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2016 - 2017 Academic Catalog

Professional MBA

The Professional MBA program at Lasell College explores aspects of leadership in a changing world, including on the study of marketing, economics and entrepreneurship. The MBA program consists of 36 credits that can be completed in 18 months. Lasell offers rolling admission for starts in September and January. 

Professional MBA Curriculum
The program is delivered 100 percent online and is taught in 8-week sessions.

Course Code Course Title Credits
Core Courses
PMBA705 Org Development,Theory & Leadership 3
PMBA706 Ldrships Role in the 21st Century Org 3
PMBA707 Org Role in Ethics & Social Justice 3
PMBA708 Quant Anlys for Manag Decision-Making 3
PMBA709 Stat Tech & Analysis for Decision-Making 3
PMBA710 Managerial Economics 3
PMBA711 Accounting for Managers 3
PMBA712 Financial Analysis for Managers 3
PMBA713 Strategic IT Alignment 3
PMBA714 Entrepreneurial Strat & Venture Creation 3
PMBA715 Glb Mrkt Strat & Dynamic Supply & Chain 3
PMBA716 Global Strategy for Continual Success 3

PMBA701 - Organizational Competencies

This module is aimed at providing managers with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in the 21st century. Composed of three components, this module focuses on understanding the organization itself and the role that the contemporary manager plays in its success. The competencies addressed by the module include critical thinking, diversity and cross-cultural awareness, communication skills, team-building skills, decision making, executing decisions, and ethical leadership.

PMBA702 - Quantitative Skills

This module hones and expands upon the student’s decision-making skills by focusing on analytic and problem solving skills through various methods. This module also focuses on developing the student’s level of information literacy. The knowledge and skills gained in this module will allow today’s manager to access relevant and appropriate information resources, to evaluate the scholarly merits of sources, and to use information to support or refute business decisions. Acquiring these quantitative and statistical skills will then allow managers to apply them to economic theory and conditions to make effective business decisions. The ability to use quantitative tools for analysis and decision making is a core competency needed for building skills in all areas managers need the requisite skills to sort through vast amounts of information and find what is needed to solve problems and make the best decisions. Prerequisite: PMBA701

PMBA703 - Financial Skills

In their roles, managers make decisions that affect the bottom line. In this module, students will understand the accounting process and enhance their ability to forecast financial performance. They will also learn how to identify and analyze trends in order to achieve maximum competitiveness. These accounting and finance skills will be applied on a global scale to better prepare companies to enter and compete in the global economy. Learn how to spot trends and study your competition with a keener eye. The skills and knowledge acquired in this module will enable managers to become more effective in their organizations by participating at a higher level in strategic planning and decision making.Prerequisite: PMBA 702

PMBA704 - Strategic Skills

Being a strategic or visionary leader has been identified as one of the top five skills needed to be successful in the global economy. This module allows managers to understand the organization's role in its environment; understand how environmental changes can and will affect the company; assess what the company's functions and divisions must do to implement a strategy; and assess what the effects of this strategy will be on these functions and divisions. This module helps to develop critical thinking skills which allow managers to recognize current trends and market of which organizations may deftly take advantage. This final module seeks to develop who are adept at change and can share a strategic vision. The 21st century manager is someone who leads, inspires, motivates, sets an example, empowers, and creates vision. These skills no longer require just the ability to get things done but also the capacity to create new possibilities and new pathways.Prerequisite: PMBA 703

PMBA705 - Org Development,Theory & Leadership

Organizational Development is a field of research, theory, and practice dedicated to expanding the knowledge and effectiveness of people to accomplish more successful leadership practices, organizational change efforts and improve performance. OD is a process of continuous diagnosis, action planning, implementation and evaluation, with the goal of transferring knowledge and skills to organizations to improve their capacity for solving problems and managing future change. Organizational Development is a conscious, planned process of developing an organization’s capabilities so that it can attain and sustain an optimum level of performance as measured by efficiency, effectiveness, and health. To achieve a competitive advantage in a global marketplace, contemporary organizations are in a continuous state of change. Within such a complex system as an organization, change has a rippling effect. Effective leadership is essential to achieving a high level of performance of individuals, groups and teams. This course emphasizes application of behavioral science knowledge to major organizational issues such as performance, decision making, communication, conflict, and leadership.

