Professional Development Award

Success in today's competitive workforce requires more than just hard work, possessing that edge in terms of knowledge is crucial in setting yourself apart from the rest. At U21Global, you can count on our specialised courses which will give you insights into your chosen subject of interest - be it fundamental management skills, technology or information management techniques. For those who are not ready to embark on a full MBA or MMIT programme, our Professional Development Award is the fast-track route to success at work. Providing a firm foundation of knowledge, these subjects from our MBA and MMIT programmes will meet your unique educational and career goals.

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1. Business Process Management and Outsourcing*
   (3200)

   Organisations today are heavily based around business processes. Over time, business processes can become an overhead on the organisation, and business process management can be seen as a means of effectively managing complex and interacting business processes. This is particularly important in the new digital economy, where real-time information and shorter business cycles act as driving forces for business process improvements. Organisations often turn towards business process re-engineering (BPR) for optimising or streamlining their business processes. In some cases, it may be more efficient for the organisation to outsource business processes in order to concentrate on core business processes. This subject also covers motivations for business process management, BPR methodology, the effect of IT on business process, business process modelling, workflow systems and managing business process transition.

   Prerequisites :
   None

2. Consumer Behaviour
   (731)

   All consumer behaviour is driven by the value received through the acquisition and use of a variety of products, services and experiences. In this subject, students will learn to understand and appreciate consumers as unique individuals and as members of their social and cultural groups. Students are also introduced to the foundations of consumer behaviour, consumer decision making and relationships, as well as environmental influences on consumer behaviour

   Prerequisites :
   Marketing Management (630)

3. Corporate Social Responsibility*
   (780)

   Introduces students to the heightened expectations for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its global drivers, including sustainable development and the increased pressure on corporations from regulators, shareholders, consumers and political processes. This subject presents CSR from the perspective of corporate opportunity and provides students with an understanding of how to assess the impact of CSR on business strategy, culture, operations and corporate performance. CSR is examined from the perspective of risk management, as a risk mitigation device, and also as an opportunity for the development of new products, markets and business models.

   Prerequisites :
   None

4. Data Analysis for Managers
   (602)

   Equips students with the quantitative skills to describe and make use of the large amounts of data available in the workplace today. The concept of hypothesis testing is developed and applied using a number of techniques designed to build models for decision-making purposes. A refresher in statistics is included. Students are also introduced to data-mining, an array of statistical methods to explain and make inferences from the very large databases that are created on the Internet.

   Prerequisites :
   None

5. Database Management Systems and Applications
   (2640)

   Examines technical aspects of relational databases, SQL programming, interfacing databases to the Internet and information systems development. Other topics include object-oriented systems modelling, information retrieval and data mining. Also examined are characteristics and evaluation of database management systems, general and specialised database systems and design and implementation of a database using commercial database management software. Relational, hierarchical and networked databases are also covered, as are object-oriented database management systems, query languages for database applications, recovery techniques and database security. Students are introduced to examples of management applications, such as project management, group working, groupware, strategic decision support and knowledge management.

   Prerequisites :
   None

6. Developing New Enterprises
   (761)

   Provides the framework and skills for exploring and establishing a new business venture. The topics covered include market positioning, viable and sustainable business models, budget and capital needs, developing business strategy, exploiting global opportunities and building relationships with financiers and venture capitalists. Students are taught how to develop a business plan.

   Prerequisites :
   Organisational Behaviour (601)
   Finance 612

7. Digital Communications, Networks and Technology
   (2620)

   Examines the architecture of digital systems, with emphasis on structural principles common to a wide range of technologies. This subject examines protocols for mobile and fixed networks, network management and reliability, operation of high-speed networks, digital representation of sounds and images, signalling, routing, switching, coding and modulation. Also covered are network modelling, time and frequency domain models, statistical concepts, representation of complex systems and applications of digital communications. Issues of inter-operability among communications networks and technologies are introduced.

