on understanding systems analysis and design from a managerial viewpoint, not a computer science perspective.

4053 - Business Data Communications

The birth of the inter-network spawned a rash of business opportunities. However, newly introduced data communication technologies have introduced the undesired challenges for firms such as the restructuring organization, process redesign, personnel training, and strategic decisions of adapting new technologies. Some will overcome these challenges, others may struggle.

Who will add significant efficiency, productivity, and profitability in their organization? How do we take advantage of the data communication technologies? How does the data communication work? In this course, we address these issues. We begin with understanding the basic knowledge of data communication – Wired and Wireless. Then, we consider security, electronic payment, trend of telecommunication industry, and managerial issues – Managing IT organization, Cost Saving, M&A, IT outsourcing, etc.

4057 - Business Process Analysis and Design

This is a course on business processes and the underlying software infrastructure that supports them. Although the concept of business processes is deceptively simple, the complexity lies in the details and the myriad of different ways in which companies structure these processes. In a modern organization, business processes are supported by a complex software infrastructure (partly procured and partly developed in-house) that interlinks, automates and increases their efficiency. The emphasis of this course is on this software infrastructure and its relationships to business processes and organizational structure, and how firms can manage these relationships most effectively.

While technology is the facilitator of business process and organizational change, our focus will not be on specific technologies or programming per se. Rather, our focus will be on the effective management of these technologies to help firms achieve competitive advantage. In particular, we will view information technology (IT) as a general purpose technology (GPT), and to make most effective use of this GPT managers must make complementary investments in process, organization, and employee training. Through better management of IT and its organizational complements, a firm can create IT capabilities that give it an advantage over competitors.

One component of this course is the use of an ERP simulation game. There are three primary objectives to the use of the game: (1) to understand how to use the transactional data in ERP systems to make better business decisions; (2) to develop a hands-on understanding of the concepts underlying enterprise systems; and (3) to experience the benefits of enterprise integration firsthand. You will be placed in a situation in which you must run a business using an actual ERP system (SAP R/3). Teams of five students will operate a firm and must interact with supplier and customer teams by sending and receiving orders, delivering products, and completing the whole cash-to-cash cycle.

Using standard reports, groups must analyze the transactional data from ERP systems to make business decisions and ensure the profitability of their operations.

4058 - Database Management

This is an introductory course on database technology. The purpose of this course is to introduce database technology and provide hands-on experience in designing and developing databases to meet organizational goals through instruction in database management and design. The scope of instruction will include database concepts, data modeling, relational database development, SQL, the application of popular database systems software, and some additional topics on more advanced database technology and applications.

4066 - Corporate Restructuring

This interdisciplinary course examines the finance, economics, law, and business strategies that underlie major corporate restructuring transactions. These transactions include: mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, leveraged buyouts, divestitures, spin-offs, equity carve-outs, liquidations and reorganizations. The course seeks to give students an understanding of the economic underpinnings of corporate acquisitions, addressing such issues as the sources of acquisition value and managerial incentives to engage in or resist acquisition. Cases will be used to integrate theoretical ideas and their practical applications. The students will learn to use some databases to carry out valuation analysis.

4067- Financial Markets: Trading and Structure

The course focuses on liquidity, market structure and trading. In equity markets around the world, investors are increasingly concerned with controlling transaction costs, and innovative trading technologies have been introduced. In this context, attention is given to the efficiency of trading systems and market centers, the impact of computer technology on markets and trading, the role of intermediaries, and regulatory actions on market structure issues. The course examines a number of alternative market structures in terms of their economic and operational underpinnings. Simulation software is used to provide hands-on experience in making tactical trading decisions in different market structures.

Computer Simulations: Simulation software (TraderEx) will be used in the course for in-class demonstrations and homework assignments. When using the simulation, you will enter orders and /or quotes into a computer-driven market that generates order flow and that responds directly to your orders. You will see your results in real-time and analyze them after play. Auction, dealer, and hybrid markets are simulated. The simulation should deepen your awareness of what trading involves and sharpen your trading skills.

4070 - International Finance

The objective of this course is to learn the principles of International Finance and apply these to the study of corporate finance. While the focus is on International Corporate Finance, the initial few weeks will be spent on fundamentals that form a necessary background for issues that we will address in the latter part of the course. The course is structured such that the material covered in the lectures is reinforced using case-studies.

