The Executive MBA program requires students to complete nine projects—eight in student teams. Team projects
require students to solve large-scale, complex business problems assigned by the program faculty. The projects encourage a
holistic, cross-disciplinary approach for their general solution but also make technical demands on teams. Students learn
business theory and methodology about subjects such as statistics, accounting, and strategy, when the need arises while
completing a project. Although the content will be similar each time a course is offered, the specific project assigned in
the course will incorporate contemporary business issues. Individual projects are similar in scope to team projects but are
proposed by students based on actual business problems they either are facing or anticipate in their work.
Business Analysis (MBA 711) (6 Credits)
Module Description
Student project teams study the problem of replacing or developing an organizational service operation. To solve the
problem, students are required to research the operational issues associated with the improved service center. They assess the existing operating facility and recommend methods to bring the facility up to specified standards.
They specify necessary technology and develop staffing plans that will meet the new operational
requirements.
Learning Outcomes
- How to decide whether to lease or build a facility
- How to define the financing needed to establish the new facility
- How to develop a budget for the project
- How to show the comparative advantage of the team's recommended facility vs. other possible choices
- How to use quantitative techniques to analyze the effectiveness of the recommended operation once it is established
- How to demonstrate the appropriateness of the recommended technology to meet the objectives of the new service
operation
- How to analyze the impact the service center's technology will have on the firm's knowledge base of its customers
- How to recruit, develop, compensate, and retain a workforce
- How to identify the effect of the local culture and customs on the operation of the service center
- How the design of the service center's organization contributes to the stability and satisfaction of the center's
work force
Competitive Business Strategy (MBA 712) (6
Credits)
Module Description
This module enables students to identify and evaluate a competitive business strategy. It develops skill in analyzing the
broad environment, industry structure, evolutionary processes, and competitor moves, that influence the financial performance
of a business strategy. It builds proficiency in assessing the potency of the resources and capabilities of a business to
create a sustainable strategic advantage. It explores the role of organization structure, administrative processes, corporate
culture, company politics, and executive leadership on the formation and execution of a business strategy. It recognizes that
business ethics, personal values, and social responsibilities affect strategic decisions, financial performance, and
organizational behaviors.
A student project team creates recommendations for revising a business strategy to improve the competitive position and
financial performance of a firm. To support the recommendations the team identifies and evaluates the current competitive
strategy of a business, analyzes the conditions and trends in its environment, assesses its resources and competencies, and
examines its organization, culture, and leadership. The team also develops a 5-year forecast of industry demand, business
market share, and pro forma financial statements and demonstrates how they will result from the business strategy
recommendations. Students also work on individual learning exercises, participate in online discussions, and respond to
examination questions.
Learning Outcomes
In general, the purpose of this module is to improve students' ability to think strategically. Some specific learning outcomes
from completing this module include:
- How to appraise the significant impacts of the broad environment on a firm's industry and business strategy and assess
the impact of demographic, economic, governmental, international, physical, social, and technological forces on the product
demand, firm performance, and strategic requirements of the industry
- How to define and analyze the competitive environment of a firm, including the trends and conditions that influence the
strength of substitute products, potential entrants, bargaining power of suppliers and customers, and rivalry among
competitors
- How to assess the resources and capabilities of a firm that support business objectives and performance objectives over
time, including the functions such as marketing, operations, technology, finance, and human resources
- How to identify and evaluate the performance objectives and business strategy of a firm, including analysis of how the
strategy, will achieve the desired performance objectives and will create economic and social value, and assessment of the
likely response of competitors and potential competitors to the strategy
- How to design the organizational structure, process and systems to implement a business strategy, including the
following: job definitions, reporting relationships, recruitment and selection policies, training and development programs,
measurement and evaluation systems, reward and restraint procedures, and planning and budgeting systems
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"Pace Executive MBA students brought an impressive degree of professionalism, knowledge, and strategic insight to our project. They clearly articulated a strategic plan to reposition our department, adding value to client companies and the Exchange. It was a winning partnership."
- Thea Pagel, Managing Director Events Marketing, NYSE Euronext
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Frank Russo (AON Horizon) and Joe Stepenovich (CAM Energy)
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Every course in the Pace EMBA program revolves around solving a business problem. Learning is interdisciplinary and applied.
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"In two of the most intense, challenging and rewarding years of my life, the EMBA program not only solidified and expanded my understanding of the business environment; it allowed me to become one of the founding members of a very special and expanding family of EMBA alums. My Cycle 1 experience, teachers and fellow students have changed and forever improved my life with knowledge and fond memories."