   Prerequisites :
   None

8. eBusiness
   (650)

   Explores the implementation of information technology-enabled business strategies via Internet-based business practices. Students are familiarised with the key concepts of eBusiness, particularly on business issues, challenges and opportunities. The focus is not on the technologies per se but on the business applications and characteristics of the technologies that can bring enhanced revenues, cost savings and broader market reach to organisations. This subject examines how eBusiness can be used to provide opportunities to improve an organisation's effectiveness and competitiveness in its overall strategy and functional activities.

   Prerequisites :
   None

9. Enterprise Knowledge Management
   (751)

   Examines the types of information and knowledge processes in business organisations, including distribution and exploitation of organisational knowledge. Also covered are the development and content of information management policies, techniques of information mapping and means of acquiring and evaluating social and corporate intelligence. This subject also develops an understanding of the commercial value of knowledge, including intellectual property rights and the interaction between law and technology.

   Prerequisites :
   None

10. Finance
    (612)

    Introduces students to the finance function in an organisation. Strategic decisions of finance, financial planning and control, time value of money, capital budgeting techniques and asset acquisition decisions are explored. Students are familiarised with capital expenditure decisions as part of long-term financial strategy, including risk exposure and unexpected changes in the value of investments.

    Prerequisites :
    None

11. Financial Management for Decision Making
    (712)

    Develops the principles and practices of finance for managers to use in making decisions. Students explore three categories of decisions, namely operating, investment and financing decisions, with the goal of adding to the financial value of the firm. Topics includ asset management, capital budgeting analysis, forecasting, budgeting, management of long-term financing, optimal capital structure, dividend policy, valuation and investment criteria and the international legal and regulatory framework of accounting and taxation.

    Prerequisites :
    Finance (612)

12. Financial Reporting & Statement Analysis
    (611)

    Provides students with an understanding of the concepts and language of accounting, to be used as an effective tool for communication, monitoring and resource allocation. Standard techniques of analysis are covered, including ratio and financial statement analysis and financial statement articulation. Students are provided a framework for understanding financial statements, accounting reports and parent-subsidiary relationships. This subject also provides a foundation for a subsequent elective on managerial accounting.

    Prerequisites :
    None

13. Global and Regional Economic Development
    (720)

    Explores the prospects and contexts for economic growth and development in the world's major markets. Current trends and relationships among global businesses, regional economies and national institutions are examined. International trade barriers, agreements and regulations are introduced. Students address macroeconomics concepts in a comparative developmental context, highlighting the differences between developed and developing countries.

    Prerequisites :
    None

14. Human Resources Management
    (750)

    Presents and analyses human resources management issues in a business organisation. Topics include the contribution to business development through human resources planning and management, employer and employee relations and the implications for human resources management in the rapidly changing environment. Global and legal issues, recruitment and selection, training and development (including eLearning strategies), performance appraisal and reward systems are examined.

    Prerequisites :
    Organisational Behaviour (601)

15. Information Systems Project Management
    (2800)

    Explores the principles of information systems (IS) project management. Roles and responsibilities, assembling and managing resources, establishing a project budget, estimation, managing costs, critical tasks, task dependencies and managing task delays are some of the topics covered. The management of iterative, incremental and sequential processes is discussed, as are the techniques, including scheduling and tracking progress, Gantt and flow charts and PERT analysis. The subject also looks at risks in IS projects and the management of those risks throughout the project lifecycle. Finally, the subject examines stakeholder interaction, and the behavioural and organisational aspects of managing projects.

    Prerequisites :
    None

16. Information Systems Security+ 
    (3000)

    Security is consistently rated as a major concern of consumers and corporations alike in the use of the Internet and technology for conducting business. The need to provide high levels of security and create trusted business relationships is a priority for many organisations. This subject is designed to provide students with a firm grounding in security concepts to enable them to interpret security requirements and assess their impact on a project. Topics include security management, cryptography, access control, network security, application security, operations security, physical security, incident management and business continuity planning (BCP).