PMBA706 - Ldrships Role in the 21st Century Org

Examines the role of managers as ethical and responsible thought leaders, problem solvers and change agents. The complexities of, and challenges associated with, managing and leading change in a rapidly changing, international, diverse and information-based environment are emphasized. Through discussion, case analysis, role playing, decision-making simulations, and experiential exercises, students explore the responsibilities of contemporary business and the complex issues of leading and guiding organizations in a turbulent environment. Students have the opportunity to apply and develop a range of skills - analytical, problem solving, ethical decision making, interpersonal, communication, influencing, negotiation, conflict management, and change-related implementation - in a variety of leadership situations.

PMBA707 - Org Role in Ethics & Social Justice

This course deals with the roles and responsibilities of business in a global society; teaches models of ethical decision-making that incorporate multiple points of view, including diverse cultural worldviews and legal perspectives; and addresses those factors that contribute to and constrain ethical behavior in and by organizations. Students will then apply these concepts to current business problems, such as anti-trust, accounting fraud, deceptive advertising, and environmental dumping. All social human activity raises complex issues of ethics, values and social responsibility and the world of business and its complex commercial activity is no exception. Indeed, the subject of corporate social responsibility and business ethics has now fully entered into its own in this new world order of global markets and transnational decision-making where both domestic and international regulatory standards of commercial practice provide insufficient guidance to ensure fair and socially responsible economic activity. Throughout this course, you will emphasize the dissimilar perspectives of, and responses to, these dilemmas in a dynamic global economy.

PMBA708 - Quant Anlys for Manag Decision-Making

This course develops knowledge and abilities necessary for making effective business decisions. Quantitative and statistical skills provide managers with more confidence in dealing with uncertainty in spite of the flood of available data. These skills enable managers to more quickly make smarter decisions and provide more stable leadership to staff relying on them. It presents tools and procedures that can be used to effectively analyze, interpret and communicate information. The course encourages students to think analytically and to reason logically using available information and appropriate technology in order to solve problems and make decisions. Course topics include decision making under uncertainty, time series forecasting, linear programming and the transportation method.

PMBA709 - Stat Tech & Analysis for Decision-Making

This course covers basic statistical techniques in a managerial setting featuring case studies and conceptual exercises. Statistical topics include effective use of numerical and graphical summaries, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and regression. A few more advanced topics such as data mining, the Bayesian paradigm and principles of model building may be encountered during projects.

PMBA710 - Managerial Economics

Managerial Economics is the application of economic theory and methodology to managerial decision making problems within various organizational settings such as a firm or a government agency. The emphasis in this course will be on demand analysis and estimation, production and cost analysis under different market conditions, forecasting and decision making under uncertainty. The course provides an understanding of the microeconomic forces that influence firm decision making. Topics include competitive markets and market failure, benefit-cost analysis, demand estimation and forecasting, decision making under risk and uncertainty, production and cost estimation, and market structure analysis. This course examines managerial decision making from an economic standpoint. The first half (microeconomics) explores how prices, wages, and profits are determined in market economies; the advantages and disadvantages of unfettered competition; and the impact of government intervention on market outcomes. The second half (macroeconomics) investigates the factors influencing Gross Domestic Product, interest rates, unemployment, inflation, and growth; the causes of the business cycle; the role of the federal government and the Federal Reserve in stabilizing the economy; the impact of technology on productivity and growth; and the influence of international trade and finance on economic activity. This course examines managerial decision making from an economic standpoint. The first half (microeconomics) explores how prices, wages, and profits are determined in market economies; the advantages and disadvantages of unfettered competition; and the impact of government intervention on market outcomes. The second half (macroeconomics) investigates the factors influencing Gross Domestic Product, interest rates, unemployment, inflation, and growth; the causes of the business cycle; the role of the federal government and the Federal Reserve in stabilizing the economy; the impact of technology on productivity and growth; and the influence of international trade and finance on economic activity

