Course Descriptions

BUSINESS (BU) (MBA)

BU 200 Introduction to Business (3)

This course provides a survey of business functions, principles, and practices; managerial tools for analysis; people’s behavior in organizations; practical applications in problem solving and decision-making. The course is designed for students interested in careers in organizations and for those intending to major or minor in business. Offered every semester.

BU 224 Applied Business Statistics (3)

The course introduces students to the use of statistical information for business decision-making. Topics include summary measures, frequency distributions, probability, sampling, statistical inference and simple regression. Emphasis is given to the interpretation and meaning of statistical information. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: MA 103.

English 102 and Communication 101 are prerequisites for all upper-division courses.

BU 308 Professional Writing and Presentation (3)

Letters, proposals, reports, and presentations are often the vehicles through which professionals get their ideas accepted and their contributions valued. This course teaches students the rhetorical principles and writing and presentation practices required for effective communication in business. The course focuses on format, layout, and design strategies for developing informative documents and presentations that use business data to address specified audiences in a variety of professional situations. Offered every semester.

BU 324 Quantitative Methods in Business (3)

Each of the business disciplines uses quantitative information in its planning, operations, and performance evaluation. This course introduces students to a variety of methods and tools for using quantitative data effectively: linear programming, Bayes Decision Rules, forecasting, multiple regression, network models, utility measures and inventory models. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: MA 103, BU 224.

BU 362 Legal and Ethical Issues in Business (3)

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the legal and ethical issues business decision makers face in determining appropriate policies and actions. Focus is given to the effect of decisions on stakeholders including employees, customers, investors, and society. Topics include application of moral philosophies to common business dilemmas, professional codes of ethics, and elements of business law including contracts, the Uniform Commercial code, and agency. As part of this class students will have the option to participate in activities that integrate meaningful business-related service to the community with course learning. Service-Learning Course. Offered every semester. Cross-listed with AC

BU 402 International Business (3)

This course is designed to provide students an understanding of the global environment in which international business takes place, as well as the role and behavior of the multinational firm in responding to the environment. The course seeks to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivities to engage business activities more effectively in the complex international context. Topics include trade theory, import and export strategies, international investment, negotiations and diplomacy, and global supply chain management. Offered every semester. Prerequisite: BU 200.

BU 416 Career Development (3)

Starting one’s career is often both an exciting goal and a mystifying, overwhelming challenge. This course provides students with the knowledge and tools needed for successful career planning and entry. The course covers developmental issues, theories, and activities useful for career exploration. Also included are approaches to making career and lifestyle choices, societal trends that may affect career decisions, and self-management skills at work. Students develop an action plan for initiating their career and personal portfolio of resources for use in job search. Offered every semester. Prerequisite: BU 308. Cross-listed with AC 416.

BU 469 Business Strategy (3)

This capstone course for business majors provides students the opportunity to integrate the knowledge gained in their business course work to better understand and engage the work of organizations. Topics include organizational assessment; organizational “visioning” and mission compositions; strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation; and the coordination of resources, core competencies, and processes to achieve competitive advantage and provide social value. Student teams conduct and present rigorous case analyses of exemplar organizations. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: BU 200, AC 202, EC 201, EC 202, FIN 301, MKT 301, MGT 306 and BU 308.

BU 470 Senior Field Experience (3)

This course is designed to connect students’ course work in business to the operations of a real-world organization and to facilitate their transition from student to professional. Student teams function as consultants, with the guidance of a Faculty Supervisor, to analyze an organizational situation, develop recommendations, and implement an appropriate project in a sponsoring community organization. Teams accomplish their project, complete a project report and group process assessment, and present their results. Service-Learning Course. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: BU 469

BU 480 Special Topics (3)

Special topics in business that are presented as announced. Prerequisites vary according to course.

BU 487 Business Internship (3)

This course involves the student engaging in a minimum of 150 hours of professional work experience that is related to the student’s career goals and approved by the instructor. The student meets regularly with the instructor during the term and completes a report documenting the work experience and its relationship to the student’s business education. This course may be repeated, but a new work experience must be undertaken. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing in business and minimum 2.00 GP.A

BU 499 Directed Study (1 to 3)

Individualized study on a student-selected topic arranged through the program advisor. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and consent of program advisor.

