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IMBA

HKUST Executive MBA Program

The following courses are restricted to HKUST EMBA students only. All courses are graded HP/P/LP/U/Y.

IMBA 5001
Induction Program
[0 credit]
Description
The induction program will involve both experiential learning and multidisciplinary learning.Experiential learning is the process of learning through reflection by doing. Two days of experiential learning will engage students to various activities and reflection in such a way to develop team leadership under a team of professional coaches. Another two days are set for multidisciplinary learning. Through participation in debate, discussion, and critical evaluation and comparison of different perspectives, students will witness firsthand the synergetic advantages posed by multidisciplinary learning.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Develop self awareness and team leadership through experiential learning
- 2.
  Develop critical thinking towards business issues through multiple disciplinary learning
- 3.
  Develop case learning skills and knowledge
IMBA 5020
Capstone Management Strategy and Execution
[2-0-0:2]
Exclusion(s)
MGMT 5410
Description
This course combines a case study and business simulation approach to illustrate strategic management, decision making, and strategy execution in a competitive environment. The students will participate in an intensive team simulation exercise to practise the knowledge they have learned from the HKUST EMBA core modules, including accounting, economics, finance, marketing, and so on.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Identify the differences between strategy formulation and execution.
- 2.
  Explain the relations between different tactical decisions.
- 3.
  Compare and contrast different analytical tools and their applications.
- 4.
  Compare and contrast the options available to a business in view of the global trends.
- 5.
  Formulate, analyze, and execute a strategy for a virtual company.
- 6.
  Explain how the performance of a company should be assessed and tied to the design and execution of competitive strategies.
IMBA 5030
Accounting Foundations
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
ACCT 5100, ACCT 5150
Description
Provides essential foundation tools of financial accounting and analysis from a management perspective, including balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, accrual concepts, revenue and expense recognition, asset and liability accounting.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Construct and interpret both a balance sheet and an income statement.
- 2.
  Construct and interpret a statement of cash flows.
- 3.
  Define the process of accounting and the links among the three primary financial statements.
- 4.
  Use standard financial statement analysis tools and interpret the outputs from those analysis tools.
- 5.
  Apply the financial accounting rules that exist in the following areas: Revenue recognition, Inventory, Long-term assets, Leases, Investment securities, and Fair value accounting.
- 6.
  Discuss accounting issues and solve accounting problems in a time-constrained group setting.
- 7.
  Intelligently discuss the ethical dimensions of a variety of accounting-related business problems.
- 8.
  Discuss the ongoing internationalization of financial accounting.
IMBA 5040
Managerial Economics
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
ECON 5110
Description
This course focuses on understanding individual economic behavior, competition, and market characteristics that are relevant to business and management.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand consumer demand and analyze key trade-offs of different pricing strategies according to industry or market conditions.
- 2.
  Analyze strategic decisions and competitors’ interactions using basic game theoretic methods.
- 3.
  Examine the impact of asymmetric information on markets and firm decisions.
- 4.
  Investigate the linkage between firms’ internal organization and strategies in the market.
IMBA 5050
Marketing Strategy
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
MARK 5120
Description
Strategic marketing decision making at the corporate, business, and functional levels affecting competitive advantage and long- and short-term performance of the firm. Strategic analysis, strategic planning across life cycle stages, implementation and control.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Define marketing orientation, and identify and manage obstacles to a company's adopting marketing orientation and marketing innovation.
- 2.
  Analyze markets by identifying and classifying market segments, and create markets by inventing new segments.
- 3.
  Examine distribution channels, diagnose bottlenecks in distribution and select among alternative distribution alternatives based on market situation and stage of development.
- 4.
  List alternative ways to improve sales performance and propose sales improvement programs for a company.
- 5.
  Calculate marketing ROI and calculate the sales revenue increase that will justify increases in marketing spending.
- 6.
  Calculate the profit impact of price changes and calculate the sales revenue changes necessary or acceptable subsequent to price decrease or increase.
- 7.
  List, select and propose for a company a variety of non-mathematical pricing techniques.
- 8.
  Diagnose brand strengths and weaknesses and plan branding change programs.