PMBA711 - Accounting for Managers

As the language of business and the cornerstone of our capital markets, accounting provides terminology, frameworks, and concepts with which to analyze and understand the financial consequences of business activities. This course explains the basics of accounting, links accounting to financial statements, analyzes financial statements and works through economic analysis of investments. As these activities have become increasingly complex and global, the task of presenting timely, relevant, and reliable financial information to interested internal and external users has become more challenging. The course highlights how managers use cost, cash flow and financial reporting information in their decisions. It will introduce the student to (a) purpose of accounting and its role in making business decisions, (b) accounting principles, procedures and judgments underlying corporate financial statements, (c) use, interpretation and limitations of financial statements, (d) use and interpretation of cost accounting data in managerial decision-making, and (e) approaches to identify problems, analyze their financial and managerial implications, and evaluate alternative solutions.Prerequisite: PMBA708, PMBA709 & PMBA710 with grade of B- or better.

PMBA712 - Financial Analysis for Managers

Financial information is used by almost everyone and any manager hoping to effectively communicate and understand a business must be able to analyze financial information. The primary purpose of this course is to help you develop a high degree of financial statement, financial analysis, and financial management expertise in order to enhance your capabilities as an informed manager and decision maker. In addition, this course has a global perspective which examines the operation of the foreign exchange markets, foreign exchange risk management, sources and instruments of international financing, foreign direct investment and the management of political risk, multinational capital budgeting, and financing control systems for the multinational firm. The objective of this course is to provide an applied understanding of the finance concepts and tools of analysis used in measuring firm performance and in making investment decisions that create value. This will be achieved through instructor conferences and the use of cases. The main concepts we will cover are financial statements, ratio analysis, financial planning, the time value of money, capital budgeting, capital structure, the cost of capital and asset valuation. Prerequisite: PMBA711 with a grade of of B- or better.

PMBA713 - Strategic IT Alignment

This course provides an enterprise-wide perspective on IT management, focusing on how IT professionals, non-technical managers, and external service providers work together to ensure that applications, data, and knowledge align with organizational strategy and business processes (i.e., Strategic IT Alignment). Cases and readings examine how companies in various industries use IT to serve customers well, manage operations efficiently, coordinate with business partners, and make better business decisions. We consider how to maximize the strategic benefits of investments in hardware and software, while minimizing risks. The course places equal weight on technical and managerial skills. Our primary objective is to help students prepare to be effective contributors to IT initiatives in partnership with IT professionals, including external service providers here and abroad.

PMBA714 - Entrepreneurial Strat & Venture Creation

Entrepreneurship is the process of creating and growing new businesses and is fundamentally concerned with the identification and exploitation of opportunities for wealth creation (profit). Successful entrepreneurs generate wealth by identifying opportunities for value creation and then develop competitive advantages to exploit them. The broad objective of this course will be to apply insights from the fields of strategic management and economics to the process of entrepreneurship in order to understand what differentiates successful from unsuccessful entrepreneurial firms. In this course, we will focus our attention on three areas: (1) methods for identifying opportunities for value creation, (2) strategies for appropriating the returns from these opportunities, and (3) modes of organizing to support these strategies.

PMBA715 - Glb Mrkt Strat & Dynamic Supply & Chain

This course covers the processes involved in the creation, distribution and sale of products and services, and explores the tasks and decisions facing marketing managers. It focuses on market and competitive analysis, customer behavior, and the design and implementation of marketing strategies in domestic, international and global markets, including product, price, promotion, distribution and customer service decisions. It also focuses on the successful navigation of multinational free trade agreements the knowledge of which is required for success within the global business sphere.

