Business Management and Leadership

This course will teach students to communicate effectively in today's fast-paced business world by developing skills for written, verbal, and digital communication. Topics covered include the use of Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint to enhance their communication skills. They will learn about the use of AI tools, such as MS Editor and Grammarly, to assist them in editing and proofreading. Students will also learn to differentiate between types of business communication and use digital tools effectively in different contexts. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to communicate effectively in today's globalized business environment.

Course Objectives: Define the basic principles of effective communication; Differentiate key elements of different types of business communication; Use basic editing and proofreading skills to revise and improve written communications; Understand the appropriate use of digital communication tools in different business contexts; Deliver clear and engaging oral presentations.

Skills taught: Written Communication; Verbal Communication; Digital Communication; Microsoft Word; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft PowerPoint.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Written Communication; Verbal Communication; Digital Communication; Microsoft Word; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft PowerPoint.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Writing Skills; Speaking Skills; Active Listening; Technology Use; Monitoring; and Control; Reading Comprehension.

BOK Alignment: IABC - Business Communication Principles; Types of Business Communication; Digital Communication; Verbal Communication; Interpersonal Communication; Cross-Cultural Communication.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program.

This course explores the vital elements of managing talent and nurturing employee growth. It covers essential topics like onboarding, labor laws, rewards and recognition programs, and employee development. Students will learn to identify the critical components of talent management, including how to ensure compliance with labor laws. Upon completion, students will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage talent effectively for organizational success.

Course Objectives: Identify ways Talent Management can create a competitive advantage; Explain how job analysis and design contribute to organizational effectiveness; Recognize the implications of local and federal labor laws; Describe the different components of an effective employee onboarding process; List the critical drivers of employee retention.

Skills taught: Recruitment and talent acquisition; Job Analysis; Performance management and appraisal; Learning and development; Legal and regulatory compliance; Risk management; Communication and interpersonal skills.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Talent Acquisition; Employee Engagement and Retention; Learning and Development; Legal and Regulatory Compliance; Risk Management; Communication and Interpersonal Skills.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Recruitment; Performance Management; Training and Development; Compliance; Risk Management; Communication.

BOK Alignment: TMI, SHRM,HRCI, ATD - Talent acquisition; Employee engagement and retention; Learning and development; Total rewards; Risk management; Job analysis.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program.

This course focuses on enhancing leadership skills and improving effectiveness in the workplace. Students will explore various topics, including ethical decision-making, emotional intelligence, innovative leadership practices, conflict resolution, and effective leadership tactics. Through interactive exercises and case studies, students will learn to apply these skills in real-world scenarios. By the end of the course, students will have developed a set of tools for optimizing their leadership effectiveness.

Course Objectives: Define aspects of effective leadership; Compare different frameworks for making ethical decisions; Explain the relationship between EI and effective leadership; Describe leadership practices that contribute to organizational innovation; Identify basic approaches to resolving conflict.

Skills taught: Emotional Intelligence; Ethical decision-making; Innovative leadership; Conflict resolution; Time Management; Judgment; Active listening.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Leadership; Decision-making; Innovation; Conflict resolution; Emotional intelligence; Critical thinking; Communication.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Active listening; Emotional Intelligence; Social perceptiveness; Leadership and Teamwork; Communication; Innovation and Creativity; Conflict Resolution; Adaptability and flexibility; Resilience.

BOK Alignment: ILM, CMI, AMA, O*NET - Ethical decision-making; Emotional intelligence; Innovative leadership; Conflict resolution; Time Management; Judgment and Decision-Making.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program.

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of business intelligence using Microsoft Excel. Students will learn how to manipulate data, create charts, and summarize data to communicate information for use in making data-driven decisions. The course covers topics such as basic functions in MS Excel, formatting Excel spreadsheets for enhanced communication of key insights, and using formulas and functions to manipulate data in MS Excel. Students will also learn how to create and format charts, work with logical functions, and use PivotTables to summarize data. Upon completion, students will be able to use basic tools and techniques for analyzing and communicating data.

Course Objectives: Understand basic functions in MS Excel; Effectively format Excel spreadsheets to enhance communication of key business insights; Manipulate data in MS Excel using formulas and functions; Create charts to communicate business data and insights; Summarize business data using pivot tables.

