rensselaer’s lally school mba: new curriculum proposal october 2003
TRANSCRIPT
Rensselaer’s Lally School MBA: New Curriculum Proposal
October 2003
Parameters
The Traditional Framework used as the Framework upon which the (proposed) New MBA Curriculum is built:• 60 credits total• 15 credits per semester • Four, 14 week semesters
So, New and “Breakthrough” approach to Business/Management Education—but within the already established parameters.
And, still pushes Management Education to a new, higher level. . .
Why Revise the MBA Curriculum?
Integration
Coordination (and avoiding duplication)
A Program vs. a collection of courses
Practice orientation: how business operates
Differentiation and Competitive Advantage
What was Done: Recognizing both the success of the
integrated Design, Manufacturing, and Marketing course model and the potential of this model to deliver in terms of integration, coordination, a program, and differentiation, potential “streams” of knowledge and practice were identified
Education oriented toward Objectives (what people do) rather than disciplines
Identified relevant “critical” knowledge from various fields to integrate into the course streams—concrete content not yet finalized
Identified additional knowledge/courses appropriate for the Lally MBA: tools/skills/placement
Developed a structure appropriate for sequencing and delivering the course streams and courses
Sensitivity to loading and teaching hours
Critical Skills for Lally School MBAs Understand the financial and economic elements
and drivers of business Gain mastery over the indicators of business
performance through skills in accounting and statistics
Build business, maintain, grow, and/or kill it. Understand business implications of emerging
technologies (and how innovation occurs in different industries)
Use information technology to create and capture value—new ways to create value through IT...but not only IT…new business platforms and models
Learn to think strategically about competing in new or existing industries: new sources of advantage
Manage risk and uncertainty Drive the design of new products and services for
commercial success
Major Course Streams
Creating and Managing the Enterprise
Value Chains, Networks, & Innovation
Technology, Innovation, and Industrial Dynamics: Biz Implications of Emerging Technologies
Developing Innovative New Products and Services
Competitive Strategy
Foundation &Tools Courses
Economic & Financial Environment and Evaluation Analysis (Accounting and Statistics as well)
Decision Models P.S….we have not forgotten other critical
pieces such as OB, etc.!!!
Career & Professional Development Courses
Craig ’68 Career Seminar (required, no credit)
Succeeding in the High-Tech Environment
Focus Courses
Leaders, Heroes, and Innovators (required, no credit—Orientation course)
Global Business Social Responsibility: Business
Ethics and Environment Managing on the Edge: Corporate
Innovation under Stress and Strain Electives (4 electives): Revised in
accordance with final core curriculum
Rensselaer Lally MBA Curriculum Proposal
Fall Year One - 15 Credits Spring Year One - 15 Credits
Leaders, Heroes and
Innovators (no credit but is
required) This course will be 2 hours a day, plus activities
& The Craig
Leardership Seminar ( also
credit but is required)
WEEK OF COHORT
BUILDING
Economic & Financial
Environment and Evaluation Analysis
(Statistics) I 9 Credits, 21 hours
per week for Six weeks
Creating and Managing an Enterprise I 3 Credits, 5.35 hours per week for Eight weeks
Technology, Innovation and Industrial Dynamics I
3 Credits, 5.35 hours per week for Eight weeks
Economic & Financial
Environment and Evaluation Analysis
(Statistics) II 3 Credits, 21 hours per week for Two
weeks
Creating and Managing an Enterprise II 3 Credits, 3.5 hours per week for Twelve weeks
Two, three hour courses a week with a twenty minute break
Value Chains, Networks, & Innovation I 3 credits, 3.5 hours per week for Twelve Weeks
weeks
Technology, Innovation and Industrial Dynamics II
3 Credits, 3.5 hours per week for Twelve weeks
Elective
Two, three hour courses a week with a twenty minute break
14 Weeks 14 Weeks
Year One
Year Two
Rensselaer Lally MBA Curriculum Proposal
Fall Year Two - 15 Credits
10.5 hours a week for 4 weeks running
concurrent
Global Business I Credit
Decision Models (Analytical Modeling
Operations) 2 Credits
Succeeding in the High-Tech Environment
1 Credit, 7 hours per week for 2
weeks
Strategy I 2 credits, 3.5 hours per week for
8 weeks
Developing Innovative New Products and Services I
3 credits, 4.2 hours per week for 10 weeks
Value Chains, Networks, & Innovation II 3 credits, 4.2 hours per week for 10 weeks
Elective 3 credits
Spring Year Two - 15 Credits
Social Responsibility
1 Credit, 7 hours a week for 2 weeks
Strategy II 2 credits, 3.5 hours per week for 12 weeks
Developing Innovative New Products and Services II 3 credits, 4.2 hours per week for 14 weeks
Managing on the Edge: Corporate Innovation for the Coming Years 3 credits, 4.2 hours per week for 14 weeks
Elective 3 credits
Elective 3 credits
14 Weeks 14 Weeks
Cohort Building Week
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Leaders, Heroes and Innovators,0 Credits9AM – 11 AM
Leaders, Heroes and Innovators,0 Credits9AM – 11 AM
Leaders, Heroes and Innovators,0 Credits9AM – 11 AM
Leaders, Heroes and Innovators,0 Credits9AM – 11 AM
Leaders, Heroes and Innovators,0 Credits9AM – 11 AM
Craig Leadership Seminar,0 Credits11AM- 1PM
Craig Leadership Seminar,0 Credits11AM- 1PM
Craig Leadership Seminar,0 Credits11AM- 1PM
Craig Leadership Seminar,0 Credits11AM- 1PM
Craig Leadership Seminar,0 Credits11AM- 1PM
1PM – 2PM Lunch Break
1PM – 2 PMLunch Break
1PM – 2 PMLunch Break
1PM – 2 PMLunch Break
1PM – 2 PMLunch Break
Scheduled Activities2PM – 3:15 PM
Scheduled Activities2PM – 3:15 PM