PMBA716 - Global Strategy for Continual Success

This course focuses on how multinational companies and other firms create and sustain competitive advantage in a highly competitive, networked economy. Students learn about models of competition such as Porter's Five Forces model and D'Aveni's Hyper-Competition. Strategic innovation, the resource-based view of the firm, and new business models are other important topics. Emphasis is placed on formulating strategy at the corporate and business levels and on implementing strategy at all levels of the firm. The macro global environment, ethics, risk management and government regulation are covered.

Cristina Haverty

Associate Vice President of Workforce Development and Global Engagement/ Professor, Athletic Training

Office: Alexander STC

Lori Rosenthal

Assistant Provost; Professor of Psychology

Office: Plummer

Janice Barrett

Professor of Communication; Chair, Graduate Communication Program

Office: Donahue 108

Keith Belmore

Associate Professor of Athletic Training and Graduate Chair of Athletic Training

Office: Alexander STC 104N

Linda Bucci

Professor & Program Chair of Justice Studies, Graduate Chair of Criminal Justice

Office: Plummer

Sarah Giasullo

Assistant Professor of Athletic Training; Graduate Chair of Health Sciences

Office: Alexander STC 104T

Elizabeth Hartmann

Professor of Education

Office: Brennan Library

Janet Huetteman

Graduate Chair of Management and Marketing; Associate Professor of Marketing

Office: 23 Maple Street, Office #5

Young-Tae Kim

Associate Professor of Sport Management; Graduate Interim Chair of Sport Management

Office: Alexandar STC

Ron Laham

Assistant Professor of Athletic Training/ Exercise Science

Office: Alexander STC

Luis Lopez-Preciado

Associate Professor of Communication

Office: Donahue

Amy Maynard

Professor of Education

Office: Brennan Library

Meryl Perlson

Chair of Communication; Professor of Communication

Office: Donahue 107

Matthew Reilly

Chair of Business and Interim Chair of Sport Management; Assistant Professor of Business

Office: DeArment

Claudia Rinaldi

The Joan Weiler Arnow ’49 Professor/Professor of Education, Chair of Education

Office: Brennan Library

Daniel Sargeant

Associate Professor of Sport Management

Office: Alexander STC

Nancy Waldron

Assistant Provost; Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management

Office: DeArment

Martin Walsh

Professor of Marketing and Management

Office: DeArment

Brian Wardyga

Professor of Communication; General Manager, 109.2FM WLAS & LCTV

Office: Brennan Library, G04F

Edward Weeks

Associate Professor of Justice Studies

Office: Winslow

Catherine Zeek

Professor Emerita

PMBA705 - Org Development,Theory & Leadership

Organizational Development is a field of research, theory, and practice dedicated to expanding the knowledge and effectiveness of people to accomplish more successful leadership practices, organizational change efforts and improve performance. OD is a process of continuous diagnosis, action planning, implementation and evaluation, with the goal of transferring knowledge and skills to organizations to improve their capacity for solving problems and managing future change. Organizational Development is a conscious, planned process of developing an organization’s capabilities so that it can attain and sustain an optimum level of performance as measured by efficiency, effectiveness, and health. To achieve a competitive advantage in a global marketplace, contemporary organizations are in a continuous state of change. Within such a complex system as an organization, change has a rippling effect. Effective leadership is essential to achieving a high level of performance of individuals, groups and teams. This course emphasizes application of behavioral science knowledge to major organizational issues such as performance, decision making, communication, conflict, and leadership.

