MGT 711 ORGANIZATIONS AND THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT (4 CREDITS) This course analyzes of the behavior of organizations in how they adapt to and make strategic choices in their external environments. The course draws upon crossinstitutional theories and empirical studies and focuses on the ecology of organizations, how internal characteristics condition external relations, and how environments influence internal processes.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Construct a theory-based paper suitable for conference presentation
Provide critical, constructive feedback in a double-blind peer review environment
Review literature in the field critically
Develop your own framework for understanding multiple research strands of organizational theory
MGT 712 SEMINAR IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (4 CREDITS)
The course explores the development of strategic management theory. Topics include
the historical development of the foundational literature of strategy, theory
development, and empirical research in strategy.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Refine your abilities to critique and provide helpful feedback as a peer reviewer
Create a final paper suitable to publication in an academic journal
Facilitate online discussion and develop pertinent, theoretically-interesting discussion environment
MGT 713 INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATIONS (4
CREDITS)
This course focuses on individual and small group behavior in organizational settings.
Topics include social influence, group composition and group performance, goals,
structure, roles, power, authority, and decision making, and leadership.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Identify theoretical and conceptual frameworks that characterize OB research
Gain broad familiarity with theory and research concerned with microorganizational processes
Critically review an article similar to those found in the Academy of Management Journal and the Academy of Management Review
Develop a conceptual framework and conduct a literature review within the framework
MGT 714 SEMINAR IN HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (4 CREDITS)
This course provides a detailed examination of the theory and practice of strategically
managing human capital within an organization. Topics covered will include strategic
people management, workforce planning and employment, employee development and
retention, total rewards, employee and labor relations, risk management, and the
creation and use of HR metrics to drive results.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Identify the most dominant research streams in the field of human resources,
with a focus on human capital strategy;
Increase theoretical, research, writing, and conceptualization abilities by
developing a comprehensive research paper or proposal;
Lead and facilitate course learning and discussions;
Evaluate the evidence which is available through the academic literature
regarding effective organizations and human resource practice, and apply it to
improve your ability to manage people;
Engage in reflective dialogue that deepens your analytical skills and enriches
your understanding of the theoretical frameworks, challenges and dilemmas
facing the field of human resources through reading, writing, and research;
Sharpen your skills as both a researcher and peer reviewer and prepare you for
both individual research and collaboration; and
Identify new areas of scholarship to give you a head start on idea generation for
your future academic research and publication.
MGT 715 MANAGING INNOVATION AND CHANGE IN ORGANIZATIONS (4
CREDITS)
This course adopts a capabilities-based view of the firm, drawing from industrial
organization economics, organizational theory, and strategy perspectives. The goal of
the course is to identify the sources of innovative success and failure inside corporations,
and how companies can develop and sustain a capability to innovate.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Compare, contrast and utilize different conceptual frameworks for
understanding innovation and change in organizations
Provide meaningful feedback similar to an editor of a professional or trade
journal
Facilitate online discussion and develop pertinent, theoretically-interesting
discussion environment
Write an article suitable to publication in a professional or trade journal
Strategic Management Concentration
MGT 721 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND COMPETITIVE STRATEGY (4 CREDITS)
This course approaches the topic of competitive strategy using an industrial
organizational economics framework. Topics include strategy formulation and
execution, market structure and competition, entry and exit strategies, strategic groups,
buyer and supplier power, and methods for assessing the strength of competition. The
course draws primarily on empirical studies drawn from the industrial organization
economics and strategy literatures.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Develop a quantitative research paper
Create a research question
Use an evidence-based approach to understand the connection of industry
structure and firm performance
Develop and facilitate discussion in an online environment
MGT 726 SEMINAR IN STRATEGY AND PUBLIC POLICY (4 CREDITS)
This course explores the roles of business organizations as pertaining to the external
political and social environments and the implications for business managers including
market failures, political failures, equity and social issues, and the effects of public
policy on business activities. Special emphasis will be given to the formulation of
strategy with consideration of the political environment of business.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Identify major political and social issues and how they impact on the corporate
and business environments
Analyze the political environment of business organizations
Identify appropriate strategies for business organizations to interact with and
influence the political and social environments.