- 9.
  Describe the key force/laws underlying the digital revolution driving change for companies, industries and economies.
- 10.
  Distinguish between timeless principles and those that are subject to constant change.
IMBA 5060
Accounting for Decision Making and Control
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
ACCT 5210
Description
This course covers the use of accounting information in decision-making, planning, control, and performance evaluation for managers of the corporation. It also discusses the use of accounting information in valuation and credit analysis for users external to the corporation.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Interpret and explain cost concepts and related terms.
- 2.
  Interpret cost-volume-profit analysis.
- 3.
  Figure a product's cost and price it.
- 4.
  Apply core managerial accounting information to strategic decision making.
- 5.
  Identify the internal budgeting process.
- 6.
  Construct cost management tools such as Activity-Based Costing.
- 7.
  Organize managerial accounting information to conduct performance evaluations.
- 8.
  Identify managerial accounting information as a competitive tool.
IMBA 5070
Corporate Finance
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
FINA 5120
Description
Explores the strategic financial decisions an organization makes for value creation. The topics include an analysis of capital spending, capital structure, risk management, financial statement analysis and forecasting, corporate restructuring, and understanding and impact of financial institutions on financial decisions.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Identify key issues and problems in the management of financial resources of a profit oriented firm.
- 2.
  Make use of financial tools, concepts and techniques to propose solutions/recommendations to problems identified.
- 3.
  Assess the impact of the various managerial decisions on corporate financial performance.
- 4.
  Relate financial decisions with a company's business policy and strategies.
IMBA 5090
Management of Organizations
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
MGMT 5230
Description
The course aims to give participants a thorough understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of key ideas in the development of thinking about management and leadership. We cover Scientific Management, Human Relations Management, Open Socio-technical Systems, Lawrence and Lorsch’s Contingency Theory of Organization, and the Harvard / McKinsey 7S Model. Students will leave the course understanding the relevance of all of these ideas to modern thinking about management, leadership and organization in both China and ‘the west’.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Critique the strengths and weaknesses of different management models in the development of thinking about management and leadership.
- 2.
  Evaluate the relevance of those models to modern thinking about management, leadership and organization.
- 3.
  Think flexibly in action in different business situations.
- 4.
  Apply the most appropriate model in the development of management and leadership.
IMBA 5100
Statistical Decision Analysis
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
ISOM 5510
Description
This course introduces the applications of elementary probability theory in business decision-making under the conditions or uncertainty and explores the method of regression analysis and the use of sample data for the purpose of modeling, estimating, forecasting, and decision-making.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Simplify a complex business situation in order to analyze it better and to recognize what are the most important variables and uncertainties affecting the situation.
- 2.
  Identify the most important techniques to analyze and make decisions.
- 3.
  Handle risk and uncertainty when making business decisions.
- 4.
  Recognize the most common flaws and biases in decision making (what is currently called "Behavioral Decision Making").
- 5.
  Describe the most common methodologies to make forecasts in a company.
IMBA 5110
Operations Management
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
ISOM 5700
Description
This course introduces the core concepts in operations. The two central themes we discuss in the course include how operation improvement can lead to value creation, and what key levers improve business process flows.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Design an operations approach that fits company strategy.
- 2.
  Analyze and evaluate an operational process.
- 3.
  Apply principles of lean operations and supply chain management.
IMBA 5120
Managing Emerging Technologies
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
ISOM 5020
Description
This course provides a managerial overview of several cornerstone technologies, including blockchain, business analytics, and fintech, that fuel this digital transformation. We will provide students with a solid technical foundation and working knowledge of these new technologies and how they interact with each other to transform businesses. Analysis will be drawn from exemplary cases to develop guidance and insights on how to strategically utilize and manage these new technological innovations.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Describe the technological foundation of blockchain and smart contract.
- 2.
  Compare and contrast the differences between cryptocurrency and fiat currency and physical commodity.
- 3.
  Compare and contrast different types of blockchains in terms of the degree of trust and decentralization and their applications.
- 4.
  Compare and contrast big data and general business analytics applications.
- 5.
  Explain the concept, and strengths and weaknesses of different analytic techniques.