PMBA706 - Ldrships Role in the 21st Century Org

Examines the role of managers as ethical and responsible thought leaders, problem solvers and change agents. The complexities of, and challenges associated with, managing and leading change in a rapidly changing, international, diverse and information-based environment are emphasized. Through discussion, case analysis, role playing, decision-making simulations, and experiential exercises, students explore the responsibilities of contemporary business and the complex issues of leading and guiding organizations in a turbulent environment. Students have the opportunity to apply and develop a range of skills - analytical, problem solving, ethical decision making, interpersonal, communication, influencing, negotiation, conflict management, and change-related implementation - in a variety of leadership situations.

PMBA707 - Org Role in Ethics & Social Justice

This course deals with the roles and responsibilities of business in a global society; teaches models of ethical decision-making that incorporate multiple points of view, including diverse cultural worldviews and legal perspectives; and addresses those factors that contribute to and constrain ethical behavior in and by organizations. Students will then apply these concepts to current business problems, such as anti-trust, accounting fraud, deceptive advertising, and environmental dumping. All social human activity raises complex issues of ethics, values and social responsibility and the world of business and its complex commercial activity is no exception. Indeed, the subject of corporate social responsibility and business ethics has now fully entered into its own in this new world order of global markets and transnational decision-making where both domestic and international regulatory standards of commercial practice provide insufficient guidance to ensure fair and socially responsible economic activity. Throughout this course, you will emphasize the dissimilar perspectives of, and responses to, these dilemmas in a dynamic global economy.

PMBA708 - Quant Anlys for Manag Decision-Making

This course develops knowledge and abilities necessary for making effective business decisions. Quantitative and statistical skills provide managers with more confidence in dealing with uncertainty in spite of the flood of available data. These skills enable managers to more quickly make smarter decisions and provide more stable leadership to staff relying on them. It presents tools and procedures that can be used to effectively analyze, interpret and communicate information. The course encourages students to think analytically and to reason logically using available information and appropriate technology in order to solve problems and make decisions. Course topics include decision making under uncertainty, time series forecasting, linear programming and the transportation method.

PMBA709 - Stat Tech & Analysis for Decision-Making

This course covers basic statistical techniques in a managerial setting featuring case studies and conceptual exercises. Statistical topics include effective use of numerical and graphical summaries, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and regression. A few more advanced topics such as data mining, the Bayesian paradigm and principles of model building may be encountered during projects.

PMBA710 - Managerial Economics

Managerial Economics is the application of economic theory and methodology to managerial decision making problems within various organizational settings such as a firm or a government agency. The emphasis in this course will be on demand analysis and estimation, production and cost analysis under different market conditions, forecasting and decision making under uncertainty. The course provides an understanding of the microeconomic forces that influence firm decision making. Topics include competitive markets and market failure, benefit-cost analysis, demand estimation and forecasting, decision making under risk and uncertainty, production and cost estimation, and market structure analysis. This course examines managerial decision making from an economic standpoint. The first half (microeconomics) explores how prices, wages, and profits are determined in market economies; the advantages and disadvantages of unfettered competition; and the impact of government intervention on market outcomes. The second half (macroeconomics) investigates the factors influencing Gross Domestic Product, interest rates, unemployment, inflation, and growth; the causes of the business cycle; the role of the federal government and the Federal Reserve in stabilizing the economy; the impact of technology on productivity and growth; and the influence of international trade and finance on economic activity. This course examines managerial decision making from an economic standpoint. The first half (microeconomics) explores how prices, wages, and profits are determined in market economies; the advantages and disadvantages of unfettered competition; and the impact of government intervention on market outcomes. The second half (macroeconomics) investigates the factors influencing Gross Domestic Product, interest rates, unemployment, inflation, and growth; the causes of the business cycle; the role of the federal government and the Federal Reserve in stabilizing the economy; the impact of technology on productivity and growth; and the influence of international trade and finance on economic activity