Integrate theory and practice through research and a case study
MGT 728 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (4 CREDITS)
This course focuses on the major contemporary issues in strategy research and assists
students in selecting topics for research. The course surveys current knowledge and
reviews the mechanisms for generating and communicating this knowledge in the field
of strategy. Topics may cover a wide array of areas of current relevance to strategy
research.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Organize and develop an empirical study that uses accounting-based or marketbased
measures of firm performance
Develop a dissertation quality literature review
Refine your abilities to provide professional, peer-review feedback
Distinguish firm-specific characteristics which tend to increase value and/or
decrease value
MGT 729 DIRECTED READINGS IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (4 CREDITS)
This course examines current theoretical and empirical research relating to emerging
areas of knowledge in the strategic management field and assists students in locating
and referencing their research. Reflecting the emphasis of current research on strategic
and organizational phenomena, topics may vary based on individual student interests
and research agendas.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Review the emerging literature in the field of Strategic Management
Provide arguments for the exploration of research questions
Identify gaps in the literature
Synthesize vast amounts of literature to sharpen the focus of dissertation topic
Write Chapter 2, The Literature Review, for the dissertation
Conflict Management Concentration
CMM 721 PHILOSOPHICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
(4 CREDITS)
Students will study philosophical and social issues that will help them understand and
practice conflict management. Topics include how paradigms of peace, collaboration,
justice, objectivity, power, violence, and ethics influence conflict management.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Identify the major social and philosophical issues in the conflict management
literature
Describe stages of both micro and macro conflicts as they emerge, escalate, and
are resolved
Apply interactive problem-solving and peace building strategies to micro and
macro issues
Integrate theory and practice through research and a case study
CMM 724 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS AND
INTERVENTION (4 CREDITS)
Students will study dynamic nature of conflict within organizations and their relevance
for preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts in the workplace. Topics include
theories of interpersonal and intergroup conflict, emotional intelligence theories, gender,
cultural, and generational theories, and theories of emotional and physical violence. The
course will also explore risk analysis and intervention strategies.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Construct a theory-based research paper suitable for conference presentation
Provide critical, constructive feedback in a double-blind peer review
environment
Critically review literature in the field
Develop your own framework for understanding multiple research strands of
organizational theory
CMM 728 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (4 CREDITS)
This course focuses on the major contemporary issues in strategy research and assists
students in selecting topics for research. The course surveys current knowledge and
reviews the mechanisms for generating and communicating this knowledge in the field
of strategy. Topics may cover a wide array of areas of current relevance to strategy
research.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Formulate/Articulate a Problem for Research in Conflict Management
Articulate Rationale & Importance of the Problem
Select Appropriate Variables Related to Conflict Issues
Generate Appropriate Research Questions or Hypothesis
Discuss Theoretical Foundations Underlying the Study
Specify the Limitations and Delimitations
CMM 729 DIRECTED READINGS IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (4 CREDITS)
This course examines current theoretical and empirical research relating to emerging
areas of knowledge in the conflict management field and assists students in locating and
referencing their research. Reflecting the emphasis of current research on conflict
management, topics may vary based on individual student interests and research
agendas.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Review the emerging literature in the field conflict management
Provide arguments for the exploration of research questions
Identify gaps in the literature
Synthesize literature to sharpen the focus of dissertation topic
Write Chapter 2, literature review or conceptual/theoretical framework, for the
dissertation
Information Technology Management Concentration
CSC 722 DATA MINING AND BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (4 CREDITS)
Corporations today are said to be data rich but information poor. Data mining
techniques can help companies discover knowledge and acquire business intelligence
from these massive data sets. This course will cover data mining for business
intelligence. Data mining refers to extracting or "mining" knowledge from large
amounts of data. It consists of several techniques that aim at discovering rich and
interesting patterns that can bring value or "business intelligence" to organizations.
