Course Descriptions

This first project in the student’s experiential program challenges the student to identify, investigate and analyze a particular topic in the program of study or a concentration. A key objective is to apply skills, methods, and knowledge obtained in prior courses with independent thinking and research; the final product represents the successful and purposeful application of knowledge. The project is undertaken with the close mentorship of a faculty member, and may involve a community partner. Projects can involve scientific-based research or laboratory experiences, needs analysis or development plans for external organizations, or market studies and business plan proposals. Offered as needed.

This course studies, analyzes and evaluates the business and technical aspects of eCommerce and mCommerce (mobile commerce). Business strategies to start a business, advertising a business, and selling the business product are covered. Case studies are used to explain the business process that needs to be automated to support the eCommerce and mCommerce initiatives. Economic trends and emerging web and mobile computing technologies are explored to understand the technical, business, and social processes that are shaping the electronic marketplace.

Modern organizations are characterized by constant change, market fluctuations, increased automation, and globalization. This course explores and examines the basic framework for leadership styles focuses on ethical leadership in times of change and crisis through use of case studies and examples. The course examines the behavior of individuals and groups in the modern global settings and concentrates on improving productivity, job satisfaction, team development and continuous improvement practices experiences.

This course explores the basic financial and managerial accounting competencies needed to manage a business or product line. The accounting concepts are introduced with a discussion of how general purpose financial statements reflect the business corporation’s performance and position for users external to management. The course also examines major elements of the statements such as cash, receivables, inventory, long-lived assets, depreciation, payroll, bonds, and other liabilities and stocks. Concepts of financial accounting are applied to management accounting for internal reporting and decision-making. The course emphasizes applications of accounting strategies, decision-making, and evaluation. A conceptual framework will be established to enable managers to be profitable and to read and understand ledgers. Accounting information systems commonly used in the industry (e.g., Quickbooks) will be examined by the student.

This course provides the student with general and applied decision theory. Decision making processes and biases are discussed within individual, group, and organizational levels. The student learns how decision biases can be leveraged to predict and “nudge” behavior and to improve impressions. Ethical considerations are also discussed

This course examines sales management strategies, approaches and best practices in creating an adaptive sales force. Areas explored include the human dimension of hiring and firing employees, how to look proactively at how to market and sell in a global and technological environment, and identify where people skills and competencies are vitally important. The productivity and assessment of the sales force, through motivation and training, are also explored. Methods to advertise and sell over the Internet will be learned. Current events, market trends and areas, and regional associations for the various sales trades are covered.

The purpose of this course is to define fundamental legal terminology regarding contracts, torts, property, and wills, as well as differentiate between business ethics and legal issues. The course provides the student with foundational information about the U.S. legal system and dispute resolution and their impact on business. The major content areas will include general principles of law, the U.S. Constitution, legal systems, the relationship between law and ethics, contracts, sales, torts, agency law, intellectual property, and business law in the global context.

This course introduces the student to the tools and mindset required to be an innovator and an entrepreneur. Through innovation, design thinking, and entrepreneurship, this course leads the student through the processes used for finding problems worth solving and mobilizing the resources to solve them.

This course builds on MEBA 225 Accounting. The student will learn how to analyze firms’ financial statements and disclosures and determine how to use financial statements in valuation of a firm’s strategy and future. This course is very applied and will use data from a variety of sources, especially data generated from the student’s experiential projects. The student will acquire an understanding of both the “how” of accounting procedures and the underlying reasons “why” these practices are adopted. These skills are essential for pursuing a broad range of professions in management, analysis, entrepreneurialism, law, and finance.

This course includes an understanding of Consumer Behavior in the digital marketplace and the foundation for digital marketing strategy. Students are introduced to consumer segmentation, use of consumer research, and trends in adoption of digital media. Exploration for channels of digital communications included desktop, mobile, tablet, gaming and TV are discussed and analyzed. Students learn how to plan and execute basic consumer research using digital tools and the use of CRM (customer relationship management) tools to track and market to different consumer types.

In today’s business communications landscape, both agencies and individuals need to possess expertise in professional marketing practices and mediums. Integrated marketing merges all aspects of marketing communication such as advertising, sales promotion, public relations, direct marketing and social media, through a mix of tactics, methods, channels, media and activities into a unified user-centric strategy. Through critical evaluation and marketplace analysis, learners will apply theories, utilize frameworks, examine case studies, and integrate marketing practices in both team and individual projects.

