Master of Business Administration (General)

Course Objectives:

Business decisions are often difficult and risky because decisions have to be made with incomplete and imperfect information. The primary purpose of this course is to introduce the basics of modeling and analyzing problems that involves business decision - making under uncertainty.

Course Synopsis:

This subject seeks to expose students to apply statistical knowledge to solve real business problems. It focuses on gathering data, analysis, and interpretation of information on businesses, industries, employees, and consumers. Students will be exposed to the concepts, techniques and application of descriptive and inferential statistics.

Course Rationale:

• To equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge in statistics relevant to managers.
• To equip students with techniques for organizing and formulating decision problems and analyzing data, probability theory and some basic statistical concepts and procedures.
• To equip on how to use computer software in decision and statistical analyses (we will use Microsoft Excel and an Excel add-in). We will concentrate on exploring the data, questioning our assumptions and interpreting our results. 

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Analyze statistical techniques to resolve basic concept of statistics in an organization. 
2. Classify different functions and concepts of statistics. 
3. Evaluate statistical presentations in developing variety of measures. 
4. Interpret probability, estimation and various tests in statistical context. 

Course Objectives:

Students are introduced to the management of an organization's workforce through the design and implementation of effective human resources policies and procedures. Current issues and practices are examined. Topics include the need for human resources management and its growing professionalism; human resource planning including job design and analysis; recruitment and selection; compensation; employee development; workplace health and safety; and employee relations.

Course Synopsis:

This subject seeks to enhance students understanding of the concept, roles, functions and the practice of human resources in organization.  It focuses on human resource environment and challenges faced by organization, managing work flows and job analysis, legal aspect of HR in Malaysia, human resource planning and recruitment, selection and testing process, training and development, managing organizational renewal, appraising and improving performance, managing compensation and incentives, occupational safety and health at workplace and employee relations

Course Rationale:

To equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge in Human Resource Management relevant to managers.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate human resource management theories and issues with a good understanding in relation to the functions and operations of organizations. 
2. Differentiate the impacts of human resource factors in organization functions. 
3. Develop their knowledge through group discussions and written assignments. 
4. Propose roles and legal aspects regarding human resource. 

Course Objectives:

The objective of this course is to introduce advances principles, methods, and tools for project management in a realistic context, such that they can be taken to the workplace to improve your ability and will therefore understand the fundamental tensions between technical scope, cost, schedule and risk.

Course Synopsis:

This module seeks to expose students to the concepts, principles, procedures and practice of conducting a proper research to tackle real life business issues/problems.  Specific attention is given on how to define problems, review relevant literature, design the research, collect and analyze data, draw conclusions and prepare a written report documenting the research.

Course Rationale:

This Project Management course examines project management in theory and practice and the roles and responsibilities of the project manager. The course offers a practical approach to managing projects, focusing on organizing, planning, and controlling the efforts of the project.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the subject, students should be able to:

1. Interpret contents, processes and context of project management. 
2. Design the scheduling involved in the management. 
3. Organize the process management of organization which involves the decision making process of a manager. 
4. Generate future plan for the organization to steer the business towards a profitable level. 

Course Objectives:

This course provides candidates with an understanding of the principles of, and practical experience, of using industry best practices involved in the prioritizing and assigning of changes, authorizing changes, managing the building, testing and implementation of changes, reviewing changes and the planning and implementation of the change process.

Course Synopsis:

In the midst of uncertainty in today’s business environment, organizations must continuously implementing change that would yield benefits.  Companies have to learn how to change and sustain change in their organizations as part of a continuous process of improvement, renewal and transformation.  In recent years, many companies are introducing new initiatives in areas such as Total Quality, Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) and Continuous Improvement in bringing about change in order to provide product or service and business performance.

Course Rationale:

This course is aimed at those working and preparing to work in a change management role and/or within a change management process whether at a technical, operational, supervisory or managerial level.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Analyze the importance of change in management system within the organization to sustain the business operations.
2. Compose processes of change to enhance and positively impact the organization’s functions.
3. Advocate change as a method of renewal, transformation and continual improvement.
4. Propose future plan for the organization to steer the business towards a profitable level. 

Course Objectives

This course is designed to introduce students to the research methods that can be used in most business research and other research related to the social phenomenon. The areas that will be covered includes, introduction to the scientific method, research process, ethics in research, research design, measurement, sampling, data collection, analysis, interpretation and report writing.

Synopsis

This module seeks to expose students to the concepts, principles, procedures and practice of conducting a proper research to tackle real life business issues/problems.  Specific attention is given on how to define problems, review relevant literature, design the research, collect and analyze data, draw conclusions and prepare a written report documenting the research.

Course Rationale

• To equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge on how to conduct proper research.
• To enable students to write a thesis on the master degree level.
• To inculcate the ability to use research in making business decisions.

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of the subject, students should be able to:

1. Interpret the different principles and concepts of business research.
2. Construct the procedure and practice for an effective method in research. 
3. Evaluate and analyze the data retrieved before and after the research.
4. Conceptualize the problems and literature reviewed during class discussions.

