Year-One Course Descriptions

Transition to Learning

The Executive MBA (EMBA) has developed resources to help individuals successfully transition into the program. In early summer, incoming students receive a set of interactive CD’s that covers the basic skills in financial accounting, introduction to finance, introduction to statistics, and basic mathematics. From late August to early September, students also can attend optional class sessions in financial accounting, statistics, writing and communications, and mathematics. These CD’s and review class sessions are included as part of the EMBA tuition and are scheduled in conjunction with orientation.

Orientation

The two-day orientation at the start of the program introduces students to the EMBA curriculum, faculty, and classmates. Study groups are created in advance, and during orientation an expert in team dynamics provides guidance and resources to help the groups build high-performance teams. Because study group participation is a critical part of the EMBA experience, orientation attendance is required.

Term 1

Reporting and Analysis of Financial Data. Provides an examination of the accounting and reporting procedures underlying financial statements prepared and issued by business enterprises. This examination is based primarily on the rules and guidelines defined as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Discussion includes the role of the CPA in the financial reporting process.

High Impact Leadership. Develops the leadership, management, people, teambuilding, organizational development, and life management skills students need to make a difference in times of dynamic change and
succeed personally and professionally.

Term 2

Understanding Managerial Statistics. Instructs students on how to use statistics in decision-making. The course focuses on inferential statistics (estimation and hypothesis testing) and advanced statistical models for decision-making (regression, correlation, and related techniques). Background topics include descriptive statistics, probability, and decision-making under uncertainty. Managerial applications are presented throughout.

Managerial Economics. Presents concepts, tools, and methods of economic analysis relevant to decisions within the business firm. Topics include the role of prices and profits in resource allocation, production cost, and productivity.

Term 3

Marketing Management. Introduces the role of marketing in organizations and society, analysis of marketing problems, and development of marketing plans. Participants learn to identify and analyze marketing opportunities and to support recommendations for action.

Operations Management. Introduces the importance of operations in guiding and executing firm strategy; examines how organizations use productivity, quality, timeliness, flexibility, and innovation to improve competitiveness; and emphasizes the importance of close alignment between marketing and operations functions. Other topics include service operations, supply chain management, lean operations, mass customization, total quality management, non-profit operations, and environmental operations, among others.

Term 4

Financial Management. Develops the analytical framework and tools for making decisions about the firm’s investment and financing. Topics include the time value of money, analysis of risk and return, firm valuation, capital budgeting, cost of capital, and analysis of financial conditions.

Strategic Cost Management and Control. Emphasizes how managers can construct and use accounting information when setting and executing strategy and making tactical decisions. Also examines the organizational and behavioral issues involved in the design and use of management control systems that
support competitive strategy.

Year-End Synthesis

The first year of the EMBA culminates with a three-day retreat at a Colorado mountain resort. The retreat is designed to pull together the fundamental business skills covered during the first year. At the retreat, students participate in a new business venture feasibility exercise, creating the fundamentals of a business plan for a new business venture. The retreat includes recreational time for students and their families, and is included in the EMBA tuition.