Skills taught: Ability to manipulate and analyze data using Microsoft Excel; Basic functions and features of Microsoft Excel; Basic data analysis techniques and methods; Spreadsheet formatting and design principles; Basic data visualization and charting techniques; PivotTables and Pivot Charts.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Spreadsheet software; Mathematical Reasoning; Critical Thinking; Information Ordering; Written Expression; Technology Use; Monitoring; and Control.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Critical Thinking; Information Ordering; Category Flexibility; Mathematics; Writing.

BOK Alignment: SIOP, ATD, AMA, ILM, CMI, ICF - Data manipulation; Spreadsheet software proficiency; Charting and data visualization; PivotTables and Pivot Charts; Formatting and design principles; Basic data analysis techniques; Logical functions; Information management; Critical thinking; Written expression.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program

This course provides managers with practical knowledge and skills in financial analysis. Students will learn about the economic environment of business, common financial statements, and key components of a business's financial performance. They will also learn basic financial analysis techniques and the importance of accurate and transparent financial reports. The course also covers financial reporting standards, ethical and professional standards, and using MS Excel for financial analysis calculations.

Course Objectives: Understand the economic environment of business; Recognize common financial statements; Identify critical components of a business's financial performance; Apply basic financial analysis techniques; Describe the importance of accurate and transparent financial reports.

Skills taught: Business Environment; Financial Management; Understand financial reporting standards; Use ratios to analyze financial statements; Use financial analysis techniques; Communicate financial analysis findings; Understand ethical and professional standards for financial reporting; Use MS Excel to perform financial analysis calculations.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Spreadsheet software (MS Excel); Accounting principles; Financial statement analysis; Ratio analysis; Business acumen; Ethical decision-making; Written communication; Risk Management.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Financial Analysis; Attention to Detail; Judgment; Critical Thinking; Mathematics.

BOK Alignment: IFAC IES, IMA, AFT, AMA, CMI, ICF, SIOP, ILM, CCL, ATD - Financial analysis; Financial reporting; Accounting principles; Ethical decision-making; Written communication; Critical thinking; Attention to detail; Spreadsheet software.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program.

This course focuses on ways to optimize business operations by examining the impact of factors like environment, organization, technology, and leadership. Students will learn about technologies and tools used in operations management, risk management, and continuous improvement strategies for operational excellence. Upon completion of the course, students will be equipped to apply the skills they have acquired to enhance their workplace's operations.

Course Objectives: Explain the impact of environmental factors on business operations; Examine how various organizational structures affect operations management; Understand how proactive risk management mitigates potential sources of loss; Explain how effective leadership contributes to a culture of quality management; Assess the impact of technological advances on operational efficiency.

Skills taught: Business operations management principles; Organizational Structures and Impact; Attention to detail and maintaining quality standards; Risk identification and mitigation; Technological literacy for operations; Time management and prioritization; Problem-solving analysis and solution development; Effective communication and collaboration; Leadership and setting expectations; Business Environment; Supply Chains; Logistics.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Critical Thinking; Problem-Solving; Communication; Leadership; Time Management; Technology Use, Monitoring, and Control; Adaptability; Continuous Improvement; Attention to Detail; Quality Management; Risk Management.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Problem-solving; Coordination; Critical thinking; Time management; Judgment and decision making; Monitoring; Quality control.

BOK Alignment: AMA, CMI, ICF, APICS, SIOP, CCL, ATD, ASQ, ISO, INFORMS - Business Operations Management; Organizational Structures; Proactive Risk Management; Quality Management; Technological Advances in Operations Management.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program.

This course covers key aspects of performance management, including performance appraisals, coaching, reward and recognition systems, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Students will learn the value of performance appraisals, the role of coaching, how to evaluate reward and recognition systems, and the use of KPIs for performance improvement. Upon completion, students will understand performance management principles and the tools needed to support employee development and improve employee performance.

Course Objectives: Recognize the value of performance appraisals for improving employee performance; Explain how performance management supports organizational goals; Understand how coaching improves team performance; Evaluate how reward and recognition systems align individual performance with team and organizational goals; Use KPIs to make data-driven recommendations for performance improvement.

Skills taught: Performance Appraisal; Coaching and Mentoring; Data Analytics and interpretation; Organizational Development; Communication and Collaboration; Goal setting; Employee Development; Aligning individual performance with team and organizational goals; Evaluating reward and recognition systems; Using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to drive performance improvement; Making data-driven recommendations for performance improvement.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Performance Appraisal; Coaching; Goal setting; Performance Management; Employee Development; Key Performance Indicators (KPIs); Employee Recognition Programs; Data Analysis.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Performance Management; Coaching and Mentoring; Employee Development; Communication; Data Analysis.