Mikhail Karasik, Cycle 1
Director, Program Management
Innovativ Systems Design
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Global Diversification Strategy (MBA 713) (6
Credits)
Module Description
This module enables students to identify and evaluate the global diversification strategy of a firm. It develops skill in
analyzing the evolving global environment of business and understanding its implications for completing in various countries
and industries. It builds proficiency in assessing how relationships among the business and country units in a corporate
portfolio and between the corporate headquarters and its business units create strategic advantage and contribute to
financial performance. It examines the complexities of managing a portfolio of units that confront different country
governments, national cultures, regional economies, and local needs. It explores the role of organization structure,
administrative processes, corporate culture, company politics, and executive leadership on the formation and execution of a
corporate strategy. It recognizes that the ethics, values, and acknowledged social responsibilities of corporate executives
affect strategic decisions, financial performance, and organizational behaviors.
A student project team creates recommendations for revising a business strategy to improve the competitive position and
financial performance of a firm. To support the recommendations the team identifies and evaluates the current competitive
strategy of a business, analyzes the conditions and trends in its environment, assesses its resources and competencies, and
examines its organization, culture, and leadership. The team also develops a 5-year forecast of industry demand, business
market share, and pro forma financial statements and demonstrates how they will result from the business strategy
recommendations. Students also work on individual learning exercises, participate in online discussions, and respond to
examination questions.
A student project team creates recommendation for a geographic expansion, business acquisition, resource development,
divestiture, strategic alliance, or similar corporate strategy initiative to improve the performance of a global diversified
company like General Electric, Phillips, or Matsushita. Support for the recommendation includes financial projections,
corporate strategy considerations, and organizational impacts. The project should also analyze the interrelationships between
the proposed strategic initiatives on the synergy with other businesses in the firm's portfolio
Learning Outcomes
In general, the purpose of this module is to improve your ability to think strategically. Some specific learning outcomes
from completing this module include:
- How to identify, understand, categorize, and analyze diversification strategies and international strategies for firms
that compete in multiple industries and/or multiple countries
- How to evaluate acquisitions, divestitures, resource developments, and strategic alliances from the viewpoint of a firm
pursuing a global diversification strategy and attempting to create value through diversification and geographic
expansion
- How to assess the resource capabilities, capital structure, and financial performance, and of a global diversified
firm
- How to identify and evaluate the various synergies that can result when a firm competes simultaneously in several
industries and countries and leverages resources and capabilities across them or creates financial and administrative
structures that influence them
- How to assess the appropriateness of organizational structures, systems, and processes for managing the complexities
inherent in a firm following a global diversification strategy
- How to determine the role and effectiveness of organizational leadership and corporate culture in a complex firm
Operations Management (MBA 714) (6 Credits)
Module Description
Student project teams develop a recommendation for reengineering a complex manufacturing operation. This recommendation
may incorporate make-or-buy decisions, forward or backward integration decisions, continuous or revolutionary change
processes, and redefinition of input or output requirements in terms of cost, quality, and service. The teams justify their
recommendations in terms of the improved capacity, efficiency, effectiveness, or flexibility of the operation. They also
consider the impact of recommendations on constituencies such as customers, employees, shareholders, regulators, and host
communities. Student teams use SAP R/3 E-business platform for materials management, production management and MRP
calculations. The output of the SAP system is used to improve inventory control, shop floor management and cost control.
Learning Outcomes
- How to assess the performance of manufacturing and/or service operations
- How to analyze and manage supply chains and physical distribution systems
- How to measure and estimate costs and variances
- How to evaluate make-or-buy decisions
- How to institute continuous or revolutionary improvement processes in an operation
- How to select among and manage alternative technologies for an operation
- How to describe and analyze the policies that guide an operation
- How to determine compatibility between an operation and its industrial relations and organizational processes
- How to use the SAP/R3 E-business Platform to improve organizational operations
- How to navigate the SAP R/3 system to best improve the effectiveness of plant operations
- How to best employee SAP R/3 system to support the goals of the reengineering project
- How to use the concepts of JIT cell design to develop a lean manufacturing environment
Marketing (MBA 715) (6 Credits)
Module Description
Student project teams develop a marketing plan for an existing or new product or business. This project involves
the development of a full scale marketing plan which incorporates all forms of integrated marketing communication necessary
to build awareness and create loyal customers. Recent projects have included developing a marketing plan for a company that
produces flame retardant fabrics and developing and marketing a new product for a large processed food manufacturer.
