Master of Business Administration

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Programme Offered

The degree Master of Business Administration (MBA) provides a general graduate education in management to students who are given specific knowledge in a variety of subject areas that combine the viewpoints of the military, government, and commercial sectors. The MBA curriculum is designed to accommodate the needs of any Military Occupation Classification or individual with resource management responsibilities. The programme accepts both full and part-time applicants and a limited number of civilians.

Admission

Students will be admitted under the general admission requirements of the Division of Graduate Studies.

To be considered for admission to the MBA Programme, applicants must fill out an online application form and submit by mail or e-mail the following documents:

• Original transcripts of all previously obtained degrees, certificates or alike direct from the institution;
• Biographical synopsis outlining professional and academic accomplishments, career objectives and suitability for the programme;
• 2 letters of reference (not required for active CAF members)

The reference letters should follow a standard one-page letter outlining the applicant's skills, knowledge, experience and work habits, and their suitability for and ability to undertake the MBA programme.

Programme Requirements

To complete the MBA, students must successfully complete the equivalent of 14 one-credit courses and a Management Research Study. The following courses are required:

Mandatory Courses

• MBA501: Advanced Topics in Management I
• MBA503: Advanced Topics in Management II
• MBA507: Data Analysis in Decision-Making
• MBA521: Economics
• MBA525: Financial Accounting
• MBA527: Management Accounting
• MBA529: Marketing
• MBA531: Management Information Systems
• MBA537: Financial Management
• MBA555: Operations Management
• MBA561: Strategic Management
• MBA569: Strategic Human Resources Management
• MBA593: Project Management
• MBA595: Organizational Theory

Plus

• MBA505: Management Research Study

Normal Course Load

Courses are offered in compressed format, with seven six-week blocks each year, each followed by a one-week exam period. The average workload per course is 18-24 hours per week. For full-time students, the normal course load is two courses per block. Students seeking a reduction in this normal load must obtain the permission of the MBA Chair. It is the obligation of the MBA Committee to inform the Dean of Graduate Studies and programme sponsors of deviations from the normal course load.

Registration and Withdrawal

• Registration will be conducted in accordance with the dates and deadlines published in the Dates Specific to MBA Students section of Key Dates and Important Notices webpage.
• Students who wish withdraw from a course should consult Academic Regulation 5.5.

Course Descriptions

MBA501 Advanced Topics in Management I

This course examines advanced topics from a number of management areas. The course will provide the student who has completed the more basic MBA courses with exposure to more complex issues in areas such as accounting, marketing, production, quantitative methods, human resources management, and strategic management. In addition, the course examines areas of management the student has not previously been exposed to such as international business and logistics. Coverage of topics will be on a selective basis. Students will be permitted to be enrolled at the discretion of the Programme Chair.

Credit(s):

1

MBA503 Advanced Topics in Management II

This course examines advanced topics from a number of management areas. The course will provide the student who has completed the more basic MBA courses with exposure to more complex issues in areas such as accounting, marketing, production, quantitative methods, human resources management, and strategic management. In addition, the course examines areas of management the student has not previously been exposed to such as international business and logistics. Coverage of topics will be on a selective basis. Students will be permitted to be enrolled at the discretion of the Programme Chair.

Credit(s):

1

MBA505 Management Research Study

The project will be mandatory and will count 1 credit. The project is the primary area where the students can focus their learning based on their own desires or those of a sponsoring agency. For the choice of topic, the student will propose a subject to be approved by the MBA Chair. The topic should be chosen according to the department's CoP themes (i.e., analytic, financial, behavioural, strategic or economic). Upon the approval of the MBA Chair, the project can also take the form of a reading course.

Students must arrange a management research study topic with a supervisor during Block 1. Under the direction of the supervisor, the student must write a study proposal. Once the proposal has been accepted by the supervisor, it must be submitted to the MBA Chair for approval. Only when the Chair has given his or her approval will the student be permitted to register in MBA505.

The supervisor is free to design any evaluation scheme he or she sees fit subject to certain requirements. During the second to last registration block, the student must prepare a written study report summarizing the research. The study report will be examined by the supervisor. After examination, the student is expected to incorporate any substantive concerns raised into a final study report. Once these concerns have been dealt with to the satisfaction of the supervisor, the supervisor will assign a final grade. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to submit a copy of the final study report to the MBA Chair.

Credit(s):

1

MBA507 Data Analysis in Decision-Making

This course focuses on data-driven models used in strategic and operational-level decision-making. Fundamental methods in probability and statistics are reviewed including confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and tests of independence. More advanced methods in regression, correlation, goodness-of-fit and forecasting techniques are also included. Special attention is given to the presentation and interpretation of statistical analyses. Inferences made based on sample statistics and the limits of statistical tools used in practice are also explored. Statistical methods are taught in the context of decision-making within human resources, marketing, operations management, finance, and other management applications.

Exclusion(s):

MBA523

Credit(s):

1

MBA509 Cyber Security Policy and Management

This course provides a launching point from which to develop or enhance an understanding of cybersecurity issues in both enterprise management and national security policy contexts. The content furnishes a useful heuristic approach to the various domains, comprising a comprehensive introduction to the spectrum of issues entangled in the practices of cybersecurity. Those with little technical background will find an introduction at a manageable level of complexity and gain a better appreciation for where and why technical depth is required. Those with technical backgrounds may find the material a useful overview of areas they are familiar with and an introduction to broader issues of international, national and legal policies and practices.