This course introduces the business, operational, and management aspects of healthcare. Through case studies and examples, the student is introduced to a wide range of healthcare topics such as healthcare business processes, healthcare clinical systems and services (patient care, physician support systems, healthcare networks), hospital systems, healthcare management, and government regulations.

An internship allows the student to put theory into practice. The student applies classroom experiences to the workplace at an off-site placement, where ideas are tested and competencies and skills are developed. Throughout the internship, the student works regularly with a faculty supervisor, the Office of Experiential Programs, and a site supervisor who guide the learning process. The student integrates the collective observations, analyses, and reflections of this experiential team into an internship portfolio that showcases the accomplishments of the experience. The unique portfolio is constructed throughout the internship, and represents the evolutionary and dynamic nature of the learning process.

This course applies statistical knowledge to business. The student explores the ability to define problems, form questions, collect data, analyze the data using inferential tools, and how to formulate and test hypotheses. The student is expected to master probability concepts within the realm of decision making.

This course covers emerging topics in business, entrepreneurship, management, and technology. The topics change as the field evolves but will span strategy, business models, and societal trends. Offered as needed.

This course covers emerging topics in Digital Health. The topics will change as the field evolves but will span digital healthcare management, security and privacy issues, the role of public policies and regulations in healthcare IT, electronic health records (EHR), and the growing role of information and communication technologies in global health.

This course will provide the student with the skills and knowledge needed to employ research methodologies in a business setting. Traditional experimental and quasi-experimental approaches will be covered. The student will learn to use the scientific method to develop assessment tools, for market testing and product development, and to engage in targeted marketing.

This course is designed for the student who demonstrates an interest in an area of study not offered or who wishes to pursue a discipline in greater depth than possible through existing courses. A directed study counts as an elective and may not be used for accelerated or remedial credit. A learning contract between the student and instructor defines the responsibilities of the parties and specifies the learning objectives and standards for successful completion of the project. A calendar of meeting times and deadlines shall be a part of that contract.

This first project in the online degree student’s experiential program challenges the student to identify, investigate and analyze a particular topic in the program of study or a concentration. A key objective is to apply skills, methods, and knowledge obtained in prior courses with independent thinking and research; the final product represents the successful and purposeful application of knowledge. The project is undertaken with the close mentorship of a faculty member and may involve a community partner. Projects can involve academic and/or scientific-based research, laboratory experiences, needs analysis or development plans for external organizations, or market studies and business plan proposals.

The student will learn the process of how to create an innovation-based new venture. As a framework for this, we use the business planning process and the student develops the essential parts of a business plan and investor pitch as a useful vehicle to achieve this goal. The student will work in teams to launch companies, working through issues of the market analysis, technology viability assessment, competitive positioning, team-building, product life-cycle planning, marketing strategy, sales channel analysis, and a strong emphasis on the entrepreneur as a sales person.

: This course examines the elements of entrepreneurial finance, focusing on technology-based start-up ventures and the early stages of company development. This course addresses key questions which challenge all entrepreneurs: how much money can and should be raised; when it should be raised and from whom; what is a reasonable valuation of a company; and how funding, employment contracts, and exit decisions should be structured. This course aims to prepare the student for these decisions, both as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist.

This course discusses how global markets impact managerial processes. The questions under investigation are how managers adapt their organizational practices to accommodate global and local cultures and businesses practices in different parts of the world. The course explores the best practices in global strategic management, organizational design, human resource processes and organizational behavior. Also discussed are business strategy, Porter Models, and micro-macro economics in global and extended enterprises. Global supply chains and global operation management issues, with an emphasis on total quality management (TQM), will be also examined.

This course provides the student with the critical information needed to develop a product and brand strategy that generates both quick wins and long-term value. By completing this course, the student is in a position to create an activity plan to bring their brand strategy to life – both externally towards consumers and internally to employees.

To capture the high level of complexity under which strategic management takes place, this course predominantly uses the case method to examine how general managers create and maintain a competitive advantage for their organizations. The student will examine critical strategic issues confronted by top executives of organizations, as well as take a general management and a multi-functional approach to these strategic issues by using all the core business functions.