Learning Outcomes
- How to conduct a SWOT analysis for a company
- How to design and develop new services or products
- How to define target markets and assess market needs for a new service or product
- How to segment markets and determine the advantages or disadvantages of serving them
- How to conduct marketing research and forecast market demand for a service or product
- How to position a product effectively in a selected market
- How to formulate an integrated marketing communications program and the marketing mix (price, product, place, promotion)
for a new product or service
- How to present a persuasive sales pitch to a potential client
Corporate Finance (MBA 716) (6 Credits)
Module Description
This module is focused primarily on corporate finance, with particular emphasis on capital budgeting, cost of capital,
valuation principles, corporate governance, risk analysis, dividend policy and statistical analysis. Students work in
teams to solve a comprehensive corporate project. Each team is responsible for analyzing the financial position of a
firm and making strategic recommendations. The recommendations focus on such areas as risk management, corporate
governance, dividend policy, and capital structure. The project also makes extensive use of financial databases and
statistical models.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop an understanding of the basic concepts in corporate finance with a particular emphasis on capital budgeting
techniques such as net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), adjusted net present value model (ANPV), and profitability index (PI)
- An understanding of bond valuation and equity valuation
- An understanding of how to determine the cost of capital of the firm and apply appropriate discount rates for a
firm
- An understanding of the trade offs of financing projects with debt or equity
- A working knowledge of statistical analysis—applying standard deviation, variance, covariance, and correlation
coefficients
- An understanding of regression analysis with applications in corporate finance
- An understanding of risk analysis as applied to corporate finance
- A working knowledge of many of the functions of Excel including statistical functions and regression analysis
Managerial Accounting (MBA 717) (6 Credits)
Module Description
This module consists of learning exercises, discussion questions, and a major project. In the project, teams are charged with contributing information and evaluations affecting management's strategic and operational decision making
responsibilities and with suggesting strategic and operational alternatives for improving the company's efficiency and
profitability. Student teams develop and implement an activity based cost/management (ABC/M) system for the
company's distribution operations. Some learning outcomes resulting from completion of this module include:
Learning Outcomes
- An understanding of the distinction between reporting systems and information systems
- An appreciation of the competing demands for precision and accuracy and the cost/benefit trade off in designing and
implementing a management information system
- An understanding of cost behavior in response to changes in business operational resources and the level and mix of
business activities
- The development of skill in analyzing and interpreting variances from expectations or among alternative outcomes
- An ability to assess the adequacy of organizational capacities available to support actual and projected strategic and
operational plans and to develop and assess appropriate strategic or operational responses
- An ability to identify costs that are relevant in a given decision-making or evaluation situation and explain the cost
consequences of actual and projected outcomes
- An understanding of how to incorporate considerations of risk and uncertainty in the preparation forecasts and
performance assessments
- The design of performance measures and reports that are appropriate and useful to managers responsible for specific
aspects of operations and planning
- The development of skill in using cost information to suggest possible actions that may be taken to reduce costs while at
the same time contributing to overall profitability and customer satisfaction
- Skills in presenting and defending findings and recommendations in a clear, concise, and on-point manner,
understandable to an audience knowledgeable in the industry and market, but lacking strong technical skills in accounting and
analytics
Organizational Behavior and Change (MBA 718) (6
Credits)
Student teams gather information on large, complex organizations over time to determine how the organizations have dealt with
change in the past and to project what they might do to accommodate, or perhaps even anticipate, the need for change in the
future. Some organizations studied in the recent past are: Apple Computer, Disney, General Electric, Harley Davidson, IBM,
Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, and Xerox. This module focuses primarily on the human side of organizations and leadership,
with secondary focuses on strategy, marketing, and finance issues. In completing the module, students will:
- Review a range of writing and thought on organizational change
- Consider how individuals, groups, and organizations accommodate to the challenges of change
- Reflect on how environmental changes alter the approaches organizations take to leadership and management
- Investigate how companies have managed their employees as their environment has changed, often rapidly
- Track adjustments in organizational structure over time
- Identify and follow shifts in organizational strategy and marketing resulting from a changing environment
- Follow how changes in the environment have led to shifts in operations
- Discover how shifting environmental factors in the past and present affect companies' internal financial condition and
position in the global marketplace
- Apply frameworks and criteria for evaluating organization effectiveness e.g., balanced score card, Baldrige, triple
bottom line
Management Simulation and Final Project (MBA 719) (6
Credits)
Module Description
Individual students design and implement a significant multidisciplinary research project of their own choosing. The
individual projects must be approved by the program faculty. A second component of this module is a complex management
simulation. Student teams manage companies in a competitive market place where the goal is to achieve the best
performance in the simulated market. Traditional business measures such as ROI, market share and stock price are used to
evaluate team performance.
Learning Outcomes
- How to design and organize a large scale business research project
- How to distinguish between empirical research and field research techniques as they apply to a business project
- How to use research methodology to solve an applied business problem
- How to select and use applicable data resources to support problem solution
- How to organize company resources to compete in a management simulation
- How to manage various company functions such as manufacturing, human resources, corporate finance and marketing in a
simulated competitive business environment
- How to develop corporate strategies that promote company growth through understanding the simulated market
environment and by taking advantage of strategic weaknesses of the company's competition
- How to analyze operating results in order to react appropriately to changes in the simulated market environment
- How to transfer the management skills developed in the business simulation to operations in the real world
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