By the end of this elective course, you are expected to be able to make basic decisions on international finance problems facing the managers of a multinational corporation. These include, but are not limited to, 1) understanding the various types of securities used in international financial markets; 2) hedging currency risk using these securities; 3) ways of raising capital in international financial markets; 4) calculating the cost of capital for a large multinational; and 5) valuing projects in different countries.

4072 - Entrepreneurial Finance

(Previously taught as MGT 4803 - Entrepreneurial Finance. No credit allowed for both)

Interest in the field of entrepreneurship has expanded as students seek to understand the dynamics of being an entrepreneur and obtain the skills necessary to succeed. While most of the entrepreneurial activity in the past has been focused on the for-profit sector, we are experiencing a growth in the application of these concepts to social issues.

Entrepreneurial finance is the application and adaptation of financial tools and techniques to the planning, funding, operations, and valuation of an entrepreneurial venture. Entrepreneurial finance focuses on the financial management of a venture as it moves through its life cycles, beginning with its development stage and continuing through to when the entrepreneur exits or harvests the venture. Nearly every entrepreneurial firm will face major operating and financial problems during its early years, making entrepreneurial finance and the practice of sound financial management critical to the survival and success of the venture (Leach & Melicher).

4106 - Teams in Organizations

(Previously taught as Special Topics MGT 4803 (Teamwork in Organizations). No credit allowed for both MGT 4106 and MGT 4803 (Teamwork in Organizations).

Working in teams is an integral part of modern businesses and organizational life. To better prepare you to succeed as a leader, manager or member of teams, this course is designed around two objectives. First, it will create opportunities for you to lead and manage dynamic teams and design and implement effective team processes. Second, it will introduce you to the critical theories, concepts and frameworks used by successful managers to diagnose team performance and the threats and opportunities teams face. The learning objectives for the course will be accomplished through 1) analysis and discussion of case studies, 2) critical evaluation of current approaches to and realities of team management, and 3) active participation in team exercises and simulations. This course promises to provide greater insight into what separates successful teams from the many that fail, as well as greater confidence in your own ability to lead and contribute to enhanced team performance.

4116 - The Role of Gender, Race and Ethnicity in Organizational Behavior

(Previously taught as Special Topics MGT 4803 (Gender & Ethnicity in US & Global Organizations). No credit allowed for both MGT 4116 and MGT 4803 (Gender & Ethnicity in US & Global Organizations).

The face of the global and domestic workplace has changed radically in recent decades. This change has provided great opportunity for growth, but it has also created new concerns for the individual and the organization as we learn to harness the power of this new workforce in the most productive ways. This course will examine how managers and employees become more effective leaders by understanding the role gender, race and ethnicity plays in the life of the organization.

Many of us want to believe that we are objective, however, research has shown us that gender, race, and ethnicity and even the clothes we wear are determinate factors in how we deal with each other in a business environment. In this course, we will examine these differences and attempt to understand the reasons behind the conflicts that arise within a diverse workforce.

When we speak of gender and ethnic issues, we usually discuss them in terms of the problems of the minority group. In this course we will also look at these issues in terms of the way the majority views itself and what effect this has on change within the organization.

We will explore how a leader can use an understanding of these divergent styles to enhance both the individual’s and group’s effectiveness. We will go behind the façade of difference into the subtle nuances of interpersonal relationships in an attempt to make each student a more powerful employee, manager or leader.  

4191 - Entrepreneurship Forum

This course is an entry-level course in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial management providing a broad overview of Entrepreneurship and what it takes to successfully start and run a business. Central to the course is the opportunity for students to meet, listen to, and interact with entrepreneurs and business leaders in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors and to be exposed to real life “lessons learned” from individuals with credibility and thought-provoking life experiences. Upon completion, the student will have a basic understanding of what it takes to start a business, develop a business concept and feasibility study, and determine whether they have an interest in further studies in the entrepreneurial field.

4192 - IMPACT Forum

Previously taught as Special Topics MGT 4803 (IMPACT Forum). No credit allowed for both MGT 4192 and MGT 4803 (IMPACT Forum).