    Prerequisites :
    None

17. Information Systems Strategy
    (771)

    Provides an understanding of the contemporary technological and organisational issues involved in the management of information resources. This subject is designed to integrate theoretical concepts with their practical applications. Topics include the role of information technology in the management of the organisation; organisational learning and the assimilation of IT; the make-or-buy decision; the relationship between users and IT management; the role of IT in business competition; strategic alliances and planning and control in inter-organisational systems; centralisation vs. decentralisation of management planning and control; responsibilities of users and information systems professionals; design of an information systems department; the use of chargeback for control; managing computer centre operations; transnational information management; and planning methodologies.

    Prerequisites :
    Information Technology Systems for Business (770)

18. Information Technology Systems for Business
    (770)

    Surveys the major concepts, theories and frameworks within the discipline of Management Information Systems and provides students with a foundation that is further developed in other subjects. This subject assumes no prior preparation on the part of the student in the discipline. Topics covered include overviews of the organisational context for information systems; digital communications and networking technologies; enterprise resource planning, supply-chain, customer-relationship and knowledge management applications; the relationship between architectures, platforms and applications, principles of information systems strategy and management; and managing the design and implementation of comprehensive information systems.

    Prerequisites :
    None

19. International Finance
    (713)

    Builds on the introduction of financial decision making within international markets. The macro-economy and its impact on local and global markets are explored, balanced by an examination of the influences on how a manager makes financial decisions. Islamic banking is explored in this subject, to expose students to the impact of Islamic banking concepts on financial decision making.

    Prerequisites:
    Finance (612)

20. IT Outsourcing and Vendor Management+ 
    (2810)

    Today, many organisations depend upon external service providers to support IT-related activities, such as software development, system maintenance, Web hosting, application service provision and facilities management. In the wake of globalisation, the market for IT outsourcing has expanded significantly. This subject is designed to equip students with the skills required to manage the often complex set of relationships that an organisation may have with its service providers. Topics covered include business case analysis, vendor selection, vendor management, contract negotiation, quality management and the creation of service level agreements (SLAs).

    Prerequisites :
    None

21. Management of Services
    (760)

    Provides an integrated approach to the marketing of services, the management and design of service processes and the management of front-line staff. Students develop an in-depth appreciation and understanding of the unique challenges inherent in profitably delivering service excellence. Students are also introduced to state-of-the-art service management thinking and current trends.

    Prerequisites :
    None

22. Managerial Economics
    (620)

    Provides students with economic principles of production and exchange and tools to use in making business decisions. Students are exposed to primarily microeconomics content, including pricing for profit maximisation, price elasticity, market structures and modelling of businesses in varying economic climates.

    Prerequisites :
    None

23. Managing International Business
    (640)

    Provides students with an understanding of management across borders and cultures. International operations and local implementation of global strategies are explored. Topics include the relationship between head office and international subsidiaries, managing local and global constituencies, competencies for effective international management, managing global and national profitability, managing relations with governments and understanding local trade and business requirements. Global competition and analysis of global industries are also considered.

    Prerequisites :
    Organisational Behaviour (601)

24. Marketing Management
    (630)

    Introduces the concepts, principles and activities involved in marketing programs. Students are familiarised with the stages of analysis, development, implementation and control of marketing products and services in consumer and industrial markets. Topics include product life cycles, consumer and competitive behaviour, international marketing, branding and communication strategies, and development of a marketing business plan. Internet marketing and communication strategies on the World Wide Web are examined.

    Prerequisites :
    None

25. Marketing Strategy
    (730)

    Integrates and applies the theories, concepts and principles covered in 630: Marketing Management, to address strategic marketing problems. Topics include market information analysis, market strategic planning and management and delivery of marketing programs. Simulation exercises place students in decision-making roles to provide dynamic learning experience and demonstrate the effects of marketing mix decisions made over time on organisational outcomes.