Course Objectives

Strategic Management involves the formulation and implementation of the major goals and initiatives taken by a company's top management on behalf of owners, based on consideration of resources and an assessment of the internal and external environments in which the organization competes. It is an area of business that links strategy and competitive advantage and for this to take place, students must understand basic business strategies and other strategies and to be able to differentiate between corporate, business and functional strategies. It is important to familiarize with the strategic planning process, understand and apply the various tools and techniques of management strategy, elaborate on the strategy analyses, and to realize that globalization helps in achieving competitive advantage.

Synopsis

Strategic management is examined in terms of contents, process and context.  The subject covers issues of internal and external environment analysis and associates them with the notion of competitive advantage.  Strategy is defined at three levels: corporate, business and functional, nonetheless, it is thoroughly discussed at the business and functional level only. The roles and responsibilities of managers involved in the decision making process are also highlighted.

Course Rationale

Today’s business is full of uncertainty. It has to be competitive in order to survive and to grow. This is precisely the main reason why strategic management helps managers to find ways and means to become competitive in business. Strategic management knowledge provides the directions through examples of the strategies that can be adopted in various business situations.

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Interpret contents, processes and context of strategic management. 
2. Construct analysis from internal and external environment of the organization.
3. Classify and understand the set of company strategic direction and how they use data and analysis to create key strategic and operational performance measures to monitor the effectiveness of the strategy implemented. 
4. Revise the concept and impact of globalization to an organization.

Course Objectives

Financial management provides a foundation of the main topics in financial economics covering selected topics in corporate finance and asset pricing. In corporate finance we will be discussing capital budgeting, valuation, capital structure, and payout policy. In asset pricing we will be studying the risk and return tradeoff, the Capital Asset Pricing Model, market efficiency, and derivative securities

Synopsis

This subject seeks to expose students to the functions and principles of financial management and its application in managerial decisions.  It focuses on the scope of corporate finance which include financial markets, financial statement analysis, financial planning and forecasting, profile of risk and return, time value of money, valuation of shares and bonds and capital budgeting.

Course Rationale

• To equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge in financial management relevant to managers.
• To provide a theoretical framework for considering corporate finance problems and issues and to apply these concepts in practice.
• To enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of financial management. Through class discussion, informal study groups, and formal group projects you will enhance their communication and collaboration skills.
• Students will learn how managers should organize their financial transactions effectively and with integrity.

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Revise the major theories and issues related to the nature and roles of financial management toward achieving managerial decisions. 
2. Exemplify the dynamics of organization functions related to financial management factors. 
3. Interpret financial markets analysis in terms of corporate financing. 

Course Objectives

In addition to possessing solid knowledge in all business functional areas, the graduates are expected to achieve competency in seven program areas: 1) Developing Marketing Strategies and Plans; 2) Capturing Marketing Insights and Performance; 3) Connecting with Customers 4) Building Strong Brand; 5) Shaping the Market Offerings; 6) Delivering and Communicating Value and 7) Creating Successful Long-Term Growth. With these competencies, the graduates will be able to develop effective business marketing solutions through the use of strategic marketing programme, e-marketing and marketing communications.

Synopsis

Due to the changing environment, firms now are increasingly recognizing the importance of developing intelligence and strategic insights about market and consumers. Topics covered include corporate business strategies, marketing management process, SWOT analysis, consumer behaviour, developing strategic marketing programme, e-marketing and marketing communications

Course Rationale

• To develop students with theoretical and practical knowledge in marketing management relevant to managers.
• To focuses on formatting and implementing marketing management strategies and policies, a task undertaken in most companies at the strategic business unit level.  

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. State the role and functions of marketing within a range of organizations.
2. Describe key marketing concepts, theories and techniques for analyzing a variety of marketing situations.
3. Identify and demonstrate the dynamic nature of the environment in which marketing decisions are taken and appreciate the implications for marketing strategy determination and implementation.
4. Analyze the relevance of marketing concepts and theories in evaluating the impacts of environmental changes on marketing planning, strategies and practices.
5. Demonstrate the ability to carry out a research project that explores marketing planning and strategies for a specific marketing situation.
6. Manage themselves and members they work with in a team when undertaking independent management study.

Course Objectives

In addition to possessing solid knowledge in all business functional areas, the graduates are expected to achieve competency in four program areas: 1) analyze the international environments in which businesses operate.; 2) solve problems related to international competition; 3) integrate the functional areas of the international organization  and 4) Strategizing around the globe.

Synopsis

This subject discusses the overall global environment (macro level) impacting on businesses and the strategies used by companies around the globe in encountering the situation and dynamic change faced.  Discussion also includes topics like industry analysis, strategy formulation, and strategy implementation.  

Course Rationale

To equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge in handling International Business relevant to managers. With these competencies, the graduates will be able to develop strategies for success in international business and examine the critical success factors relevant to international business strategies. Apart from that, also be able to apply their knowledge of critical success factors to the solution of international business cases

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Behave according to the organization and its business functions against dynamic change on a macro level.