Credit(s):

1

MBA521 Economics

This course is divided into two distinct parts - microeconomics and macroeconomics. The portion of the course on microeconomics is intended to provide theoretical and practical knowledge of individual economic agents, including consumers, business firms, public sector agencies, workers and investors. The general approach is to examine the formulation of economic models of consumer behaviour and production. The macroeconomics portion of the course will examine national issues and interrelationships in the economy. The debates concerning fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies will also be examined and foreign economies will be investigated.

Exclusion(s):

MPA531

Credit(s):

1

MBA525 Financial Accounting

This course provides an introduction to the principles, practices, and processes of financial accounting. The course emphasis is on accounting as an information system, which supports decision making in many different contexts. The theory and mechanics of financial accounting are introduced and consideration is given to how these aspects of accounting are manifested in practice and vary across settings. The four major financial statements are introduced and their component parts examined. The course emphasizes the interpretation and use of accounting data downplaying the bookkeeping aspects.

Credit(s):

1

MBA527 Management Accounting

This course is intended for students who are or will be assuming managerial roles in DND and will need to make use of Managerial Accounting Systems and Management Information Systems in their workplace. It is intended to help students make better use of the basic organizational data from these systems in order to make better decisions. All students will be required to submit a project as part of this course to demonstrate that they understand the application of the theory in the field.

Prerequisite(s):

MBA525

Credit(s):

1

MBA529 Marketing

This course will focus on key areas in marketing management including; the role of marketing and the relationship with other areas of the organizations, market oriented strategic planning and market strategies, information systems, business and government markets, marketing programmes, logistics and marketing, and managing the marketing effort. The impact of customer behaviour, the effect of various levels of competition, and the impact of a variety of other organizational functions on strategy in the market place will be given particular attention.

Credit(s):

1

MBA531 Management Information Systems

This course explores current capabilities and likely developments in computers and telecommunication technology, including software for database management and logistics support, and computer-based information systems (CBIS) as a transformer of business practice. A special emphasis is placed on CBIS for operational and managerial decision-making, decision-support systems for routine decisions and high level planning, and the development and control of CBIS.

Credit(s):

1

MBA537 Financial Management

This course will provide the basic knowledge required in analyzing financial data and making financial decisions. Financial decisions fall into three main categories. The first category relates to the investments that the firm makes in both short and long-term assets. The second addresses how the firm is financed and the third covers how the firm makes its day-to-day operating decisions. The course will examine the framework in which financial managers work and the tools and concepts that they use. Topics will include the nature of the financial environment (domestic and international), the time value of money, valuation of stocks and bonds, risk and return, capital budgeting and the capital structure decision. Some time will be spent discussing derivatives, their increasing importance in the financial environment and their use as a key risk management tool.

Prerequisite(s):

MBA507 and MBA525

Credit(s):

1

MBA555 Operations Management

The focus of this course is on the important concepts of managing organizations and in particular on the effective and efficient creation and delivery of goods and services, including the important logistics elements. The blend of technical, human and economic considerations in an organizational setting will be studied. Topics that will be given particular consideration include design of product or service and process, capacity and demand management of services, materials management, and scheduling.

Credit(s):

1

MBA561 Strategic Management

This course examines the formulation and implementation of long-term strategy for the organization and determination of strategic direction, as well as the management of the strategic process. Topics covered include strategy formulation and strategic thinking; strategy, industry and competitive analysis; organizational redesign; strategic outsourcing and building of core competencies and strategic networks; strategy, resources and competencies; technology and strategic advantage; and strategic change process. The course is organized around cases and readings that structure and extend the student's understanding of complex organizational decisions, problems and situations.

Prerequisite(s):

MBA521, MBA529, MBA569, MBA595

Credit(s):

1

MBA569 Strategic Human Resources Management

This course is intended to provide an overview of strategies and management practices in Human Resources (HR) management with a specific focus on strategic issues rather than training HR professionals. The course will therefore help the student understand how the external environment and the internal organizational environment combine to affect the choice and implementation of strategies and policies in the traditional human resource disciplines. These disciplines include HR planning, recruitment and selection, compensation, motivation, evaluation, training, career development and career planning, as well as the field of employee relations and its sub-disciplines

Credit(s):

1

MBA593 Project Management

Addressing project management from a "management" perspective, this course examines the discipline from a defence perspective. Topics covered include requirement definition, project selection, organization, planning, scheduling, budgeting, control and termination. The course discusses the role of the project manager and his/her interaction with the defence management system. Specific project management methods and techniques, including computer software, negotiation approaches, risk and quality management and procurement procedures are investigated. Completed and on-going projects are studied.

Exclusion:

MPA559

Credit(s):

1

MBA595 Organizational Theory

Modern organizations find themselves in a climate of constant change. Without knowledge and understanding of the new workplace, leaders and managers will not be able to prepare their people and organizations for the challenges of tomorrow. Using the most recent developments from both organization theory and organizational behaviour, this course will examine topics such as leadership and management, group dynamics, and corporate culture. Linkages will be explored between these new organizations and strategic human resource management policies and procedures. Extensive reference will be made to the Canadian Forces human resource system. The course uses a lecture and case study format, with members responsible for researching and presenting case study analyses.

Exclusion:

MPA569

Credit(s):

1