MBA 510 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR MANAGERS (3)

This course introduces students to the critical concepts and terminology of accounting, often called the language of business. The course includes the financial content typically found in a two-course undergraduate accounting sequence. Prerequisite: none.

MBA 520 ANALYTICAL SKILLS FOR MANAGERS (3)

Provides background in quantitative methods required for advanced MBA coursework. The course focuses on using mathematical and statistical reasoning and computation to solve organizational problems. Topics include the time value of money, present value, data organization, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and business applications of algebraic expressions. Prerequisite: none.

MBA 530 BUSINESS FOUNDATIONS (3)

This course provides students with the concepts and tolls to understand businesses and the environments in which they operate in preparation for graduate study in the field. Elements of business environment covered in the course include economics, business law and ethics, and global issues. Elements of organizations covered in the course include core functions (marketing and operations), resources (money, people, and information), as well as business integration and strategy. This course is designed for students entering the MBA program with undergraduate degrees in fields other than business. Prerequisite: none

MBA 600 LEADING PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS (3)

Provides concepts and best practices for leading individuals and groups toward working more effectively. Central issues include dealing with different personalities, motivating others, using people’s best abilities, and building social influence and personal power. Examines the impact of management culture and organizational structure on the success of individuals and teams. Attention is given to strategic and political dimensions of leadership in organizations. Prerequisite: none.

MBA 601 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR MANAGERS (3)

Along with MBA 602, this course provides perspectives and tools to enhance managerial problem solving. The course focuses on understanding the economic context in which organizations function and the economic decision tools for bettering firm performance. Consequently, the course uses macroeconomic variables (such as national income and productivity, money and banking, and the economic role of government) to inform the microeconomic choices organizations must make to enhance their own success (such as cost determination, pricing, risk analysis). Prerequisite: MBA 510 and MBA 520 or equivalent.

MBA 602 MANAGERIAL ETHICS AND DECISION MAKING (3)

Along with MBA 601, this course provides perspectives and tools to enhance managerial problem solving. The course focuses on understanding the social and operational variables pertinent to making effective choices. Topics include social responsibility, organizational misbehavior, applications of moral philosophies, framing, improving creativity, hypothesis testing, utility analysis, and other quantitative and qualitative decision methods. Prerequisite: none.

MBA 610 MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING (3)

Focuses on using accounting data to make management decisions. Students learn how accounting information is used to plan and control operations. Volume cost-profit analysis, cost estimation, and short and long term financial decisions are studied from a managerial perspective. Prerequisite: MBA 510 and MBA 520 or equivalent.

MBA 611 MANAGERIAL FINANCE (3)

Covers basic principles of financial valuation and analysis. Topics include financial statement analysis, working capital management, long-term financing decisions, and capital structure and dividend policy. Prerequisite: MBA 610 and MBA 520 or equivalent.

MBA 612 MANAGERIAL MARKETING (3)

Employs a case study approach for applying marketing principles to marketing management and strategy. Quantitative and qualitative approaches involve situation analysis, market analysis and targeting, strategic applications, and marketing planning. Prerequisite: none.

MBA 613 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (3)

Provides a strategic perspective on using human resources to increase firm success while improving employee wellbeing. Topics include recruitment, professional development, compensation and benefits, evaluation, and termination. Particular attention is given to implications of HR procedures for employee performance. Prerequisite: none.

MBA 617 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT (3)

The Operations Management course provides students with management skills for planning, coordinating, and controlling the people and technology used to provide goods and services. It studies the production of goods and provision of services by an organization to meet the needs of its customers. The course examines operations strategy, quality management, scheduling, supply chain management, project management, and facilities design in a wide variety of industries. Prerequisite MBA 520 or equivalent.

MBA 800 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (3)

This capstone course gives students an opportunity to experience the many demands and managerial complexities placed on top managers. The course helps students integrate and apply what they have learned in functional business courses, as well as gain experience in using the techniques, tools, and skills of strategic analysis. Student teams engage a “live” organization in their field project and bring real world challenges they face back into the classroom. Prerequisite: This course should be taken after completing all core courses. ELECTIVE AND CONCENTRATION COURSES MBA 510, MBA 520 and MBA 530 are prerequisites for all elective courses

MBA 616 NOT-FOR-PROFIT ACCOUNTING (3)

Examines concepts and practices unique to non-governmental and not-for-profit entities. Topics include organization and functions, fund accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, accounting principles and standards for NPO’s, financial controls, auditing, and tax issues. Accounting concentration students only.