Each individual has a unique capacity to contribute their expertise, talents, insights and experience to create a significant impact in their lives and in the lives of others. The objective of this course is to:
• Investigate, discuss, and develop key competencies for creating personal “Impact” (internal). Examples of competencies include:
o Awareness – range of perspectives, points of view, and possibilities;
o Critical-thinking – ability to investigate and assess situations, opinions and actions; o Emotional Intelligence – ability to manage ourselves and our relationships; o Communication – writing, speaking, listening;
o Curiosity and compassion – ability to seek out and understand the complexity of diversity.
• Explore the concept of “Impact” – across a range of environments (external).
• Develop a personal “Impact Statement”

4193 - Service, Leadership, Values and Systems

(Previously taught as Special Topics MGT 4803 (Presence, Values & Systems). No credit allowed for both MGT 4193 and MGT 4803 (Presence, Values & Systems).

 Leadership is often perceived in terms of an individual’s skills and abilities to influence others. While these are important ingredients of leadership, in order to be truly effective, it is also critical for students to understand the environments in which they operate, the values that drive their decisions and actions, and the consequences that those decisions and actions will have on others within their organization and beyond. All individuals should be aware that their current behavior either limits or expands their ability to exercise leadership and influence others in the future. This course has been designed to enhance students’ awareness of their values and the ways in which those values are reflected in their decisions and actions. We will explore the gap and tension between stated organizational values and those that drive actions. Students will gain a better understanding of the systems in which they operate, and learn how to identify points of leverage to affect change. Contemporary concepts of integrating values and system-level thinking will be studied, providing the student with knowledge that may influence their philosophy, style and strategy.

4194 - Social Entrepreneurship

(Previously taught as Special Topics MGT 4803 (Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise). No credit allowed for both MGT 4194 and MGT 4803 (Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise).

Social Entrepreneurship is a concept that has gained momentum during the past few years. It is a process that applies innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing social problems. It has become an attractive alternative for students who wish to utilize their leadership and managerial skills to address the challenges of the world. According to Dees (2001) social entrepreneurship incorporates the following elements: • A mission that seeks to create and sustain social value
• Designing processes for the organization to pursue opportunities to support that mission through innovation, adaptation, and learning
• Attracting the resources necessary to achieve the mission and sustain the organization while driving efficiency and leveraging existing resources to expand the scope of their service
• A clear focus on the needs of those being served

This course has been designed to:
• Introduce students to the concept of social entrepreneurship;
• Expose them to trends to understand shifts in the character of social entrepreneurship;
• Expose them to critical components for success; and
• Expand their knowledge and understanding of how they may integrate social entrepreneurship into the professional and personal arenas of their lives.

4303 - Personal Selling and Sales Management

The relationship between companies and their customers has changed profoundly in recent years. Customers no longer look to their suppliers as just sources of products and services; increasingly, they demand that their suppliers add significant value to their business. And consistent with this search for value, they seek tighter, more strategic relationships with their suppliers. This has produced a major shift in the role of the salesperson, a shift from transactional selling, with an emphasis on "getting the sale," to one of relationship selling, where the emphasis is on building and nurturing long-term value-based relationships.

This course is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of the tools and techniques that make for successful relationship selling. Among the core topics covered are: understanding buyer behavior; prospecting for potential customers; planning the sales call; communicating the sales message; recruiting, selecting, and motivating salespeople; evaluating salesperson performance. However, rather than covering these topics in a lecture format, as undergraduate courses often do, there will be a special emphasis in this course on "learning by doing," with a major portion of classroom time devoted to:

• Role plays covering various elements of the relationship selling and sales management process formal presentations, in which presenters will develop and deliver sales presentations to fellow students, who play the role of corporate buyers
• Mini cases and lecturettes, in which students will engage typical issues and problems facing sales professionals

4308 - Advertising & Promotion: Integrated Marketing Communications

(Previously taught as Special Topics MGT 4803 (Advertising and Promotions). No credit allowed for both MGT 4308 (Advertising and Promotion: Integrated Marketing Communications) and MGT 4803 (Advertising and Promotions).

