Business Administration

This course provides an introduction to the foundations of business analytics. It is designed to teach business managers how to use data and models to make better decisions in complex business settings. In this course students develop sound reasoning skills and learn how to utilize information to arrive at good decisions. 

This course covers the main theoretical and empirical developments in strategic management. Topics include: external and industry analysis; internal analysis-- resources and capabilities; competitive strategies; strategies and the industry life cycle; corporate strategies; international strategies; mergers and acquisitions; strategic alliances; corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

Why do potentially revolutionary products and services fail to become successful? How do companies take care (or not) of innovations developed by firms that they buy? What happens when companies try to introduce radical innovations in new countries? This course addresses these questions. Furthermore, this course provides a deep understanding of the different challenges that arise when a company has to convince a market to accept its innovations. This is even more important in foreign countries, where different sets of norms and unwritten rules may impact the success of innovations. Both through instructor-led lectures, case sessions and a joint project, the course studies the complex and often overlooked dynamics at the tail end of the innovation process that may make or break a product or service that is otherwise competitive.

Spreadsheets can be used for more than just creating tables and charts and summarizing data. Instead of just storing, summarizing, and formatting data, a financial model is used for analysis. Spreadsheets are now commonly used for creating complex mathematical models. This course explains how to build financial models in Excel by providing instructions, not templates. Students learn to develop value-added skills in spreadsheet modeling of financial applications. Course topics include: time value of money; financial ratio analysis; capital budgeting; sensitivity analysis; scenario analysis; statistics analysis and matrix operation; two-asset portfolio analysis; 3-asset portfolio analysis: matrix and VBA; optimal capital structure; dividends policy; interest rate models; bond pricing and risk management; option pricing: Black-Scholes model; option pricing: Binominal model; option trading strategy; and pivot tables . Excel functions and tools, such as Data Table, Goal seeker, Solver are used intensively. Programming a VBA macro is an important task in this course.

This course covers individual, team, and organizational perspectives on learning and, subsequently, how learning, training, and development can be managed. The emerging field of professional learning of individuals and teams in an organizational setting is introduced. The course is based on insights from cognitive and learning sciences as well as organizational studies and human resource development. It analyses learning needs within organizations and identifies key variables that play a role when employees learn in a training setting or informally. Critical factors are identified that stimulate or hinder learning in organizations. Theoretical insights are applied to the analysis of organizational cases about professional learning. Additionally, students take on the role of consultants where they interview and advise an existing organization on improving its learning and development policies. The final report contains a scientific reflection on this professional learning practice, which will also be communicated to the organization.