MBA 701 ENTREPRENEURSHIP (3)

Looks at the challenges of establishing, owning, and managing a small business. Students learn methods of identifying new business opportunities, planning for and organizing a business; marketing its good and/or services; and financial planning and control. Prerequisite: MBA 611 and MBA 612.

MBA 702 BUSINESS LAW (3)

Provides knowledge of business law needed to make informed and effective business decisions. Emphasis is on legal issues important to managers for identifying and controlling risk. Topics include contracts, torts, the Uniform Commercial Code, creditor debtor relationships, real property, and business entities.

MBA 707 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION (3)

Deals with productivity managing conflicts to help build effective teams within and among organizations. Focuses on tactics, strategy, process, and methods of managerial negotiations with individuals and groups to optimize performance. Prerequisites: MBA 600 and MBA 602.

MBA 708 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT (3)

Provides an overview of strategic decisions facing international firms and relevant variables in their decision-making. Particular attention is paid to management and environmental settings of multinational enterprises, including organizational, political, social, and cultural dynamics affecting business function.

MBA 722 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGERS (3)

MBA 730 SERVICES MARKETING (3)

Examines marketing challenges faced by organizations providing services, and strategies to enhance their marketing success. Particular attention is paid to public sector and not-for-profit organizations. The course focus includes positioning services for appropriate markets and managing the service delivery process.

MBA 739 NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS (3)

Focuses on management of not-for-profit enterprises under circumstances of increasing competition for funding and greater pressure to show efficiency and effectiveness. The course uses case studies to examine issues of organizational structure and development, governance, board relations, management of volunteers, strategic alliances, capacity building, and functional leadership.

MBA 740 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT (3)

Introduces students to the application of entrepreneurship to the advancement of social change within organizations that have a double bottom line: creating tangible social value as well as financial return. Students will use cases and examination of live organizations to develop knowledge of the strategies for and challenges of creating sustainable and successful social ventures. Issues including start-up, funding, organizing, growing, and assessing a social enterprise will be explored.

MBA 741 GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS (3)

This course is designed to help not-for-profit managers learn how to engage the public sector effectively. Through applied research and case study, students will acquire a wide range of knowledge and action skill in such diverse areas as improving performance through organizational change, the budget process, identifying and pursuing funding opportunities and how the federal or local government’s public policy and fiscal decisions affect not-for-profit organizations’ strategic goals and operations. Particular attention is given to state and local government operations in Hawai’i.

MBA 752 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND APPLICATIONS (3)

Corporate financial management is taught through case analysis of current financial problems in business. Management of cash, receivables inventories, long and short term investment, alternatives and capital sources, capital budgeting, return on investment, risk-taking, and taxation are covered. Formulating, implementing, and communicating financial strategy are stressed. Prerequisite MBA 611.

MBA 754 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (3)

Provides a comprehensive overview of investment management and analytic tools for evaluating investment opportunities. Topics include analysis and valuation of equity securities, fixed income securities and financial derivatives, measurement of risk and return, construction of optimal asset portfolios, and criteria for evaluation of investment performance. Prerequisite: MBA 611

MBA 756 INTERNATIONAL FINANCE (3)

Provides a framework for making corporate financial decisions in an international context. Topics include managing foreign currency exposure, global financing, multinational capital budgeting decisions, hedging instruments, international sources and cost of capital, trade financing, and international portfolio investment. Prerequisite: MBA 611.

MBA 761 LEADING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE (3)

Provides concepts and skills needed to lead change and development efforts at individual, team, and systems levels. Focus is given to diagnosis of organizational events and creation of interventions to improve them. Emphasis is on using consulting models and applying behavioral science knowledge and techniques to improve performance of people and organizations. The course includes structural process and human resource interventions. Prerequisite: MBA 600.

