Courses

This course examines the unique characteristics and role of non-profit organizations in our society. From this perspective, we seek to understand the role of effective management and leadership of non-profits, with attention to factors that leaders may use to improve the effectiveness of their organizations. Through case description and theoretical analysis, students learn about major differences between managing non-profit and profit-making organizations. Students acquire skills focused on governance, financing, and general management of non-profit organizations.

Managers of non-profit and charitable organizations face numerous legal challenges not faced by corporate managers. The course examines a number of such legal challenges including formation of the charity, obtaining charitable status, reporting requirements, charitable governance, employment and human rights concerns including codes of conduct and lifestyle requirements, working with volunteers, and exposure to tort liability.

Securing adequate resources is a challenge for all non-profit organizations. Funding can be obtained from a variety of sources, including grants, user fees, gifts and bequests, and investments. This course provides the tools for properly assessing the funding mix of an organization and developing strategies to increase revenue streams. In particular, topics such as fee setting and collection, grant writing, investment management, public relations, and donor development and relations are covered.

The practice of financial management in non-profit organizations is significantly different from that in for-profit businesses. Many of the differences stem from the difficulty of measuring and valuing outputs, and from restrictions imposed by donors and grant-making agencies. This course considers accounting, budgeting, financing, investment, and other financial management activities in non-profit organizations, including fund accounting, form and interpretation of financial statements, endowment management issues, federal and provincial regulation, measurement and evaluation of organizational performance, and control systems design. The course is ideally suited for students who expect to manage non-profit organizations or serve on non-profit boards.

This integrated project for a business or non-profit organization requires students to apply multiple management disciplines to a complex project in a real-world setting. Students will work closely with the professor and individuals in the business or non-profit community to complete the project. All projects are to be approved by the MBA Department.

This course includes the study of the competitiveness of companies in different countries and regions given ever-changing economic conditions and government policies. General trends in the increasingly interdependent global economy are reviewed. With an integrated global economy, the production process is increasingly fragmented, and the implications of this fragmentation on competitiveness are reviewed. Other topics included in the course are: the emergence of the Chinese and Indian economies and their impact on the global economy, the acceleration of regional economic integration in Europe, North America, and Asia, and the implication of such for the global economy.

The course examines a number of issues particularly critical to the management of international businesses or multinational firms. These topics include an examination of comparative management practices including similarities and differences in cross-cultural management styles; a comparison of Pacific Rim, European Union, and North American value systems; analysis of best practices and their impact in industries such as automotive, electronics, education, and medical services. It also includes discussion of current international business issues including the future of globalization, the impact of outsourcing, and particular areas of corporate risk including foreign exchange and the political/social climate; and an exploration of current economic and business planning in multilingual organizations.

This course provides students with an understanding of the legal environment in which Canadian businesses operate. The course focuses on key areas of the legal environment that particularly impact business decision-making. This includes an understanding of the Canadian legal system, risk management, business torts, contractual principles, corporate formation and governance, and employment law. The course also examines the often challenging legal regime within which international businesses operate. This includes an overview of key legal systems around the world, international dispute resolution, understanding treaties and conventions, international contract issues, and intellectual property concerns.

This course explores important accounting and finance issues for firms operating in a multinational environment. The course provides an overview of international differences in accounting and financial reporting and the need for international harmonization of accounting standards. It particularly examines accounting and finance issues faced by corporations operating in the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. The course also explores the implication of governments, standard setting bodies, and other regulators in both developed and emerging markets increasingly requiring the use of IFRS either by listed companies or all companies.