- 6.
  Identify factors that facilitate the emergence of fintech.
- 7.
  Compare and contrast different fintech strategies and applications.
IMBA 5170
Business Simulation
[2-0-0:2]
Medium of Instruction
[PU] Putonghua
Reading Material
[C] Require Chinese reading
Description
A computer-based business simulation where students operate as teams simulating corporate management and compete against each other (groups). The game involves group decision making on a wide range of functional areas, such as finance, marketing, manufacturing, and human resource management, to develop and implement a strategic plan in a competitive market.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Evaluate and integrate the management knowledge learnt in the program in strategic planning and execution skills within a rapidly changing environment.
- 2.
  Recognize the linkages between decisions and financial performance.
- 3.
  Make full use of market data and competitive signals to adjust the strategic plan and more tightly focus business tactics.
- 4.
  Develop the leadership skills and teamwork capabilities, including communication, conflict management, team decision making, influence and working with people from different culture, background and characteristics.
IMBA 5200
Mergers and Acquisitions
[1-0-0:1]
Description
This module is designed to give students a broad understanding of the role of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in corporate strategy, developing a framework for evaluating M&A transactions from the perspective of how they affect shareholder value.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand different mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategies and the rationale behind M&A activities.
- 2.
  Analyze and evaluate the M&A opportunities and risks, the valuation of potential targets.
- 3.
  Negotiate M&A deals, including the key deal terms.
- 4.
  Develop the business plans and financial analysis for a potential acquisition.
- 5.
  Understand and manage the M&A risks, including financial, operational and legal risks.
IMBA 5240
Pricing Strategy
[1-0-0:1]
Description
Students can learn practical tools to design pricing strategies from a marketing perspective and consider economic, strategic and psychological inputs in pricing decisions that are sustainable and generate profitable revenue streams. Through examples and case studies, it discusses the tools to assess consumer’s willingness to pay, and how this information can be used to improve pricing strategies.
IMBA 5300
Innovation Management
[1-0-0:1]
Description
The course aims to enhance students' innovation capability in the increasingly intense business competition. It will illustrate the basic concepts of innovation management, interpret the implication of innovation, highlight how to integrate internal and external resources to enhance innovation capacity and analyze the innovation modules in the post-modernization era.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Formulate an effective strategy for innovation management.
- 2.
  Leverage both internal and external resources for innovation.
- 3.
  Identify the needs of users in the post-modernization era and co-create value with them.
- 4.
  Facilitate the diffusion of innovation.
IMBA 5340
Investment Analysis
[1-0-0:1]
Description
An introduction to fundamental concepts in investment analysis. The first part covers risk and return tradeoff, portfolio diversification, and modern portfolio theory including the capital asset pricing model and arbitrage pricing theory. The second part covers basic analytical tools used in analyzing fixed income securities.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Identify the risk-return tradeoff, and derive the ‘correct’ price for financial assets using models such as the CAPM.
- 2.
  Practically apply CAPM and other models (e.g. Fama-French 3 factor model) in Excel-based applications.
- 3.
  Explain efficient markets, behavioral finance, and some trading strategies based on perceived violations of efficient market theory.
IMBA 5360
Strategic Value and Supply Chain Management
[1-0-0:1]
Description
Supply chain activities have been performed since the start of commercial activity. It is difficult to visualize any product that could reach a customer without logistical support. Yet it is only in recent years that firms have started focusing on supply chain management as a source of competitive advantage. There is a realization that no company can do any better than its supply chain. Our goal in this course is to understand and improve supply chain decisions to benefit the performance of the firm as well as the entire supply chain.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Measure the business success and promote value creation through supply chain management.
- 2.
  Identify the important factors to consider when making strategic value creation decisions.
- 3.
  Evaluate the value created through operation, process and system improvement.
IMBA 5390
Empowering Decision by Marketing Intelligence
[1-0-0:1]
Description
The objective of this course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of market research methods employed by better managed firms. This course is aimed at the executive who is the ultimate user of marketing intelligence and who is responsible for determining the scope and direction of research activities on his/her behalf. The techniques of research design and deriving insights from data occupy an important role. The skills in this course will be applicable to marketing problems encountered in both consumer and business-to-business markets, profit and non-profit organizations.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Evaluate market research and identify the opportunities and potential limitations of it.
