Mini MBA

Date: March 16 - May 18, 2009           (Monday Evenings) Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Location: Springfield, MO Fee: $995

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The Mini MBA is a survey of the main topics of a professional management program and is ideal for managers who need cutting-edge information for immediate practical application. It provides a foundation in current business theory and practice in an intensive 10-week format within an adult learning environment.

Week 1
Strategic Visionary: Looking To The Future
Strategic thinking is the process of thought that goes on inside the heads of organizational leaders that extracts their best visionary thinking. It is this strategic thinking that determines the "look" of the organization at some specific point in the future. Strategic thinking is the framework for strategic and operational plans of an organization. This session will illustrate the process to enable participants to focus on the long-term perspective while operating in the present.
Session facilitator: Larry Summers, PhD, Assistant Professor, Missouri State University

Week 2
Human Resources Management: People & Productivity are Your Competitive Advantage
Develop your awareness of current and future challenges in the human resources field. Explore management's responsibilities in selection, retention, development, evaluation and reward. Special emphasis will be placed on the prevention of legal problems and the latest developments in this ever-changing and challenging arena.
Session facilitator:  Glenn Pace, MBA, Adjunct Faculty, Missouri State Management Department

Week 3
Marketing Management: Creating a New Advantage
This session examines the fundamental functions of marketing management with respect to the driving mission of the organization - the creation and maintenance of long-term customer relationships that profitably satisfy customer needs. We will target and identify market opportunities, think about how to position a firm's product or service and understand the marketing mindset. The effect of current market place trends and developments will be an important part of the session.
Session facilitator: Sherry Cook, Instructor, Missouri State Marketing Department

Week 4
Information Technology & Business Process Reengineering
The focus of this session will be to understand how to effectively use IT within the organization to achieve maximum results. Practical guidelines for managing IT will be given and current best practices; IT impact; planning and budgeting for IT; and IT trends. We will also look at the challenges that technologies create, business process reengineering and working with IT professionals within a customer-driven IT system.
Session facilitator: Greg Burris, VP of Administration and Information Services, Missouri State University

Week 5
How to Understand and Interpret Financial Statements
Concepts used in preparing financial statements and interpreting their meaning will be an important part of this session. We will focus on the income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flows with particular emphasis on how various transactions affect these financial statements. Interrelationships among the statements will be highlighted; ratio analysis and comparisons of operations within your particular industry will be noted.
Session facilitator: Donald Smillie, CPA, Lecturer, Missouri State School of Accountancy

Week 6
Using Accounting Information for Cost Control and Management Decision Making
Management accounting utilizes information for internal decision making and implementing cost and profitability controls. This session will contrast Management Accounting with Financial Accounting. It will explore basic cost behaviors and their measurement, profit relationships and special issues which can greatly affect business outcomes. We will examine what accounting figures to rely on for making effective business decisions and learn the meaning of specific accounting vocabulary.
Session facilitator: Olen Greer, PhD, CMA, Professor, Missouri State School of Accountancy

Week 7
Ethics & Leadership
Leaders facilitate the movement of an organization toward shared goals and objectives. This session focuses on a unique perspective by examining the characteristics leaders exhibit to inspire and enable others to perform in an outstanding manner. Successful leaders understand how their personal character and attributes can positively or negatively affect their organization.
Session  Facilitator: James Lampe, Associate Professor, School of Accountancy, Missouri State University

Week 8
International Business: Exploring the Global Environment
Just what does building a life beyond our national borders require? How can we be competitive? What do we need to understand? The growing interdependence of the world economy makes understanding the international scene essential for all managers.
Session Facilitator: Juan Meraz, Adjunct Faculty, Missouri State CIS Department

Week 9
Transforming Personality Differences into Collaborative Productivity
Have you ever been puzzled by someone else's thoughts, preferences, or behavior? Would you like to develop the ability to understand why differences of opinion and perception occur? This session promises to enable you to find answers to those questions. It will give you the essential insight into yourself and others you need to effectively communicate, collaborate, and lead. You will complete the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and learn how to leverage an understanding of psychological type to make your workplace more effective and productive.
Session Facilitator: Michal Dale, Adjunct Faculty, Missouri State Management Department

Week 10
Leveraging Organizational Culture During Times of Change
Managers need an appreciation of their organizational culture and must know how to articulate vision, initiate change, and gain employees support and cooperation. An organization's ability to adapt to changing competitive conditions is an important predictor of success. Even if you feel your organization is already successful, you can do more to make your organization more flexible, adaptive and agile.
Session facilitator:  Linda Boardman Fite, Missouri State/MDI Adjunct Instructor and Management Consultant

Register Now Online
You can also register for Mini MBA or any other MDI class by calling (417) 836-5667 or 1-800-733-3203 or  E-Mail MDI@missouristate.edu. 

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