This introductory course examines the role of advertising and promotion as an integral component of the marketing mix, and relates it to other components of the marketing task and overall strategic marketing. The dynamic nature of advertising and promotion as a communication tool is introduced. The student will examine and apply: (1) major marketing communications functions such as (but not limited to) advertising, direct marketing, the Internet, interactive media, sales promotion; (2) how to research and evaluate a firm’s marketing and promotional situation; (3) how to use these various options in developing effective communication strategies and programs. (4) the implications of current trends. The student should develop an understanding of the tools of, and rational behind, advertising and promotion, in order to utilize them as an integrative communication tool in the realm of marketing and business (using cases, exercises and conceptual applications).

4311 - Digital Marketing

(Previously taught as Special Topics MGT 4803 (Digital Marketing). No credit allowed for both MGT 4311 and MGT 4803 (Digital Marketing).

Digital Marketing has evolved from radio and television to include the online/Internet channel and has grown significantly over the past 10 years. The pace of new technology development and the ways consumers are interacting with various technologies has also been growing rapidly. Marketing executives are faced with new challenges to determine creative, cost effective ways to create brand awareness, engage their audience, and establish strong brand reputations. Social media and mobile have established new positions in the marketing arsenal alongside more mature online components such as email and search. Assembling the right mix of tactics to support an organization’s overarching marketing strategy while also maximizing efforts through integrated marketing communications poses great opportunities and challenges for large and small businesses alike.

Understanding the various components of the online marketing channel at a high level is a necessary prerequisite for leveraging these tactics effectively in an applied environment.

This course will explore elements including:
• Websites, micro-sites, and portals
• Mobile marketing
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Social media marketing
• Pay-Per-Click advertising (PPC)
• Email marketing

In addition to providing exposure to the tactical components of the online marketing channel, this course will also impart practical knowledge through real-world case examples and presentations from industry practitioners. Much like the field of online marketing, this course is intended to be interactive with a healthy level of class participation and Q&A.

4331 - Consumer Behavior

The major purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the major concepts, theories, and techniques that make up the area of consumer behavior. The very basis of the marketing concept is the satisfaction of consumer needs and wants. Consumer behavior studies the “why” of marketing – why consumers prefer certain products and services. To explore the “why,” the students will be exposed to perspective on consumption from marketing, economics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. The students will also learn about the techniques that marketers use to understand and influence consumers’ desires, and how their actions influence (in both positive and negative ways) our daily lives.

4335 - International Marketing

The objectives of this course are: (1) to introduce the student to an understanding of the environmental factors affecting international marketing and the similarities and differences versus domestic marketing; (2) to provide the knowledge and skills needed for the administration of the international marketing function, and (3) to introduce and evaluate the impact of recent environmental changes on international business and marketing.

4352 - Operations Resource Planning (Operations Planning and Control)

Operations/resources planning and control is about satisfying the customer demands with the best products and services a company can provide. It involves planning, executing, monitoring, and controlling of materials, production, and delivery of products and services. This course is intended to cover several of the major concepts in this area and to familiarize you with the role of information systems in integrating these concepts together to create an integrated manufacturing and service management system. We will look in greater depth than in MGT 3501 at topics such as demand management, production planning, capacity planning, inventory and materials management, and quality control and management. Specific manufacturing planning and control (MPC) techniques include material requirements planning (MRP), just in time (JIT), theory of constraints (TOC), and CONWIP. Recent advances such as enterprise resource planning (e.g., SAP R/3), supply chain planning systems and six sigma will also be examined. In particular, we will

• Develop an understanding of the fundamental issues and decisions in the manufacturing planning and control framework
• Outline the role of various techniques in production planning and controlling and managing manufacturing activities
• Match manufacturing strategies and goals to the most appropriate planning and control techniques
• Examine how an effective manufacturing management system can increase manufacturing efficiency and productivity
• The material setting is in manufacturing environment but can be extended to service companies. The major delivery of the course includes lectures and case studies.

4366 - Service Operations Management

This case course explores the dimensions of successful service firms. It prepares students for enlightened management and suggests creative entrepreneurial opportunities.

Outstanding service organizations are managed differently than their "merely good" competitors. Actions are based on totally different assumptions about the way success is achieved. The results show not only in terms of conventional measures of performance but also in the enthusiasm of the employees and quality of customer satisfaction.