- 2.
  Communicate and interact effectively with market research departments.
- 3.
  Generate insights from exploratory, descriptive and causal market research.
- 4.
  Understand how new technological developments (big data, social media, and physiological devices) may facilitate market research.
IMBA 5400
International Management
[1-0-0:1]
Description
The why and the how of corporate international management will be analyzed throughout the course. In a world fixated by "globalization", the most fundamental questions for companies planning and managing their overseas growth will be examined. Successes and failures will be discussed in order to understand what management teams must do to get international growth right.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Manage international growth in the era of scale insurgency.
- 2.
  Plan and assess a company’s international growth plan for likelihood of success.
- 3.
  Connect the actions of growth with the talent and organization models.
IMBA 5420
Management of Sustainability
[1-0-0:1]
Description
The course will help business executives understand the growing importance of sustainability in the global business environment, and will cover various topics relating to innovation for sustainability, concepts of environment, social and governance (ESG), and the implication of climate change policies to business.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Recognize the change in corporate sentiments from shareholder to stakeholder focus.
- 2.
  Describe the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), sustainability as a concept and how it can guide business strategy.
- 3.
  Assess the importance of climate change and its impact on businesses and industries.
- 4.
  Evaluate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure for companies.
- 5.
  Identify governments redirecting capital towards sustainable projects (Green Finance).
- 6.
  Identify geopolitical factors with respect to climate change, and Sino-US conflicts.
IMBA 5430
Digital Transformation
[1-0-0:1]
Previous Course Code(s)
IMBA 6900C
Description
This course is focused on the topic of digital leadership. The objectives of this course are set as the following. First, to understand the basics of the changes led by the digital force. Second, to understand the unique nature of the digital force. Third, to master the force. Last but not the least is to take the learning into students’ own organizations.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Develop deep understanding of the digital transformation.
- 2.
  Develop high level understanding of the digital technologies.
- 3.
  Apply digital transformation methodology.
- 4.
  Understand the linkage between business strategy and digital transformation.
- 5.
  Understand the linkage between innovation and digital transformation.
IMBA 5460
Innovative Thinking
[1-0-0:1]
Description
This course focuses on using structured creativity templates to “think inside the box”. It provides best-practice tools for rapid creativity leading to valuable ideas and innovative solutions. It aims to develop the students’ understanding of creativity and innovation.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand the Structured Creativity methodology and process, based on shared repeatable patters for the generation of creative ideas.
- 2.
  Learn the process of rapid product and service development using the Closed World and Function Follows Form approach - the approach for identifying and breaking Functional Fixedness and Structural Fixedness.
- 3.
  Learn to apply the main thinking tools and templates of Structured Creativity to rapidly identify and create new products, services, processes, and tools.
- 4.
  Learn and apply cutting edge digital technology for the rapid creation of innovative ideas based on the Structured Creativity approach.
IMBA 5480
Performance Management
[1-0-0:1]
Description
This course focuses on theories, strategies, practices, and ongoing issues in the management of employee performance, developing employee potential, supporting professional growth and career development in organizations. It provides an overview and analysis of human resource practices and systems dealing with performance management, talent management, training and development, coaching and compensation.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Learn how to choose the right performance metrics.
- 2.
  Learn about the pros and cons of different performance appraisal methods.
- 3.
  Learn how to choose the right benchmarking company.
- 4.
  Learn about the considerations factor for compensation design.
- 5.
  Understand the relationship between incentives and risk.
IMBA 5510
Digital and Social Media Strategy
[1-0-0:1]
Exclusion(s)
IMBA 6900W
Description
This course will prepare executives for opportunities and challenges in a technology-driven economy, and focus on how firms can use digital and social media to effectively connect with consumers. We will discuss how firms can develop holistic digital and social media strategies and optimize campaign budget across different digital channels and tools,execute viral strategies, engage customers through social media and mobile technologies, and enhance performances of their digital campaign activities.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand key considerations and challenges in digital and social media campaigns.