Examples of such patterns include fraud detection, consumer behavior, and credit
approval. The course will cover the most important data mining techniques ---
classification, clustering, association rule mining, visualization, prediction --- through a
hands-on approach.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Use statistical methods to identify latent structures in data
Interpret findings based on multivariate statistical analysis
Assess predictive performance of statistical models
Learn the most frequently used techniques in data mining practice and research
CSC 724 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT (4 CREDITS)
Knowledge management (KM) can be defined as a strategy for improving
organizational performance through a set of processes, tools, and incentives designed to
help people to create, share, and integrate knowledge. Information systems that support
KM efforts are collectively known as Knowledge Management Systems (KMS). To understand the purpose and functioning of KMS within organizations requires a solid
understanding of KM from both operational and strategic standpoints. This course thus
builds a foundation for understanding KMS by establishing an awareness of the core
underlying issues that must be addressed in any KM initiative. With a firm grounding in
KM, students can develop an integrated perspective of how technology can help (or
hinder) organizational performance. The objectives of the course are 1) to understand
what KM is and how it can enhance organizational performance; 2) to outline various
types of IT solutions to KM problems; and 3) to explore the challenges associated with
deploying these solutions and identify strategies and tactics for addressing these
challenges.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Refine your abilities to critique and provide helpful feedback as a peer reviewer
Create a final paper suitable to publication in an academic journal
Facilitate online discussion and develop pertinent, theoretically-interesting
discussion environment
CSC 728 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (4 CREDITS)
This course focuses on the major contemporary issues in information technology
research and assists students in selecting topics for research. The course surveys current
knowledge and reviews the mechanisms for generating and communicating this
knowledge in the field of information technology. Topics may cover a wide array of
areas of current relevance to information technology research.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Articulate and rationalize the importance of a research problem
Select appropriate variables for an empirical study
Develop hypotheses and research questions
Discuss theoretical foundations underlying your study
Specify limitations and delimitations of your study
CSC 729 DIRECTED READINGS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
MANAGEMENT (4 CREDITS)
This course examines current theoretical and empirical research relating to emerging
areas of knowledge in the information technology field and assists students in locating
and referencing their research. Reflecting the emphasis of current research on
information technology, topics may vary based on individual student interests and
research agendas.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Review the emerging literature in the field of IT management
Provide arguments for the exploration of research questions
Identify gaps in the literature
Synthesize literature to sharpen the focus of dissertation topic
Write Chapter 2, literature review or conceptual/theoretical framework, for the
dissertation
Human Resource Leadership Concentration
HRL 721: HIGH-PERFORMANCE HUMAN RESOURCE LEADERSHIP (4 CREDITS)
This course will explore the skills and competencies required to lead individuals and
teams, manage change, build consensus, align and motivate staff, and elicit support
from key senior managers and leaders with the primary goal of creating and sustaining
a high-performing organization. Other topics which will be discussed include concepts
of leadership, how leaders are different from managers, leadership style and why it is
important, the tools required to influence people, when to be a sponsor versus an agent
of change, the management of conflict, and strategies for leading and communicating
with bosses, colleagues, and subordinates.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Analyze and explain the differences between management and leadership;
Synthesize and apply foundational leadership models, theories and frameworks;
Understand and apply decision-making methods for effective leadership;
Understand, critique, and apply sound research in the social and behavioral sciences;
Understand, apply, and critique scholarly writing;
Use an evidence-based approach to explain the connections between highperformance
leadership and organizational results;
Lead or participate in course learning and discussions;
Gather ideas on how to develop a personal leadership development plan that
synthesizes and integrates your learning in this course.
Analyze and evaluate your personal strengths and weaknesses to further develop
yourself as an effective leader; and
Establish a personal leadership statement.