Beginning with the service encounter, service managers must blend marketing, technology, people, and information to achieve a distinctive competitive advantage. This course will study service management from an integrated viewpoint with a focus on customer satisfaction where the material will integrate operations, marketing, strategy, information technology and organizational issues. Finally, because the service sector is the fastest-growing sector of the economy, this course is intended to help students discover entrepreneurial opportunities.

4670 - Entrepreneurship

This course provides an introduction to the process of establishing a technology-based new venture, and examines the entrepreneurial approach to business development and growth. The learning experience is designed to expose students to the entrepreneurial process of new venture creation with a focus on technology entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship is viewed in this course as long-term value creation. Accordingly, the course will focus on a study of the activities associated with the assessment, creation, development, and successful operation of high potential new and emerging ventures. Course participants, working in a small team environment, will have the opportunity to develop their new venture management skills through a combination of classroom exercises, case analysis, and existing business plan analysis; and through the development of a detailed opportunity analysis and venture business plan.

4803 - Business Forecasting

This course is designed to provide the tools necessary to conduct forecasting in an uncertain business environment. The course will begin with an overview of multiple regression, however the primary focus is time series analysis. Time series analysis uses past behavior of data to forecast future values. Topics include modeling and forecasting trends and seasonality, characterizing cyclical data, forecasting cycles and modeling volatility.

4803 - Business and Government Regulation

Government regulation plays a substantial role in the management of every business. For many businesses, the cost of regulatory compliance is a large part of operating expense and consumes managerial resources that might be more productively allocated to other activities. Failure to comply with regulatory requirements can result in substantial fines and penalties, damage to a business’ reputation, and in some instances incarceration of responsible managers and executives. Businesses also use the regulatory process to enhance their competitive position, and to optimize operational, financial and marketing results. For these reasons, business owners, executives and managers need to understand the effect of the government and regulatory environment on their enterprise, and how they can influence the regulatory process in order to further strategic objectives.

This course provides students with an understanding and knowledge of the government and regulatory environment that will enable them to be effective and pro-active managers in a highly regulated business world. Upon course completion, students should be able to

• demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental concepts, principles and rules of government regulation as they to pertain to business;
• understand the authority government has to regulate business at the federal, state and local levels, and the processes by which that authority is exercised;
• recognize how government regulation affects business decision-making and planning;
• develop legislative and regulatory action plans that link business objectives to desired regulatory outcomes and specify actions to achieve those outcomes;
• understand how to influence regulatory outcomes through participation in the regulatory process and representation before legislative bodies and regulatory agencies;
• demonstrate knowledge of laws concerning business participation in the political process;
• analyze ethical considerations related to business influence of government and regulatory processes;
• understand important areas of government regulation of business including financial regulation, environmental regulation and competitive practices;
• anticipate potential regulatory and legal problems and identify when it is appropriate to consult an attorney or other professional; and
• demonstrate enhanced analytical and reasoning skills, and oral and written communication skills.]

4803 - Business Programming

This course is designed specifically to educate students in management related programming issues. It focuses on the two main streams of development technologies in MIS - client/server and browse/server - and data manipulation knowledge. During this course, the students will:

1. Master the basic principles in programming, including event-driven mechanisms in Windows, database connection and data manipulation;
2. Understand how to implement design specifications under both client/server and browser/server environments;
3. Required skills in programming and debugging using VB2008, VB.Net and ASP;
4. Implement a comprehensive course project related to business management issues.

4803 - International Human Resource Management

It is widely acknowledged today that business is becoming more global. This globalization of business creates new challenges and opportunities for each of the functions of management including Human Resource Management. Though it is clear that International Human Resource Management (IHRM) is an integral part of business globalization, the Human Resource Management function is often poorly understood by those who make decisions concerning global operations, marketing, and personnel assignments. This lack of knowledge certainly contributes to the many disappointments that are experienced both by the business and the individuals whose assignment may become ‘internationalized’. This course is about useful methods and approaches for effectively addressing these challenges.