- 2.
  Know how to develop holistic digital and social media campaign strategy.
- 3.
  Develop strategies for viral campaigns on social media.
- 4.
  Know how to engage customers in a mobile-driven economy.
- 5.
  Conduct analysis to support digital/social media campaign strategies and activities.
IMBA 5530
Data-Driven Decision Making
[1-0-0:1]
Description
In the past decade, unprecedented amount of data become available to corporations and governments. Data are having a profound impact on businesses, markets, and societies. The course covers the most essential topics of using data and quantitative techniques to make sound decisions and using cases to discuss the entire life cycle of data-driven decision making.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Define hypothesis testing.
- 2.
  Identify each stage of data analytics.
- 3.
  Identify common bias in data analytics.
- 4.
  Describe the difference between correlation and causality.
- 5.
  Communicate with data and incorporate data in storytelling.
IMBA 5540
Cross-Cultural Management
[0.5-0-0:0.5]
Description
This course will discuss the challenges as well as critical success factors in cross-cultural management. It aims to better equip managers to effectively manage a diverse workforce in the cross-cultural environments to maximize individual contribution and accomplish organizational missions.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand the challenges and critical success factors in cross-cultural management.
- 2.
  Deepen self-awareness of possible sources of conflicts and frustrations in a cross-cultural workplace.
- 3.
  Learn to manage conflicts in a cross-cultural workplace to increase managerial effectiveness.
- 4.
  Enhance ability to harness the differences in a cross-cultural workplace to create value for each individual and the corporation.
IMBA 5550
Leading and Managing Change
[0.5-0-0:0.5]
Description
This course is designed to prepare students to lead constructive changes proactively and manage their healthy progressions. It is essential for leaders and managers to consciously establish and maintain a progressive working climate, encourage small innovations with risk management, recognize small improvements, foster courage to stop failed experiments, learn from it, and move on.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand leadership and management essentials and the impact on individuals and organizations.
- 2.
  Apply Business Leadership Model in workplace, analyzing and solving change problems in real-world.
- 3.
  Learn to proactively lead constructive changes and manage their healthy progressions.
- 4.
  Learn to overcome resistance to change and encourage small innovations with risk management.
- 5.
  Enhance leadership skills to consciously establish and maintain a progressive working climate, embedding into corporate culture.
IMBA 5560
Corporate Governance
[1-0-0:1]
Description
This course covers the principles and practices of corporate governance, focusing especially on boards of directors, institutional investors, and executive compensation. It will also cover the latest developments in the field, using academic papers and real-life cases.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Explain the concept of corporate governance and the firm value.
- 2.
  Explain the structure of corporate ownership, role of board of directors and impact on market valuation.
- 3.
  Understand the linkage between business practices and academic theory using real-life cases.
- 4.
  Understand the latest developments in the field and apply to real-world scenarios.
- 5.
  Evaluate the impact of corporate governance and improve the business practices in the organizations.
IMBA 5570
Strategic Investment
[1-0-0:1]
Description
This course aims to help executives develop a holistic framework of strategic management in financial and real investment. It includes the investment decision-making process, key issues involved, common mistakes, tools, and the latest thinking in strategic investment. The course also helps executives to understand the macroeconomic outlook and financial markets globally.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand the key principles for investment strategy and different investment strategies.
- 2.
  Understand the investment decision-making process, evaluate the investment objectives and risk tolerance level to make informed investment decisions.
- 3.
  Understand the global financial markets, global economics trends and emerging markets and how they impact investment opportunities and risks.
- 4.
  Learn to develop a strategic financial and investment plan to increase the value of the company.
IMBA 5580
International Growth
[0.5-0-0:0.5]
Previous Course Code(s)
IMBA 6900H
Description
The course provides a comprehensive exploration of the strategies, challenges, and future perspectives associated with the expansion of businesses into international markets. Through engaging discussions, case studies, and interactive activities, students will gain valuable insights into the key factors influencing successful international growth and develop a strategic mindset to navigate the complexities of global business environments.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand the diverse strategies and mechanisms that drive firm growth, both domestically and internationally.