BOK Alignment: SHRM, ICF, ISODC - Performance Appraisal; Coaching and Mentoring; Data Analytics and Interpretation; Organizational Development; Communication and Collaboration; Goal setting; Employee Development.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program.

In this course, students will gain insights into the benefits and challenges of various marketing channels. They will learn the importance of audience segmentation for various target groups. The course highlights the need for consistent brand messaging across all channels and teaches students how to evaluate marketing performance using key performance indicators (KPIs). Students will also learn to recognize effective strategies for establishing a unified customer experience across multiple channels.

Course Objectives: Describe the pros and cons of various marketing channels; Identify the purpose of audience segmentation in choosing suitable marketing channels; Describe the process of evaluating marketing campaign performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) and analytics tools; Explain the significance of consistent brand messaging across all marketing channels; Recognize effective strategies for establishing a unified customer experience across multiple channels.

Skills taught: Brand messaging; Content marketing; Customer experience; Data Analytics; Marketing research; Social media marketing.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Digital Marketing; Audience Segmentation; Marketing Channel Analysis; Performance Measurement; Brand Messaging; Cross-channel Marketing; Customer Experience; Communication Skills.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Communications and Media; Market Research; Social Media Marketing; Data Analysis; Technology Use, Monitoring, and Control; Customer Focus; Branding.

BOK Alignment: AMA, CIM, IAB, DMI - Marketing Channel Selection; Audience Segmentation; Multichannel Marketing; Marketing Analytics; Brand Messaging Consistency; Digital Marketing Strategy; Customer Experience Management.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program

This course introduces the principles of visual merchandising. Students will explore how visual merchandising can influence consumer behavior and learn the basics of visual storytelling to engage customers. Students will learn common visual merchandising techniques, understand the logistics of delivering merchandise, and evaluate performance data to improve merchandising strategies. By the end of the course, students will understand how impactful visual merchandising drives sales and creates lasting brand impressions.

Course Objectives: Describe how visual merchandising can influence consumer behavior; Recognize the basics of visual storytelling to engage customers; Identify examples of visual merchandising techniques commonly used in retail settings; Explain how the logistics of delivering merchandise can impact the execution of visual merchandising; Evaluate performance data to pinpoint areas where visual merchandising strategies can be improved.

Skills taught: Visual Merchandising; Merchandise Presentation; Retail Design; Customer Experience; Data Analysis; Logistics and Operations; Innovation and Technology.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Visual Merchandising; Retail Operations; Marketing; Creative Design; Innovation; Problem-Solving; Communication.

O*NET Skills Alignment: Sales and Marketing; Design; Customer and Personal Service; Communication; Persuasion.

BOK Alignment: NRF, IAVM, A.R.E. - Visual Merchandising; Merchandise Presentation; Retail Design; Customer Experience; Data Analysis; Logistics and Operations; Innovation and Technology.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program.

In today's competitive business environment, leaders need to adopt a customer-centric approach that prioritizes the satisfaction of both internal and external customers to drive organizational success. This course will focus on customer-centric and servant leadership, which create a positive work environment that fosters employee satisfaction and engagement, leading to increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and business growth. Students will learn customer-centric and servant leadership principles and practices and how they contribute to organizational success. Students will also explore how building strong teams can forge the service-profit chain, leading to greater profitability for the organization.

Course Objectives: Explain how customer-centric leadership contributes to organizational success; Recognize how the links of the service-profit chain connect employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, and business profitability; Identify factors that contribute to employee satisfaction and engagement; Define how customer satisfaction leads to customer loyalty; Describe how customer loyalty drives business growth and profitability.

Skills taught: Leadership; Service-profit chain; Employee engagement; Team building; Customer relationship management; Communication.

Lightcast/EMSI Skills Alignment: Customer Service; Servant Leadership; Communication; Teamwork; Problem-Solving; Innovation; Performance Management; Change Management; Data Analysis

O*NET Skills Alignment: Customer Service; Leadership; Communication; Teamwork; Problem-Solving; Innovation; Performance Management; Change Management; Active Listening; Critical Thinking; Social Perceptiveness.

BOK Alignment: Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, SHRM, CMI, SIOP, AMA, ILM, ICF, CCL - Customer-centric leadership; Servant leadership; Service-profit chain; Employee engagement and job satisfaction; Team building; Customer relationship management; Effective communication; Active listening; Organizational culture; Empathy; Influence.

Prerequisite: Acceptance in the Business Management and Leadership accelerated degree completion program.