Program Overview
At the beginning of the first year, students are placed on interdisciplinary teams. During this first year, students take their core MBA courses. They also learn about the product and/or project development process; evaluate technology that might provide new opportunities; and investigate how to incorporate the design of product/project, process, and manufacturing systems.
During the course, each team identifies its new product/project to be designed and introduced during the next 23 months. The feasibility of introducing a new product to the marketplace will be weighed against established performance criteria, identified marketing opportunities, and the product's competitive arena. Marketing plans will be designed, marketing strategies defined, and developmental processes and costs identified -- evaluating various "4P" scenarios (product, price, place, and promotion).
Program Dynamics
During the first year:
- Core MBA courses are taken
- Efforts are made to determine product/project
During the second year:
- Prototypes are developed for products
- Plans/timelines are developed for projects
- Business and marketing plans are researched and established
- Products are made ready for production and commercialization
- Projects are prepared for presentation to appropriate funding resources
MS-MBA Curriculum
The MS/MBA program incorporates a total of 30 hours in engineering instruction and 30 hours in business administration courses, taken over a 23-month period.
30 hours in engineering
- 12 hours of "common" instruction and 18 hours in a specialty area of engineering
- The following topics are included:
-advanced engineering software for design and analysis;
-manufacturing processes to fabricate and assess prototypes;
-integrating automated manufacturing systems;
-world-class concepts to optimize material flow;
-and simulation models to evaluate manufacturing systems, distribution systems and enterprise connections
30 hours of business classes
- "Every manager" topics, including:
-accounting
-finance
-strategy
-process deign
-logistics/procurement
-resource management
- Concentration course in operations management/logistics
- Strong emphasis on personal and leadership development
Program Advantages
This program allows students to:
- Integrate both technical and business knowledge
- Learn how to construct a business plan and present ideas to investors/funding resources
- Work in teams to move from idea generation to commercialization of a new product or commitment of resource funding
- Develop entrepreneurial skills and mindset
- Understand "theory" while being able to bridge this knowledge into "practical applications"
|