2. Demonstrate the strategy formulation and implementation that impacts the business operations.

3. Evaluate foreign exchange and financial markets within the organization.

4. Classify the elements of culture that impacts international business.

Course Objectives

This course focuses on issues ranging from price, profits, cost determination and output decisions. At the end of the course, the students will have the basic tools that structure this problem for optimal decision-making and, more importantly, increase the awareness to analyze economic problems from the perspective of a manager in an organization or business context.

Synopsis

This subject seeks to enhance students’ understanding on the micro and macroeconomics environment which affect a business and decision making by managers. Discussions will focus on the basic models of the firm, examines some of the criticisms of the model and offer alternatives in its place. Factors influencing firm’s supply and demand and price, various elastic ties and market structures in which the firm is operating will also be discussed. Attention is given to discuss the production theory and estimation, Production with one variable, two variable and Optimal combination of input. Finally clarifying Cost theory and market structure with perfect competition, monopoly, and monopolistic competitions.

Course Rationale

• To equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge in Managerial Economics relevant to managers.
• To equip students with firm theory and application of these theories in the real markets.
• To distinguish the breakeven point of production.
• To realize the market structure foe for and long run planning 

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Apply the effect of micro and macroeconomics on business. 
2. Improve efficiency of the basic models of an organization and offer alternatives to the functioning and operations of the organization.
3. Apply the production theory and estimation that affect the organization’s decision making process.

Course Objectives

Decisions made in organizations about who to hire, what training to give them, how to reward them, and so on have become more important.  In addition, these decisions are not just made by the HR department.  Individual employees and team members are becoming involved in selecting and evaluating co-workers.  Managers are responsible for selection, training, performance management, and compensation decisions.  At the same time, our society is becoming increasingly litigious. It is in your best interests as future employees and future managers to understand your responsibilities regarding HR.

Synopsis

This subject seeks to enhance students understanding of the concept, roles, functions and the practice of human resources in organization.  It focuses on human resource environment and challenges faced by organization, managing work flows and job analysis, legal aspect of HR in Malaysia, human resource planning and recruitment, selection and testing process, training and development, managing organizational renewal, appraising and improving performance, managing compensation and incentives, occupational safety and health at workplace and employee relations.

Course Rationale

• Managers should be exposed to basic concepts and learned the principles and practice of Human Resource Management so that they can become better managers and recruit, create and retain the best group human supply in an organization.
• Managers should be exposed to the knowledge of recruitment and current HRM concepts, skills and practices
• Managers should be exposed a hands-on HR applications, and high level strategic thinking within the field.

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate human resource management theories and issues with a good understanding in relation to the functions and operations of organizations. 
2. Differentiate the impacts of human resource factors in organization functions. 
3. Develop their knowledge through group discussions and written assignments. 
4. Propose roles and legal aspects regarding human resource. 

Course Objectives

1. To understand various approaches to the study of organizational behaviour;
2. To explain historical evolution of management theories;
3. To understand organizational culture, cultural theories and issues;
4. To understand personality, behaviour, emotion and values;
5. To understand perception, attribution, and motivation;
6. To illustrate various types of organizational structure and work groups;
7. To explain leadership and managerial qualities; and
8. To explain how to manage conflicts and negotiations.

Synopsis

This subject seeks to expose students to elements and issues on how ‘organizations behave’ and what causes them to behave as such. It focuses on theories, research and practice of OB especially those on the organizational dynamics related to culture, individual behaviour, social perception and attributes, motivation, performance, behaviour modifications, and decision making.

Course Rationale

• Today’s business organizations have become very complex. They have grown up to become large and even multinational in character. Employees too have become so diversified and culturally different. To be effective, therefore, managers need additional knowledge and skills. This module aims to equip managers with the necessary knowledge to make them relevant to the modern day organizations. 

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Develop a good understanding of the major theories related to the nature and functioning of organizations and behaviour of people within them. 

2. Use a structure group diagnostic model to analyze and resolve group/team performance problems. 

3. Constructs the subject matter through group discussions and written assignments. 

4. Justify theoretical aspects of subject learning into practical knowledge

Course Objectives

The dissertation is a new kind of academic project, unlike anything else a student has done. It is the academic project that marks an individual’s transition from a student to scholar. Writing a dissertation is a lot like writing a book.

Synopsis

This unit exposes students to various aspects relevant to solving problems at a work place, which includes identification of specific research problems in business, documentation of findings in the form of a written project paper and production of a suitable business report using the appropriate techniques.

Course Rationale

The aim of this module is to enable students to carry out a research study in the area of business using the research methodology principles.

Course Learning Outcome

Upon completion of the module, the student would be able to :

1. Apply the various research methodology learned
2. Analyse the research process in detailed
3. Define a research strategy
4. Practice good professional research ethics
5. Collect and analyses primary and secondary research data
6. Write and submit a research finding in a report format.