In this course, we take the perspective of the multinational firm and will be concerned both with the design of IHRM systems (such as recruiting, selection, training), as well as HR decision-making in the context of the overall business, its strategy, and current performance. Whether you are interested in becoming a Human Resource Manager or a manager who must learn to deal effectively with Human Resource issues, this course will be relevant.

4803 - Fundamentals of Real Estate Development

The course is designed to give the student a multidisciplinary overview/survey of the development process – from conception of the idea/vision through project completion and ongoing management. The course goes beyond rudimentary real estate basics and will delve deeply into how the built world will look and be developed in the future-during the student’s career and beyond. This inquiry is essential to assist the student in developing a “point of view” about the built world of the future, the main drivers of change, critical issues that must be solved, the nature of a development team in the future, and the essential leadership characteristics that a developer and development team must now master. Technology and innovation will be key elements for exploration. Being part of a major technology research institution gives the class a unique opportunity to explore emerging technologies and the role they will play in the future world of real estate development. During the course, the students will be challenged to become trend spotters. The class will assemble a vast array of trends they observe and use the major trends to inform their “point of view”.

Being able to clearly and concisely present that “point of view” will be critical in the course and the class will present abundant opportunities to practice this skill. The Final Exam will give the students an opportunity to prepare and communicate their unique point of view based on what they have learned.

4803- Leadership: Managing Work Relationships

(Previously taught as Special Topics MGT 4803 -Fairness and Leadership: Building High Trust Cultures. No credit allowed for both MGT 4803 (Leadership: Managing Work Relationships) and MGT 4803 (Fairness and Leadership: Building High Trust Cultures).

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of leadership as a phenomenon, emphasizing the importance of building high-quality work relationships. Using case-based methodology, students will learn to think critically about the leadership. It is important to note that leadership develops over time, through repetition, feedback, and self-reflection. Ultimately this course will provide you with the tools you will need to continue to mature and evolve as a leader.

4803 - Legal Issues in Sports Management

Sports, both professional and college, is big business. Legal Issues in Sports Management will provide students with an in-depth understanding of how legal issues relate to the management of sports enterprises, including professional teams, individual athletes, and leagues, and to the administration of college sports programs and associations. The course is intended to familiarize students with legal concepts and analysis, important to the student’s ability to recognize, approach, and resolve sport management-related legal issues. The course will focus on a variety of topics and principles, including but not limited to contracts, torts, agency, discrimination issues, trademarks, intellectual property law including copyrights and trademarks, antitrust and labor law. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to

• understand legal concepts and their importance for addressing and resolving management issues in the sports business environment,
• support sports management decisions grounded on legal and ethical principles,
• explain the policies underlying these principles,
• address potential management issues via contract clauses, risk management practices and overall legal strategy for sports organizations and sports-business relationships,
• anticipate potential legal problems in a sports management context and identify when it is appropriate to consult an attorney.
• understand NCAA legal-related decisions involving student-athletes and institutions of higher learning, and related compliance and enforcement issues,
• apply enhanced analytical and legal reasoning skills in business and other contexts, and
• apply enhanced oral and written communication skills.

4803 - Management in the Healthcare Sector

This course will explore the healthcare sector in its most comprehensive sense. It will analyze the healthcare “system” across the continuum of patient care – from prevention, to early detection, to diagnosis and treatment, to palliative care. Students will gain exposure to and knowledge of the many components of the industry, including issues in finance, accounting, supply chain, organizational behavior, strategy, healthcare IT, regulatory policy, and manpower planning and development. Emphasis will be placed on where contemporary management practice can engage for improvement, within the limits allowed by the exercise of clinical judgment.

4803 - Project Management

This course prepares undergraduates who have little or no experience participating in formally managed projects to be effective team members and leaders of small projects. Building upon principles and practices promoted by the Project Management Institute, students will learn to use common project management tools and current practices, including agile methods. Students will be encouraged to continue their studies after the course to prepare for project management certifications.

4803 - Supply Chain Modeling

The primary challenge for any firm, from an operations perspective, is to match supply and demand in the most cost effective way. Over the past decades, matching supply and demand has become increasingly challenging because today’s competitive marketplace may require firms to rely on other firms for inputs in the final products, therefore limiting the firm’s ability to streamline its operations. The main focus of Supply Chain Management is to overcome these limitations. In other words, Supply Chain Management is concerned with the design and management of value added processes that take place across organizational boundaries with the goal of matching supply and demand in the most cost effective way.