Scheduled Activities2PM – 3:15 PM
Scheduled Activities2PM – 3:15 PM
Scheduled Activities2PM – 3:15 PM
Fall Semester Week’s One Through Six - Fundamentals
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Eco & Fin Env & Eval Anal I8AM – 12:15PM
Eco & Fin Env & Eval Anal I8AM – 12:15PM
Eco & Fin Env & Eval Anal I8AM – 12:15PM
Eco & Fin Env & Eval Anal I8AM – 12:15PM
Eco & Fin Env & Eval Anal I8AM – 12:15PM
12:15 PM – 1PM Lunch Break
12:15 PM – 1PM Lunch Break
12:15 PM – 1PM Lunch Break
12:15 PM – 1PM Lunch Break
12:15 PM – 1PM Lunch Break
Practical Training1PM – 4PM
Practical Training1PM – 4PM
Team Meeting 1PM – 4PM
Team Meeting 1PM – 4PM
Fall Semester Week’s Six through Fourteen
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Creating & Managing an Enterprise I 9AM – 12 PM w/20 minute break
Technology, Innovation & Industrial Dynamics I9AM – 12 PM w/20 minute break
Reserved for Guest Speakers or Practical Experiences
Creating & Managing an Enterprise I 9AM – 12 PM w/20 minute break
Technology, Innovation & Industrial Dynamics I9AM – 12 PM w/20 minute break
12PM – 1PM Lunch Break
12PM – 1PM Lunch Break
12PM – 1PM Lunch Break
12PM – 1PM Lunch Break
1PM – 3PM Team Meeting
1PM – 3PM Team Meeting
1PM – 3PM Team Meeting
1PM – 3PM Team Meeting
Creating and Managing an Enterprise This course is designed to help MBAs
understand the many functions and activities they must master to develop, manage & grow a business.
The course focuses on educating students about the management of five key aspects—product, people, markets, finances, and competition—for business success. The four primary components of the business life cycle—(1) formation, (2) building and managing, (3) sustaining and growing, and (4) transformation provide the backdrop
This course is likely to encompass knowledge from multiple fields such as: strategy, entrepreneurship, marketing, OB/HR, and finance.
Value Chains, Networks, & Innovation This course is designed to help MBAs
understand how and where Value is being (or can be) created in today’s evolving industry network, and how firms can participate at different points in the value creation process.
The course will educate students about how the different competencies work together as a process to create value for customers, employees, and shareholders. It will consider alternative models of value creation in different industries as well as examine numerous managerial issues including the product/process tech strategy, innovation processes, IT infrastructure, operations, financial, organization and leadership issues.
Students will come away with an understanding of the value chain and different approaches for creating sustainable revenue streams
Technology, Innovation, and Industrial Dynamics The objective of this course is to expose
students to the business opportunities and challenges presented by emerging, complex, and sophisticated technologies. Technologies such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, superconductivity, MEMS, fuel cells, hydrogen, terahertz, IT, etc. will be examined in terms of what they are, what they can do, and what the likely impact will be for each on markets and industries.
Students will gain understanding and skills for assessing technology driven industry changes, the role of various key players, socially responsible business models, as well as the management tools and analyses for addressing the opportunities and complexities involved.
Competitive Strategy
This course will provide students with the tools and perspectives to create and implement effective corporate strategy.
Along with examining the various dimensions of business strategy, the course also will help students understand the changing sources of sustainable competitive advantage in today’s global markets
Students will utilize a series of real corporate projects to attack actual business problems, with an eye towards enhancing their ability to think strategically about protecting and enhancing a firm’s competitive assets.
Developing Innovative New Products and Services
This course builds significantly on the knowledge students gain in the first year of the program by immersing them in the practices and activities that lead to the creation and distribution of new products. Students undertake the actual steps involved in conceiving and implementing a new product or service offering.
Students will gain understanding and experience with skills such as: understanding customer needs, conceptualizing new products/services, design, manufacturing, costing, marketing and distribution, as they relate to developing innovative products.
Leaders, Heroes and Innovators
This will be the MBA students’ initial exposure to the Lally School curriculum. Accordingly, the goal of this course is to excite them about innovation and entrepreneurship…so they can understand the potential for being a real change agent.
Materials will be drawn from inside and outside the management literature to demonstrate alternative leadership modes for bringing about dramatic as well as evolutionary change.
Managing on the Edge
This course is designed to put students on “edge” and make them “uneasy” as they come towards the end of their MBA program. The goal is to place them in non-linear, unstable, uncertain situations and to encourage them to develop innovative solutions for dealing with risk and uncertainty.
Materials will be drawn from inside and outside of management to assist the students discover how best to manage uncertainty and deal with surprises and the un-anticipated.
“Portfolio” Deliverables (for each MBA student): Assessment Tools Business Plan Competitive Assessment Technical Assessment Wall Street Journal Analysis
(project/exercise) Concentration Specific Project
(e.g., Market Research project, IT database design/management project)
End of Slides for Proposed New MBA Curriculum