MBA 762 PROJECT MANAGEMENT (3)

Provides perspectives and processes use in effective project management from conception through evaluation. Employs hands-on learning to prepare students to develop project planning and oversight systems, identify and implement best practices, and establish operational inks between project and organizational objectives. Focuses on use of project management in accomplishing strategic organizational goals. Provides skills for choosing effective strategies and tools for information management. The course uses a hands-on approach to defining, analyzing, and, solving day-to-day management problems using information technology. Topics include hardware, software, system analysis, information systems, and databases.

MBA 763 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (3)

This graduate level seminar focuses on developing participants’ self-knowledge, professional perspectives, and personal skills for personal and professional success. Emphasizes tools for effective self-management and career charting. Topics include time management, effective presentations and interpersonal communication, stress management, and conflict resolution. The course employs experiential learning and guest presenters. Prerequisite: MBA 600.

MBA 764 STRATEGIC ISSUES IN PHILANTHROPY (3)

Examines planning and development of funding acquisition and use of not-for-profit organizations. Enables students to construct funding strategies to improve organizational performance, solicit support from donors, and demonstrate effectiveness to key stakeholders. Topics include donor-centered fundraising, management of campaigns, marketing and public relations in philanthropic ventures, managing information, and professional ethics in philanthropy.

MBA 770 ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS (3)

Helps participants design, analyze, and use accounting information systems. Provides conceptual frameworks for understanding information systems as well as practical experience in using real-world accounting information software. Emphasis is on system development and accounting applications design. Accounting concentration students only.

MBA 776 ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (3)

Provides advanced study of concepts and issues in financial accounting. Topics include business combinations and consolidations, inter-company transactions, partnership accounting, and international accounting. Accounting concentration students only.

MBA 778 CORPORATE AND PARTNERSHIP TAXATION (3)

Examines tax laws and regulations as applied to formation, operation, dissolution of corporations and partnerships. Emphasis on conducting research related to complex tax issues. Accounting concentration students only.

MBA 779 ADVANCED ACCOUNTING THEORY (3)

Provides advanced study of conceptual framework of financial accounting emphasizing theoretical concepts, accounting standards, and procedures. Focuses on sources of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, including industry pronouncements, opinions, and bulletins. Also includes techniques using FASB’s financial Accounting Research System. Accounting concentration students only.

MBA 780 SPECIAL TOPICS (3)

Selected topics may be offered on any aspect of business. Topics will be announced. Examples of current special topic offerings include: Fraud and Forensic Accounting, Cross-Cultural Management, Leaders in Practice, Family Business Management, Risk Management, Leading from a Hawaiian Place, and Master Learning skills for Managers.

MBA 786 ISLAND BUSINESS AND ‘AINA (3)

This course provides a strategic perspective on living systems and the relationship between ecology and effective business practice in island environments. The principles of the Ahupua’a system are introduced and used as a framework for examining issues in related industries, such as agriculture, energy, and waste management.

MBA 787 ISLAND BUSINESS AND MAKA’AINANA (3)

This course provides a strategic perspective on human systems and the relationship between community and effective business practice in island environments. Hawaiian cultural beliefs and practice are introduced and used as a framework for examining related industries such as government, health care education and housing. Prerequisite: none.

MBA 788 ISLAND BUSINESS AND KULEANA (3)

This course provides a strategic perspective on the role of business in fostering a healthy island economy. Both macroeconomic and microeconomic variables are considered. Focus is on the economy as a support for community and ecological sustainability. Topics include open and closed systems, enhancement and extraction economies, and shareholder versus stakeholder models. Prerequisite: none.

MBA 789 ISLAND BUSINESS AND PO’OKELA (3)

This course provides strategic perspective and tactical guidance for leading effectively in island organizations. Focus is given to issues of personal presence and capacities related to facilitating the effectiveness of people, projects, and whole businesses. Topics include developing skills in observation, dialogue, mentoring, and leading for business resilience and impact. Prerequisite: MBA 786.

MBA 798 INTERNSHIP (1 to 3)

Professional internship is provided with guidance of a faculty member. Arrangements for a supervised internship are made through the MBA Program Office.

MBA 799 DIRECTED STUDY (1 to 3)

Individualized study on a chosen subject under supervision of a faculty member. Participation in directed study is arranged through the MBA Program Office.