This section of the finance course extends the work undertaken in the first module with an emphasis on financial decision-making under uncertainty. Issues in capital structure, dividend policy, mergers and acquisitions, financial strategy, application of financial practices to non-corporate entities, and international finance will be addressed.

The strategy course is generally thought of and treated as the capstone course in an MBA program. All the other functional courses, tools and capabilities that have been taught in the MBA program are brought to bear on problem and issue identification in this course, accompanied by an analysis of these problems and issues faced by the firm or industry under discussion. In addition, the field of strategy has developed some of its own specialized analytical tools for use. The end objective of this course is to provide strategic recommendations to the firm regarding its performance. As a consequence, strategy is both demanding and rewarding - demanding because it marshals such a wide scope and makes such high intellectual demands, rewarding because it provides great satisfaction when challenges have been met well.

Operations Management addresses one of the major functions of the organization - the delivery of goods and services to meet customer demand. We describe marketing as the management of demand and operations as the management of supply. Operations managers need to carefully manage and direct resources, capital, labor, technology and information. This is done in multinational environments with increasing pressure for ”more, better, faster.” Customer service, quality and use of appropriate technology are critical factors. Rapid and effective communications, including the Internet, produces more options and choices than ever for the consumer.

Operating in a global environment gives managers and decision makers access to new markets, natural resources and low-cost-factor endowments, but it will also increase the risk - risks associated with exchange rate, interest rate, inflation rate, etc. Mitigating these risks requires foresight and skills to project future events. This is a challenge and it is the main focuses of this course. This course will provide a conceptual and practical understanding of the strategic issues faced by individual members of this global community of MNCs and the Nations and will focus on four elements: (1) the economic landscape of countries in terms of domestic activities; (2) trade and global interdependence; (3) government policies and their impact on domestic and international stakeholders; and (4) evaluating the implication of these on global strategy faced by the MNCs as well as domestically operating companies.

Consultants have a special skill in being able to diagnose a client situation, arrive at the client dilemma quickly and sketch a framework for approaching the dilemma. Drawing on the instructors' consulting background, the course will present a consulting case methodology for approaching the required Action Learning Program. On completing the course, the student consultants will be armored with a powerful and professional framework for interactions with clients from any industry. The course will prepare student teams presented with client dilemmas with a logical, structured approach to the project casework and communication with the client. It will prepare the students in both the behavioral and technical skills required of consultants such that, independent of industry and individual experience or expertise, case teams will have the confidence to quickly identify the key client issues and the ability to develop a comprehensive project workplan to address the issue(s).

This course is an introduction to project management. The course covers the basics of project management, including project definition, initiation, planning and execution. This course is part of Module B "integration." It is a one-credit course that serves two purposes: (1) to introduce participants to the increasingly valued discipline of project management, (2) to assist participants in executing their Action Learning Programs. Time will also be spent on the techniques of using software and applications designed to assist in the management of projects.