- 2.
  Assess and evaluate the feasibility and potential success of a company's international growth plan using analytical tools and frameworks.
- 3.
  Formulate and communicate actionable international growth strategies that consider the necessary adjustments to operating models.
IMBA 5590
Leadership and Decision Making
[1-0-0:1]
Previous Course Code(s)
IMBA 6900K
Description
This course will equip managers with the skills and knowledge needed to make high-quality decisions, distinguishing themselves and their organizations. By providing practical tools and frameworks, participants will enhance their decision-making abilities and drive long-term success. Emphasizing that quality management decisions can be acquired and practiced, this course focuses on the profound impact of leaders' choices and their role in organizational achievements.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Apply decision-making framework and lead their team to make the best decisions for the organization.
- 2.
  Communicate and defend decisions persuasively, effectively communicating the rationale behind their choices and gaining support from stakeholders.
- 3.
  Discover the most effective leadership style to lead their teams and organizations, emphasizing the importance of informed choices and continuous improvement in decision processes.
IMBA 5600
Negotiations Globally
[1-0-0:1]
Previous Course Code(s)
IMBA 6900I
Description
The course offers a comprehensive exploration of negotiation strategy within a global context. Participants will gain a broad intellectual understanding of core concepts while building practical skills for effective negotiation. With a focus on cultural differences and maximizing gains, this course enables learners to adapt their strategies and evaluate potential agreements.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Understand how individuals from different cultures approach negotiations, and adapt their strategies effectively.
- 2.
  Adjust negotiation strategies and develop strategic negotiation plans to maximize gains regardless of the cultural background or identity of the other party involved.
- 3.
  Evaluate potential negotiated agreements, assessing their alignment with personal interests and objectives, and making informed decisions.
- 4.
  Improve analytical skills for understanding the behavior of individuals, groups, and organizations in competitive situations within different cultural settings.
IMBA 5610
Competitive Strategy
[1-0-0:1]
Previous Course Code(s)
IMBA 6900V
Description
This course explores Competitive Strategy, focusing on two key components: Blue Ocean Strategy and Platform Economics. Participants will learn how to create uncontested market spaces and make competition irrelevant through Blue Ocean Strategy. They will also gain insights into Platform Economics, including network effects and collaboration, and discover how to leverage existing platforms or build new ones for successful market disruption using Platform Invasion Strategy.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Competitive Strategy, including Blue Ocean Strategy and Platform Economics, and their applications in creating competitive advantage.
- 2.
  Apply advanced tools and frameworks to analyze market dynamics, identify untapped opportunities, and formulate effective strategies for organizational differentiation.
- 3.
  Utilize strategic thinking and decision-making skills to execute value propositions that meet market demands and drive organizational growth.
- 4.
  Assess and respond to competitive threats through competitor analysis and strategic positioning.
IMBA 5620
Corporate Innovation
[0.5-0-0:0.5]
Description
This course offers a comprehensive analysis of innovative cases in companies, starting from the essence of innovation. It focuses on various aspects such as product innovation, market/business model innovation, and provides strategic and methodological recommendations that align with different stages of corporate development. It aims to assist in the formulation and implementation of innovation strategies for businesses, as well as addressing the challenges encountered in their operations. This course serves as a valuable reference for tackling innovation obstacles and achieving successful innovation outcomes.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Gain a comprehensive understanding of the essence of corporate innovation and its significance in driving organizational growth and competitiveness.
- 2.
  Identify the drivers and culture of corporate innovation, and explore different manifestations and methods for promoting innovation within an organization.
- 3.
  Analyze and compare innovation strategies at different stages of corporate development, enabling the ability to tailor innovation approaches to specific organizational contexts.
- 4.
  Develop practical skills in implementing innovation strategies, including the ability to establish innovation mechanisms, drive the execution of innovation initiatives, and effectively apply learned methods to realworld
  business scenarios.
IMBA 5630
Understanding Consumers
[1-0-0:1]
Description
This course will give participants an appreciation of how getting inside the mind of the consumer enables the marketing manager to design better effective marketing strategies, with a particular emphasis on effective communication tactics. This course provides both a micro and macro perspective on the factors influencing a customer.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Identify the key concepts of consumer behavior, including motivation, perception, and decision-making.
