Process Management & Consulting Course Descriptions

350. Introduction to Process Management and Consulting (3 credits)
Fall and Spring. Prerequisites: a computer skills course or the equivalent and BUAD 231 or the equivalent.
The theme of this course is "business process excellence." This course considers business processes at the strategic level of the firm, at the tactical level, and in day-to-day operations. The course shows how viewing "things that get done" as processes is an effective mindset and it describes the key operations management and information technology tools required for executing processes competently.

351. Operations Technology (1.5 credits)
Spring (Fall and Spring starting 2012-2013 academic year). Prerequisite: BUAD 350.
This course focuses on operations knowledge essential to successful management.  Topics include basic tools for supply chain management, managing quality of products and services, minimizing the effects of uncertainty in supply and demand, and operations topics of current interest.

352. Information Technology (1.5 credits)
Spring (Fall and Spring starting 2012-2013 academic year). Prerequisite: BUAD 350.
This course focuses on core technologies and management practices essential for competitive leadership in the digital world.  Topics change from year to year due to the rapid pace of technological innovation, but certain baseline themes are always relevant. Examples include advances in business intelligence tools, the semantic web and electronic commerce, data and text mining, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools as the basis for innovative business solutions.  Data security and privacy, ethical issues in the collection and use of information, and sustainability are also enduring themes.

361. Introduction to Operations Technology (3 credits) Not offered after 2011-2012 academic year.
Fall and Spring. Prerequisites: a computer skills for business course or the equivalent, and BUAD 231 or equivalent.
An introduction to the production and operations aspects of manufacturing and service organizations. Emphasis is on planning, control and quantitative analysis. Topics include product/process/facilities design, capacity planning, quality and materials management, scheduling and inventory management.

362. Introduction to Information Technology (3 credits) Not offered after 2010-2011 academic year.
An introduction to current and expected future trends in information technology and their impact on organizations.  Topics include the strategic value of information; hardware and software issues; networks and telecommunications; planning, justification, development and management of information resources. Quantitative analysis is applied to evaluate and justify information resources.

431. Strategic Analysis & Consulting (3 credits)
Spring. Prerequisite: Junior Standing.  Students may not be concurrently enrolled in BUAD 431 and BUAD 300. 
The course will focus on the process of analysis and consulting.  Students will engage with a variety of tools for data collection, information gathering, interviewing, and the evaluation of hard and soft data sources.  Students will develop an appreciation for the multiple moving parts in a consulting assignment through a case competition and an engagement for a specific organization. This course fulfills the core strategy requirement.  Students may not apply both BUAD 431 and BUAD 432 toward the 120 hour degree requirement, but they may apply both BUAD 431 and BUAD 433.

437. Change Management & Organizational Transformation (3 credits)
Fall. Prerequisite or Corequisite: BUAD 317 or consent of the instructor.
The course will focus on effective process design, change management, and transforming the organization through changes in process, people, and technology.  Topics will include stakeholder analysis, goal/strategy alignment, generating buy-in, effectively information processes, performance measurement and incentives.

459. Lean Processes (1.5 credits)
Fall or Spring. Prerequisite or Corequisite: BUAD 361 or 350; or consent of the instructor. Not offered 2011-2012.
This course focuses on developing lean processes within a variety of operating environments.  Tools and strategies leading to improved process management are included.
 
461. Six Sigma (1.5 credits)
Fall. Prerequisite or Corequisite: BUAD 361 and BUAD 362, or BUAD 350; or consent of the instructor.
This course focuses on Six Sigma approaches to process quality and includes emphasis on tools and procedures for implementing Six Sigma strategies within organizations.

465. Managing Supply Chains in a Digital Economy (1.5 credits)
Fall or Spring. Prerequisite: BUAD 361 or 350. Not offered 2011-2012.
Over the last five years, technology, specifically the WEB, has revolutionized the way firms do business with each other. The usual stumbling blocks of poor information availability: incompatible organizational structures and information systems, and the high cost of collaboration are being “blown to bits” by tailored supply chain initiatives and web-centric software. This course will explore these initiatives and tools that firms are using to manage supply chains and B2B integration.

466. Developing Business Intelligence (3 credits)
Fall (Next offering Spring 2013). Prerequisite or Corequisite: BUAD 361 and BUAD 362, or BUAD 350; or consent of the instructor.
The course focuses on the collection, representation and analysis of evidence in support of decision making and process improvement.  The course will examine hard and soft measures, criteria for evaluation, and performance measurement.

467. Advanced Data Management & Modeling (1.5 credits)
Fall.
This course includes spreadsheet modeling, building simulations and additional data manipulation.

469. Visual Basic for Business (1.5 or 3 credits)
Spring. Prerequisite: BUAD 361 and BUAD 362, or BUAD 350. 
An introductory course in practical computer programming using Visual Basic.Net, the leading tool for designing user interfaces and web services. Topics include basic principles of programming and of the Visual Basic.Net language, including the architecture of Windows applications, control structures, arrays, functions, object-oriented programming, Visual Basic.Net class libraries, and event-driven programming. Students will also learn how to make user interfaces friendly and efficient and utilize VB with other software such as Excel. Intended for students with little or no programming experience.

474. Negotiation (1.5 or 3 credits)
Spring.
This course introduces students to the art and science of negotiation through the study of well-documented historical negotiations, personal experience with live negotiation exercises, and the study of game theory. Students will focus on understanding the games that underlie most negotiations and developing the analytical tools and techniques required in negotiation. Intended for business majors who have completed the first semester of the junior-year core program.

476. Electronic Commerce (1.5 or 3 credits)
Fall. Prerequisite BUAD 362 or 350.
Electronic commerce describes the use of digital connectivity to pursue business objectives, including information technologies such as electronic data interchange, electronic funds transfer, Internet, intranets, extranets, mobile and wireless. To remain competitive in the 21st century, firms and the people whom manage them must more fully utilize the opportunities presented by electronic commerce by refining the definitions of markets, relationships with partners and competitors, and the development and delivery of goods and services.

480. Sustainability & Green Supply Chain (1.5 credits)
Fall or Spring. Prerequisite or Corequisite: BUAD 361 or 350; or consent of the instructor.  Not offered 2011-2012.
This course focuses on the development of sustainable supply chains.  Students will explore leading-edge initiatives by forward-thinking companies to (re)design and market products, source, manufacture, and eventually distribute them in an environmentally-, ecologically-, and socially- responsible way.

482. Project Management (1.5 credits)
Fall.
This course will focus on the concepts and tools related to the management of projects within organizations.  Students will examine all phases of project management including selection, planning, scheduling, control, and termination.  Topics include writing project plans, developing work breakdown structures, project scheduling, resource management, earned value analysis, and project risk management.