    Prerequisites :
    Marketing Management (630)

26. Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
    (2910)

    Correct problem definitions are critical to the success of a solution. As Information Systems (IS) are socio-technical systems, problem definitions remain a major challenge for solution seekers as well as providers. This subject familiarises students with processes and related workflows as well as people and artefacts involved in the analysis and design of IS. Domain modelling and analysis modelling are discussed with the help of the Object Oriented (OO) Paradigm and the Unified Modelling Language (UML). The focus will be on building explicit and traceable IS models, and extensible and reusable IS architecture. The subject prepares students to participate effectively as team leaders or members in the IS solutions domain as well as development team in varied capacities such as presales specification, domain architects, business analysts and IS designers.

    Prerequisites :
    None

27. Operations Management
    (660)

    Explores the challenges encountered in the production of goods and services, as well as models and techniques that deal with these problems. The emphasis is on developing analytic insights into a few central models which have proved their usefulness in practice. Topics include short-term demand forecasting, aggregate production planning, inventory planning and control, assembly line balancing, job shop scheduling, project planning, facility layout, warehouse location and plant expansion.

    Prerequisites :
    None

28. Organisational Behaviour
    (601)

    Provides the knowledge base for understanding behaviour within organisations. Managers are equipped with tools to manage individuals, groups and teams and understand the wider organisational culture and structure. Topics include optimising individual performance, leadership and power, organisational design and structure, management of change and improving organisational effectiveness.

    Prerequisites :
    None

29. Performance Measurement and Control Systems
    (711)

    Familiarises students with various cost and management accounting concepts and techniques useful for effective management planning, control and decision-making. The focus is on the managerial use of accounting and other information in decision-making, rather than on the mechanics of management accounting procedures. Topics include cost behaviour, cost-volume-profit relationships, activity-based costing, profit planning, budgeting, balanced scorecard, capital budgeting decisions, overhead analysis and segment reporting.

    Prerequisites :
    Financial Reporting and Statement Analysis (611)

30. Project Management Methods
    (701)

    Explores the principles of project management. The topics of assembling and managing resources, establishing a project budget, managing costs, critical tasks, task dependencies and managing task delays are covered. Techniques such as scheduling and tracking progress, Gantt flow charts and PERT analysis are examined. The management of technology projects, including the introduction of a new product or service, redesign of a system, multiple projects and interdependencies, are also covered.

    Prerequisites :
    None

31. Software Engineering Management*
    (2900)

    Provides students with an understanding of modern software engineering processes to better equip them in managing software-intensive projects in a wide variety of project scenarios. Software lifecycle models, such as Waterfall, Prototyping, Incremental and Iterative approaches, are covered. The management of risk, requirements and reviews in the software process is examined, as are approaches to testing, test management and the role of metrics in improving software process quality. This subject examines several quality management frameworks found in IS settings, including CMM and CMMI. Topics include quality engineering, process maturity, metrics, quality management systems, people quality, quality standards, quality audits, quality reviews, testing and defect management.

    Prerequisites :
    None

32. Strategic Management
    (690)

    Provides students with insight into the organisation as a whole and an understanding of how and why the various functions of an organisation are interdependent and need to be managed in an integrated manner. From the perspective of a manager, business owner or executive of a self-contained business division within a large corporation, students examine how organisations ensure their survival in the medium- to long-term through strategic positioning and organisation of internal administrative functions and activities.

    Prerequisites :
    Organisational Behaviour (601)
    Financial Reporting & Statement Analysis (611) or Finance (612)
    Marketing Management (630)

33. Supply Chain Management
    (2700)

    IT tools and applications of Supply Chain Management (SCM) are the focus of this subject. Designed from the perspective of the general manager (who must integrate supplier relations, production and factory floor, operations, financial and human dimensions of the enterprise), this subject examines the processes within the value chain of the company. Students learn how the competitiveness, cost structure and manageability of a firm's operations and markets can be improved through automation, using information and telecommunications networking technologies. Topics include fundamentals of matching supply with demand, incentive alignment and implementation challenges and analytical techniques for supply-chain management. The implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is also discussed.

    Prerequisites :
    None

*currently under development
+  jointly developed with the National University of Singapore

Note: Electives are subject to change and may not always be available. Please contact the Recruitment or Student Services officers for the most updated information on course offerings.

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