MMASc Courses

The objectives of this course are to develop skills applicable to writing in a professional context, including audience analysis, techniques of persuasion, knowledge of rhetorical conventions, working within short timelines, report writing, grant and proposal writing, document design, and editing.

On successful completion of this course, students shall be able to:

• Develop and support sustained and original arguments
• Cultivate critical analysis skills through the practice of writing

Professional Writing (COMMMGT 9111A) Syllabus: Fall 2024 

The objectives of this course are (1) to provide an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of management to ensure organizational effectiveness and success, and (2) to prepare students to begin to assume these roles and responsibilities. Topics include how and why organizations are structured to be effective, what determines individual behaviour in an organization, understanding motivation in the workplace, effective teamwork, understanding power and politics in organizations, managing people effectively.

On successful completion of this course, students shall be able to:

• Understand the differences between the various management models/theories
• Explain the differences between managers and leaders
• Appreciate the individual differences which exist in people
• Know when to apply which motivational model
• Describe the similarities and differences between power and politics
• Work effectively in an organizational context

The objective of this course is to develop advocacy skills through the art of delivery, informative and persuasive speaking techniques, self-representation, various presentation modes including new media, and effective group work.

On successful completion of this course, students shall be able to:

• Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions in a clear and audience-specific manner
• Prepare and deliver effective presentations
• Participate productively in group or committee work

Professional Communication (COMMMGT 9001A) Syllabus: Fall 2024

This course introduces students to financial management. We begin with mastering the key financial statements used for financial analysis and then learn how to use these in applying accounting standards and managerial incentives for the organization. The course also delves into financial decisions, capital structure and other special topics. Real-time data and directed readings will be used to enhance learning.

On successful completion of this course, students shall be able to:

• Understand the mechanics of financial reporting and how to apply this to managing the organization
• Prepare basic financial plans for an organization
• Understand the time value of money
• Comprehend the relationship between risk and return and its impact on management choices

The objectives of this course are to provide an understanding of (1) marketing concepts and their application to organizations, society, and individuals; (2) the need for customer orientation in the competitive global environment; (3) how marketing integrates with other functional areas; and (4) how to successfully develop, execute, and manage marketing strategies. Topics include the buyer behaviour of businesses and consumers; segmentation, targeting, and positioning; marketing research; product/service development and brand management, advertising and promotion, pricing, distribution, and logistics; as well as theories drawing from the relevant social sciences of psychology, sociology, and economics. Working in groups, students will gain hands-on experience by critically analyzing case studies, by engaging in problem-solving, and by developing a marketing plan.

On successful completion of this course, students shall be able to:

• Understand marketing concepts and their application to profit and non-profit organizations
• Recognize how the global, natural, sociocultural, demographic, legal, economic, and competitive environments shape companies and customers alike
• Understand how marketing mix elements are developed, carefully blended and managed over time to achieve branding and other marketing objectives and to build long-term relationships with consumer and/or business customers
• Apply techniques gleaned from marketing research, case analyses, and developing marketing plans to real-world situations, in terms of identifying marketing opportunities and solving marketing problems by crafting creative marketing strategies
• Appreciate the ethical dimensions of the marketing function

Marketing (COMMMGT 9320A) Syllabus: Fall 2024

The objective of this course is to prepare students for a project management regime of organizing work and people either as the initiators of such a regime (i.e. project managers or team leads) or as workers within that regime. The course will be designed to follow the project life cycle where topics will be arranged to cover the stages of initiation, planning, and execution. Topics include scheduling, budgeting, project control and workflow, resource allocation, the roles and responsibilities of the project manager, negotiation and conflict management. In addition to teaching these project management skills, the course will provide context through a historical and contemporary overview of project management in a range of employment relationships (i.e., employee, independent contractor, entrepreneur, small and medium-sized enterprises).

On successful completion of this course, students shall be able to:

• Understand the evolution of the project-based organizational structure and other managerial models
• Understand the framework of a project-based workplace and its implications for other components of management (i.e., recruitment and selection, compensation, motivation, leadership, employee development, and career management, etc.)
• Understand the lexicon and professional standards of project management as per the globally recognized Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
• Apply the guidelines and procedures learned to a large term project
• Apply knowledge of PM principles to understand real-world industries
• Work successfully in diverse project teams

Project Management (COMMMGT 9330A) Syllabus: Fall 2024

The objectives of this course are (1) to provide an understanding of what constitutes leadership in an organizational context, and (2) to prepare students to undertake leadership roles in their careers. Topics include the roles and responsibilities of leadership in an organization (leadership of self, leadership roles in teams and with peers, leadership positions in an organization, ethics), leadership skills and how to develop them, developing followership (participative leadership, delegation and empowerment), using power versus influence, and leading change in an organization.

On successful completion of the series, students shall be able to:

• • • Understand the roles and responsibilities of leadership in an organization
    • Demonstrate self-awareness and manage themselves effectively in leadership roles
    • Engage in a development plan to enhance their leadership skills
    • Manage interpersonal and team relationships effectively
    • Adapt to and lead change in an organization

This course moves beyond the project management fundamentals learned in the fall term and gives students the opportunity to apply the guidelines and procedures learned to real-world scenarios using industry case studies and professional workplace examples.

Groups of students will be partnered with external organizations that require consulting in the applied sciences. Over the course of the project, students will work to develop a solution to the organization’s problem under the guidance of the project coordinator with consultation from the program instructors and a mentor within the organization. Students will complete the project by providing the organization with a written report and by presenting their solution directly to the organization’s management team. Projects might range from very applied work, such as developing a data management plan for a local business, to more managerial tasks, such as creating a marketing plan for a new product or conducting a review of a business’s organizational structure.

This course will provide a foundation in the use of statistics to design experiments and analyse scientific data and will help students to develop new skills to interpret the results of these analyses and to think critically about the data and analyses presented by others. Specific topics covered will include the application of basic parametric and non-parametric statistical tools including exploratory data analysis, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, the analysis of variance, and generalized linear modelling. Students will also gain experience programming and analyzing data in the R statistical software package.

Modern professionals in all areas are expected to have a good understanding of the basic computing software used in business environments. This course will provide students with fundamental programming skills needed to automate common tasks in a business environment. The content will focus on the logic of programming, workflow, and best practices using a common language like Python or Microsoft Visual Basic. Students will also learn the basics of database systems including the fundamentals of database structures, querying with SQL, and generating reports. Additional topics may include data analytics in Microsoft Excel and essential skills in the most common business software (e.g., the Microsoft Office suite).