The objective of the course is to provide students with tools/means for matching supply and demand in the most cost effective way. A mixture of lectures, case discussions and games will be used to provide a better understanding of supply chain issues.

4803 - Legal Aspects of Managing Intellectual Property

This course examines the legal framework that supports and regulates innovation, competition, and business development and growth. Three primary topics are addressed in the course. The first topic is private property and the creation of beneficial information, specifically, the law of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. The second topic is the prevention of unfair competition in information property, which addresses regulations on the use of innovation and information in order to foster competition and fair business practices. The final topic is information property in business development and management. Areas covered in this topic include the legal rules that support and regulate business development and growth and valuation and management techniques.

4803 - Innovation Tournament for Sustainability

This course is open to all seniors on campus. Georgia Tech is placing an increasing emphasis on helping students become more entrepreneurial, with contests such as Inventure Prize and undergraduate-oriented accelerator programs such as Flashpoint. Our goal is to be a feeder class to these structures, to expose you to sustainability challenges in the process and to provide an experiential learning platform. This course will guide you through a systematic process for idea generation, selection and impact. It will start with idea tournaments, a process that leverages the wisdom of the crowd for entrepreneurial opportunity generation, selection and refinement. It will continue with the application of basic experimenting/prototyping and business model innovation frameworks, again emphasizing a systematic risk-limiting pathway to realizing entrepreneurial outcomes, with sustainability metrics in mind. While this may seem daunting if you have never flexed your entrepreneurial muscles, and it will be challenging, you will have a lot of fun and learn a lot from it.

The learning objectives of the course are:
• Learning a process- and design-thinking based view of idea generation and business model design
• Learning how to present information succinctly and in an impactful manner
• Integrating knowledge from different classes to define and refine a business model using the business model canvas concept
• Understanding trade-offs between economic, environmental and social objectives
• Developing research and synthesis skills by doing in-depth environmental/social impact analysis of a specific idea to solve a specific problem

The course is instructor-guided in terms of process and basic tools, but almost entirely student-driven; doing the research, generating the ideas, finding the information and the resources you need at each stage will all be your responsibility. Expect this to be a demanding, but rewarding process. The learning from the process, the research, the feedback and the experience will help you whether you want to capitalize on a business opportunity in the company you join, or whether you want to strike out on your own.

4803 Sustainable Business Project

Management Consulting is a significant career option for many students, regardless of whether a student’s academic foundation is in business, engineering, or the basic sciences. Careers in Management Consulting often provide individuals an opportunity for challenging work, continued self-development, access to important social and professional networks, and, over time, significant financial rewards. The Management Consulting Industry has grown in size and complexity particularly since the early 1990’s. Sustainability consulting is an area of growth as well, and is characterized by the following types of firms:

• Technical firms like ENVIRON
• Specialist consultancies like Environmental Resources Management (ERM)
• Accounting firms like PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) that assist companies track their environmental impacts and produce sustainability reports
• General management consultancies (McKinsey, North Highland) some of whose projects organically emerge as sustainability related projects

In addition, within-firm environmental projects often tend to be boundary spanning and require consultancy skills to succeed. Some firms have in fact started, some successfully, others less so, to try to turn their in house expertise into a sustainability consulting business (InterfaceRAISE, Dupont’s Sustainability Solutions’ Sustainable Operations practice, Aspen/Snowmass’ Aspen Sustainability Associates).

This course will prepare you to be involved in cross-cutting sustainability projects and give you a consulting type experience. Projects will be drawn from local small-and-medium sized businesses, NGOs, etc. and may involve Sustainable Atlanta, the Green Chamber of Commerce’s Green Accelerator Project and the Mayor’s Office for Sustainability.

Prerequisites:
• MGT3150, Principles of Management, or MGT 4102 Management Consulting.
• Senior-level restriction

Learning Objectives:
• Learning basic environmental measurement and management tools
• Learning to identify the key issues in a sustainable business problem
• Understanding the trade-offs between, economic, environmental and social objectives
• Applying what you have learned in their courses to contemporary business problems in sustainability