The purpose of this course is to define fundamental legal terminology regarding contracts, torts, property, and wills, as well as differentiate between business ethics and legal issues. The course provides the student with foundational information about the U.S. legal system and dispute resolution and their impact on business. The major content areas include general principles of law, the U.S. Constitution, legal systems, the relationship between law and ethics, contracts, sales, torts, agency law, intellectual property, and business law in the global context.

Modern organizations are characterized by constant change, market fluctuations, increased automation, and globalization. This course explores and examines the basic framework for leadership styles and focuses on ethical leadership in times of change and crisis through use of case studies and examples. The course examines the behavior of individuals and groups in the modern global settings and concentrates on improving productivity, job satisfaction, team development and continuous improvement practices and experiences. Special attention is paid to introducing organizational change smoothly, humanistic concern for people, and cultural tolerance in a global business world. Topics include theories and case studies concerning the behavior of people in modern business organizations, analysis of the internal organizational structure and managerial roles and functions, examination of theory and design of organizational structure, and the impact of work flow, leadership styles and control systems on human behavior.

The student will learn how to analyze firms’ financial statements and disclosures and determine how to use financial statements in valuation of a firm’s strategy and future. This course is very applied and uses data from a variety of sources, especially data generated from the student’s experiential projects. The student will acquire an understanding of both the “how” of accounting procedures and the underlying reasons “why” these practices are adopted. These skills are essential for pursuing a broad range of professions in management, analysis, entrepreneurialism, law, and finance.

This course prepares the student to analyze business information systems in the digital age and to build models and logical designs that can be implemented later. Emphasis is on understanding the business processes and business requirements and building conceptual models that help in the analysis of business requirements. Complex systems and to build designs and architectures that can satisfy the business requirements are discussed. The course emphasizes business process modeling, business patterns, object orientation, design patterns and component-based design approaches. Topics include modern system life cycles, project management, BRODE (buy, rent, outsource, develop, extend) strategies in system building, business system modeling, requirements analysis, conceptual design, architectures, physical design, and design for the modern mobile systems with security and integration considerations.

Modern electronically-enabled enterprises rely increasingly on knowledge that needs to be managed and processed through a variety of intelligent tools. This course covers the vital issue of business intelligence and knowledge management in modern enterprises and discusses how decision support and expert systems tools can be used for effective decision making in organizations. Topics include artificial intelligence in a business context, business intelligence and business analytics, data mining, data warehousing, click stream mining, knowledge management, decision support and expert systems, artificial intelligence principles, neural networks, learning systems, and intelligent agents in a business context.

Modern digital enterprises are characterized by increased automation, mobile services, extended B2B operations with global business partners, and on-demand business services. The main issue in such enterprises is to architect and integrate a very wide range of services quickly and effectively. This course highlights the role of information and communication technologies, enterprise models, and emerging service oriented architectures (SOA) standards in developing flexible and integrated business architectures.

This course will provide the student with a solid foundation in the statistical methodologies required for quantitative decision-making. The student will learn how to identify the correct statistical analysis to perform given the research question and the format (type) of data. Correlation, t-tests, chi-square, regression, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be covered, and the student will learn how to perform these analyses using both Excel and R. Focus will be placed on the use of statistical results to make informed decisions in a business context (e.g., A|B testing, assessment, and systems optimization).

This course introduces the student to researching the needs and wants of customers. The student will perform statistical analysis on multiple factors involved in developing marketing campaigns, such as pricing, digital marketing, multiple marketing channels, segmentation, and others.

This course uses marketing research to make business decisions. The student identifies a marketing problem, collects marketing data regarding the stated problem, analyzes the collected data, interprets findings, presents implications and findings; and applies findings as proposed business actions. The student’s research includes quantitative, qualitative and mixed method approaches; they will collect data using questionnaires (close and open-ended), focus groups, panels, interviews (structured and unstructured), observations, and so on and analyze and interpret the results.

This project must be in the student’s program of study or concentration(s). It should demonstrate application of the skills, methods and knowledge of the discipline to solve a problem or answer a question representative of the type to be encountered in the student’s profession. As with Project I, this is undertaken with the close mentorship of a faculty member, and may involve a community partner. The ideal project has a clear purpose that builds directly upon the learning that occurs within the student’s first project and internship.