PMBA711 - Accounting for Managers

As the language of business and the cornerstone of our capital markets, accounting provides terminology, frameworks, and concepts with which to analyze and understand the financial consequences of business activities. This course explains the basics of accounting, links accounting to financial statements, analyzes financial statements and works through economic analysis of investments. As these activities have become increasingly complex and global, the task of presenting timely, relevant, and reliable financial information to interested internal and external users has become more challenging. The course highlights how managers use cost, cash flow and financial reporting information in their decisions. It will introduce the student to (a) purpose of accounting and its role in making business decisions, (b) accounting principles, procedures and judgments underlying corporate financial statements, (c) use, interpretation and limitations of financial statements, (d) use and interpretation of cost accounting data in managerial decision-making, and (e) approaches to identify problems, analyze their financial and managerial implications, and evaluate alternative solutions.Prerequisite: PMBA708, PMBA709 & PMBA710 with grade of B- or better.

PMBA712 - Financial Analysis for Managers

Financial information is used by almost everyone and any manager hoping to effectively communicate and understand a business must be able to analyze financial information. The primary purpose of this course is to help you develop a high degree of financial statement, financial analysis, and financial management expertise in order to enhance your capabilities as an informed manager and decision maker. In addition, this course has a global perspective which examines the operation of the foreign exchange markets, foreign exchange risk management, sources and instruments of international financing, foreign direct investment and the management of political risk, multinational capital budgeting, and financing control systems for the multinational firm. The objective of this course is to provide an applied understanding of the finance concepts and tools of analysis used in measuring firm performance and in making investment decisions that create value. This will be achieved through instructor conferences and the use of cases. The main concepts we will cover are financial statements, ratio analysis, financial planning, the time value of money, capital budgeting, capital structure, the cost of capital and asset valuation. Prerequisite: PMBA711 with a grade of of B- or better.

PMBA713 - Strategic IT Alignment

This course provides an enterprise-wide perspective on IT management, focusing on how IT professionals, non-technical managers, and external service providers work together to ensure that applications, data, and knowledge align with organizational strategy and business processes (i.e., Strategic IT Alignment). Cases and readings examine how companies in various industries use IT to serve customers well, manage operations efficiently, coordinate with business partners, and make better business decisions. We consider how to maximize the strategic benefits of investments in hardware and software, while minimizing risks. The course places equal weight on technical and managerial skills. Our primary objective is to help students prepare to be effective contributors to IT initiatives in partnership with IT professionals, including external service providers here and abroad.

PMBA714 - Entrepreneurial Strat & Venture Creation

Entrepreneurship is the process of creating and growing new businesses and is fundamentally concerned with the identification and exploitation of opportunities for wealth creation (profit). Successful entrepreneurs generate wealth by identifying opportunities for value creation and then develop competitive advantages to exploit them. The broad objective of this course will be to apply insights from the fields of strategic management and economics to the process of entrepreneurship in order to understand what differentiates successful from unsuccessful entrepreneurial firms. In this course, we will focus our attention on three areas: (1) methods for identifying opportunities for value creation, (2) strategies for appropriating the returns from these opportunities, and (3) modes of organizing to support these strategies.

PMBA715 - Glb Mrkt Strat & Dynamic Supply & Chain

This course covers the processes involved in the creation, distribution and sale of products and services, and explores the tasks and decisions facing marketing managers. It focuses on market and competitive analysis, customer behavior, and the design and implementation of marketing strategies in domestic, international and global markets, including product, price, promotion, distribution and customer service decisions. It also focuses on the successful navigation of multinational free trade agreements the knowledge of which is required for success within the global business sphere.

PMBA716 - Global Strategy for Continual Success

This course focuses on how multinational companies and other firms create and sustain competitive advantage in a highly competitive, networked economy. Students learn about models of competition such as Porter's Five Forces model and D'Aveni's Hyper-Competition. Strategic innovation, the resource-based view of the firm, and new business models are other important topics. Emphasis is placed on formulating strategy at the corporate and business levels and on implementing strategy at all levels of the firm. The macro global environment, ethics, risk management and government regulation are covered.