HRL 724: WORKFORCE ANALYTICS AND TECHNOLOGY (4 CREDITS)
This course focuses on the interface of an organization's human resource function with
computer technology. Specifically, the course will examine the use of computers and
software as tools to analyze and assist in decision-making with respect to the effective
utilization of the human capital in an organization. Using an evidence-based approach
to managing the function, this course will explore HR management systems and
databases, e-recruiting and other e-HR processes, Web 2.0 applications, and related
topics such as metrics, workforce analytics and strategic HR. In addition, specific human
resource topics will be explored in depth using information technology as a managerial decision-making tool in areas such as strategy, selection, employment discrimination,
training, and compensation.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Use a "dashboard" to identify and understand key dimensions of firm performance
Interpret findings and implications based on performance metrics
Assess predictive performance of various types of HR information
Use the most frequently used techniques in HR analytics practice and research
HRL 728: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN HUMAN RESOURCE LEADERSHIP (4
CREDITS)
This course focuses on the major contemporary issues in research into Human Resource
leadership issues and assists students in selecting topics for research. The course surveys
current knowledge and reviews the mechanisms for generating and communicating this
knowledge in the field of human resources. Topics may cover a wide array of areas of
current relevance to human resource research.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Organize and develop a research study
Develop a dissertation quality literature review
Refine your abilities to provide professional, peer-review feedback
Distinguish human capital initiatives which tend to increase value and/or
decrease value
HRL 729: DIRECTED READINGS IN HUMAN RESOURCE LEADERSHIP (4 CREDITS)
This course examines current theoretical and empirical research relating to emerging
areas of knowledge in the field of Human Resource leadership and assists students in
locating and referencing their research. Reflecting the emphasis of current research on
strategic and organizational phenomena, topics may vary based on individual student
interests and research agendas.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Review the emerging literature in the field of Human Resource leadership
Provide arguments for the exploration of research questions
Identify gaps in the literature
Synthesize vast amounts of literature to sharpen the focus of dissertation topic
Write Chapter 2—the Literature Review—for the dissertation
Research Core
GRAD 710 RESEARCH DESIGN & ANALYSIS (4 CREDITS)
This course provides an introduction to systematic inquiry and the designs, methods
and statistics used to investigate various kinds of research problems and issues.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Select a research problem and form hypotheses
Prepare a research plan
Determine a population sample
Select appropriate variables to study
Determine validity and reliability
Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative studies and methods
Choose correct statistical analyses for different types of studies
Analyze and discuss research studies
GRAD 712 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH & ANALYSIS (4 CREDITS)
This course provides an opportunity to develop skill in the methods and statistics used
to conduct and evaluate quantitative research studies.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Compare and contrast different quantitative research designs
Select the proper design and statistics for a quantitative research study
GRAD 716 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH & ANALYSIS (4 CREDITS)
This course provides an opportunity to develop skill in the methods and statistics used
to conduct and evaluate quantitative research studies.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Distinguish when and why qualitative research would be chosen over quantitative research
Compare and contrast the following qualitative approaches to research design
Discuss qualitative data collection methods
Discuss theoretical frameworks for each of the approaches
Discuss theoretical frameworks for each of the approaches
Compare philosophical assumptions with implications for practice for each of
the approaches
Compare philosophical assumptions with implications for practice for each of
the approaches
Demonstrate application of one of the qualitative approaches by writing a
qualitative research proposal outline
GRAD 718 ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH & ANALYSIS (4 CREDITS)
This course prepares students for dissertations and other research projects requiring the
design, collection, analysis and reporting of quantitative data.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Design, conduct and analyze a quantitative research study
Design sample, instrumentation, research procedures, data analysis for a dissertation
GRAD 719 MIXED METHODS RESEARCH AND DESIGN (4 CREDITS)
This course prepares students to conduct research which incorporates both quantitative
and qualitative design elements. The course focuses on the design, collection, analysis,
integration, and reporting of mixed methodology research.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Identify and understand the historical and philosophical debates that surround
mixed methods research
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using qualitative, quantitative,
and mixed methods designs
Identify different types of mixed methods research designs
Collect, analyze, interpret, and report data using mixed research designs
MGT/DRC/CSC 795 DOCTORAL SEMINAR: PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT (4
CREDITS)
The course allows the student to identify a research problem, conduct a review of the
relevant literature, select a research design and complete a proposal for an original
research project.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to develop an original research
proposal which includes the following:
A chapter comprising the purpose and organization of the study
A chapter comprising a comprehensive review of related literature
A chapter describing the research design and methodology for the study
MGT/CMM/CSC/HRL 798 DOCTORAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAM (2 CREDITS)
Students demonstrate mastery of the concepts learned in their course work.
MGT/CMM/CSC/HRL 799 DISSERTATION (1-12 CREDITS)
Students synthesize the knowledge received in their doctoral studies into an original
research-based project that advances the knowledge base of their area or discipline.
Residencies (0 units): MGT/CMM/CSC/HRL 797 Ph.D. PROGRAM RESIDENCY. The
Ph.D. program requires students to attend the annual residence conference held
annually at the Sullivan University, Louisville campus and scheduled in conjunction
with the Sullivan University faculty retreat. All students who take Ph.D.-level courses at
Sullivan University are required to attend residencies for the first two years of their
enrollments.