The two projects in the experiential program challenges students to identify, investigate and analyze a particular topic in the program of study or a concentration and apply it. This Occupational Practicum offers the online degree student an expanded opportunity to delve deeper into their existing project(s) and/or work with a professional practitioner (community partner) to apply previous research, knowledge, and skills to develop a new product, proposal, service, needs assessment, unit/department launching, or other organizational entity related to the online student’s career path. The student is expected to transfer theory into extended application and practice. The Occupational Practicum assists the student in the completion of their ePortfolio. It is an alternative to MEBA 365 Internship; the student needs to complete one or the other.

This training aims to improve upon supervisory skills by developing applied knowledge of principles and practices of organizational leadership. The training will focus on developing interdisciplinary skills in areas such as leadership, communications, organizational culture and relationships. Participants will be introduced to concepts and approaches that, combined with their existing knowledge and experience, will enable them to address the unique challenges of leadership within their organization. The following learning objectives are the intended outcomes of this training: Participants will be able to identify essential leadership attributes and skills, and understand the impact of these factors on their performance as supervisors. Participants will become familiar with the differences among individuals’ personal preferences and work styles, as a foundation for developing relationships, communicating effectively and adjusting to change. Participants will understand organizational culture and how this should shape their interactions with coworkers, how they approach problem solving and conflict resolution and as a guide for decision making.

Strategic thinking is a process. This workshop will present information on how to apply strategic thinking to every challenge and creation of flexible plans that can be modified when conditions change. The following learning objectives are the intended outcomes of this training: Participants will understand and apply the components of the Strategic Thinking Framework: 1. Systems Thinking – Organizations and the System Concept. 2. Thinking in Time – Applying Organizational History to Address Current Challenges. 3. Ethical Thinking – Considering Ethical Dimensions. 3. Critical Thinking – Applying the Critical Thinking Model. 4. Creative Thinking – Organizational Characteristics that Support Creativity. 5.Participants will discuss how the components of the Strategic Thinking Framework are applicable to Glatfelter Insurance Group leadership actions.

Innovation is a process and a culture, not a strategy. It is a tool to be used to advance the strategy, though not an end-point in itself. In this session, you will learn how best-in-class organizations innovate, and you will tap into the large body of work from the private and not-for-profit sectors. Through this experiential session you will explore how the innovation process can be applied to the state government in general, and your agency’s objectives, in particular. You will use some of the techniques from the innovation process and will have the opportunity to identify concrete next steps for your agency, including the business case for adopting proven innovation management tools. What strategic objective is the focus of your innovation efforts? By attending this session with a specific objective in mind – (cost-reduction being an inherent goal), you will be able to apply the process used in this training to generate initial steps toward implementation.

Goal: To support the organization’s strategic goals, this course aims to positively impact the attainment of key performance indicators for the Analytics and Reporting group by enhancing the capabilities of Data Analysts to: Improve their use of skills and knowledge of consulting and client-focused solution development Interact with internal clients with strong communications and interpersonal skills Apply an analytical process to custom report writing. Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of training, participants will be able to: Understand the organizational context and role of analytics consulting at CBC Understand critical issues affecting needs assessment, including internal and external audiences and business implications Apply techniques for requirements gathering Apply techniques for analysis of information Apply problem solving techniques Identify, develop and deliver client-focused solutions Think and design systemically and with reusability in mind Manage client-consultant interactions Evaluate solution effectiveness and client satisfaction; manage trouble-shooting and changes

Problem Management and Decision Making: Examines the Seven-Step Problem Solving Process. Through the use of a Problem Solving Exercise, students apply associated tools (Five Whys, Fishbone Diagram, Buzz Groups, Decision Matrix, Action Plans) to address a real-world or simulated problem.

The Focused Innovation Technique (FIT) is a tool designed to help you take charge of your brainstorming meeting, and get to ideas-and from ideas, to action. Brainstorming gets a bad rap because we often think that creativity has to be free flowing and less structured than a regular meeting. The truth is, creativity is helped by structure, just like almost every other human endeavor. The Focused Innovation Technique was developed to help technical professionals find new solutions to complex problems. So often our goal is to think out of the box. However, the box is the very real constraints we all face in our day to day reality.

Killing Sacred Cows can be a complicated and difficult process. Sacred cows are big, slow moving, and there a lot more of them then there are of you. These cows stop traffic, eliminate change as an opportunity, and lead to a sense of personal and organizational futility. Sacred cows are the idea killers when what you want are killer ideas. It is important to remember that almost all of us have our own herd of sacred cows and seeing our herd is the first step in tackling the problem of organizational inertia.