- 2.
  Develop targeted marketing strategies that resonate with their target audience, leveraging consumer insights to differentiate their offerings and gain a competitive advantage.
- 3.
  Evaluate the impact of their marketing strategies on consumer behavior, using metrics such as sales, customer satisfaction, and brand loyalty.
IMBA 5640
Strategy and Organization
[1-0-0:1]
Medium of Instruction
[PU] Putonghua
Reading Material
[C] Require Chinese reading
Description
This course uses economic analysis to examine competitive strategy and the design of organizations. The first half of the course focuses on market competition and strategies, while the second half considers the relationships within the firm as well as the boundaries of the firm.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Utilize game-theoretic methods to predict and analyze the strategic actions and reactions of competitors in the context of oligopoly markets.
- 2.
  Evaluate the design of organizational structures, decision-making processes, and incentive systems, and their alignment with the firm's competitive strategies.
- 3.
  Assess the strategic implications of organizational scope decisions, such as horizontal mergers and vertical integration.
- 4.
  Identify and articulate the linkages between a firm's organizational structure and its competitive strategies.
- 5.
  Enhance the capacity to effectively communicate the economic reasoning and intuition behind organizational strategies to diverse stakeholders, including those in academia and the private sector.
IMBA 6100
Global Field Trip Study
[2-0-0:2]
Description
This course aims to provide students with an opportunity to explore the global business environment. It is delivered in a variety of ways including: partnerships with world-class institutions; collaboration with leading companies; dialogues with local corporate and community leaders. The course may be repeated for credits if the visiting country and theme of the trips are different each time.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Increase exposure to cultural diversity in a global business context.
- 2.
  Develop insightful views on the global business landscape.
- 3.
  Discuss the best practices of innovations and entrepreneurial management globally.
IMBA 6900-6910
Special Topics
[0.5-2 credit(s)]
Description
Coherent collection of topics selected from the business management. A student may repeat the course for credit if the topics studied are different each time.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Demonstrate capability to understand concepts and theories on the special topics.
- 2.
  Apply knowledge gained from class to analyse real life issues and develop problem solving skills.
- 3.
  Analyse and predict the outcome of strategic interactions among individual and/or firm.
IMBA 6920
Project on Current Issues
[1-2 credit(s)]
Prerequisite(s)
IMBA 6910 (prior to 2022-23)
Description
The project aims to help students integrate what they have learnt from the latest topics/issues in the business world and reflect those learning in their own business. Guided by a faculty member of the corresponding topics, the students will have a more thorough analysis of the latest topics/issues which can help with their companies' future planning and strategy.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Gain a strong comprehension on the current issues in the business world; discover the interrelations between theories and their applications.
- 2.
  Realize constructively the importance of the current issues; make decisions based on in-depth reflection, critisim, and assessment.
- 3.
  Assess the opportunities and threats to their own business and develop their companies' future planning and strategy.
- 4.
  Make use of the information they learnt to examine the latest issues in the business world and develop their problem solving skills.
IMBA 6970
Independent Study
[1-2 credit(s)]
Description
Study of selected business issues under the supervision of a faculty member. (Special permission from the Academic Director is required for IEMBA students to take this course.) The course may be repeated for credit.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Describe and apply key concepts and terminology to the analysis on the selected business issues.
- 2.
  Critically evaluate and synthesize various theories in the selected business issues.
- 3.
  Apply analytic strategies, procedures, and techniques to the selected business issues and produce quality project.
IMBA 6980
Research Project
[1-2 credit(s)]
Description
An independent research project on a business topic carried out under the supervision of a faculty member. The course may be repeated for credit.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.
  Demonstrate capability to make integrative linkages among various subjects as well as between learning and real-life work experience.
- 2.
  Demonstrate an understanding of relevant literature in the selected topic area.
- 3.
  Analyse basic research data in a systematic way and to a professional standard.
- 4.
  Identify and discuss a topic in its wider context, sustain argument, and present conclusions related to policy and practice implications in business and management.

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