Building a culture for innovation can seem like an elusive goal. There is, however, a large body of knowledge, as well as tools and techniques, we can all use for creating and sustaining a culture for innovation. Organizations each have their own style in dealing with the challenges presented by innovation. Understanding and helping an organization starts with understanding your own preferences and approach. This class will focus on building your understanding, skills and enthusiasm for facilitating the creation of a culture of innovation.

This innovative leadership development program provides Deputy Secretaries in PA State Government the opportunity to further develop their leadership abilities and succeed at the highest levels of their profession. Developed through a collaboration between Alvernia University, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and the Governor’s Office of Administration, this unique program gives participants the opportunity to enhance their understanding of their workplace culture and to learn strategies, tactics, and management techniques applicable to the unique challenges government employees face. The program offers: Mentorship & Networking opportunities Discussions on real life issues and concerns Leadership skills assessment Each participant who successfully completes the course is awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Best Practices seminar for CIOs

Best Practices seminar for CIOs.

Best Practices seminar for CIOs.

Best Practices seminar for CIOs.

This course introduces the basic concepts of business strategy and management principles of planning, organizing, staffing, developing, and monitoring/control. The context is global markets and their impact on business strategies and managerial processes. The course explores the best practices in global strategic management, organizational design, human resource processes, and organizational behavior.

Modern enterprises are globally dispersed organizations where nearly all significant business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees are digitally-enabled and key corporate assets are managed through digital means. Such organizations merge the concepts traditionally discussed in ecommerce, ebusiness and egovernment. This course will introduce the organizational and operational aspects of such organizations and highlight the role of managing such organizations. Topics will include organizational issues such as organizational structure and design, learning and agile organizations, and operational concerns such as management of supply chains and B2B trade at a global level.

This course introduces the student to the most recent and relevant thinking in marketing in the competitive global marketplace. The student is provided with analytical tools to understand and synthesize the most current applications of theories and concepts in marketing. The student is shown how to design strategic planning for competitive advantage in the marketplace and is encouraged to explore the essence of marketing environment and the global vision for business marketing.

This course explores the basic financial and managerial accounting competencies needed to manage a business or product line. The accounting concepts are introduced with a discussion of how general purpose financial statements reflect the business corporations’ performance and position for readers external to management.

This course provides training in business writing, interpersonal communication and oral communication to prepare the student to be a more effective professional communicator. The student works on projects in the classroom that offer practical applications of concepts covered in the textbook, including case study examples of poorly executed business communication that the student revises and improves. The student also writes a proposal and a report and prepares a plan to manage a project team kickoff meeting.

This course is designed for the student and working professional with interest in owning, or participating in, a successful business startup. This course focuses on the principles that are essential to forming a successful startup company and the role of innovation in entrepreneurship.

This course focuses on the management and planning processes needed for sustained growth of a startup company. Specifically, the course goes beyond the initial idea formulation stages and provides hands-on experience in developing a business plan for a startup. Emphasis is placed on innovation and the management of opportunities rather than to concentrate on the efficient management of ongoing operations. The course is organized around the following themes: management systems for innovative companies, short- and long range planning in owner-managed businesses, measuring economic performance and obtaining information for management decision making, legal and human resource issues, and entrepreneurship and managing growing companies.

This course introduces the students to the fundamentals of business financing with emphasis on financing for entrepreneurship. The course covers topics such as financial theory, risk assessment, and financial reporting systems in modern business settings. Special attention is paid to financing the startups with different options from venture capitals, angels and banks.

Successful project managers are adept at leading. Leadership, however, is a complex undertaking that requires knowledge and understanding of a number of competencies. This course builds these competencies. Focusing on organizational leadership, the course explores and develops skills and knowledge needed to lead organizational transformation and change, negotiate conflict resolution, build relationships and human capital, and instill business ethics and professional codes of conduct.

This course explores a topic of current interest in the field of management.

This course is concerned with the use of quantitative approaches to solve business, management, and social problems. Advanced management science combines operations research and management systems to model complex management problems to discover and apply optimal solutions. The student is expected to investigate complex managerial and societal problems using scientific methodologies. Topics include, but are not limited to, Management Science Research, Linear Programming, Modeling with Spreadsheets, Linear Programming, Inventory Management, and Operations Research in the Public Sector.