MBA Essentials:
Enhancing Organisational Performance

What is this course about?

This fast-track, non-degree course provides you with essential knowledge in the core areas covered in most MBA programs, including marketing, finance, accounting, business operations, strategic planning and management.

In addition to covering all the topics in a typical MBA program, this course provides a "Master in Business Acumen." It ties all of the various topics together into a composite whole via a computer-based Business Simulation. You learn fundamental business concepts and management analysis techniques to help guide your planning, analysis, decision and implementation processes in a fast-paced environment.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for those who want to improve their knowledge of business practices and strengthen their decision-making abilities. Team leaders, entry-level managers, supervisors and those interested in transitioning into upper-level management would benefit from this course. This course is also valuable for middle and senior managers whose career advancement was driven by their technical skills and knowledge and now need to augment their knowledge base with broader business concepts.

This course is also helpful for government employees who need an enhanced understanding of private sector business principles when conducting acquisitions and market research, and when determining best-value decision and screening criteria.

What background do I need?

No special background is required. You simply need a desire to add value to your company by building upon your knowledge of broad business fundamentals.

I have an MBA. Will I benefit from this course?

This course provides knowledge of the concepts covered in typical MBA programs and may not be beneficial to someone who has recently obtained an MBA degree. However, if you already have an MBA and want a refresher on MBA essentials and practice applying the tools, this course would be useful for you.

I am in senior management. Will this course be helpful?

Professionals currently in senior management positions may have practical experience with many of the business concepts covered in the course but have not had formal exposure to the underlying principles. If you are a senior manager who wants to build upon your knowledge of broad business fundamentals, this course would be valuable for you.

I don't have a background in accounting. Can I take this course?

Yes! This course provides all the essential knowledge and skills needed to understand and apply accounting concepts to your job. No prior knowledge or background experience of accounting is necessary.

Do I need knowledge of Excel to take this course?

While this course does use computers during several workshops including the Business Simulation, the exercises are designed so that no specific knowledge of applications such as Word or Excel is required. If you do have a working knowledge of Excel, there are some optional tools provided that you can use when you return to the office to further improve your business skills.

What will I learn in the Business Simulation?

The Business Simulation is a computer-based program that provides a comprehensive, competitive and dynamic environment to test your skills in accounting, finance, marketing, forecasting, competitive and market assessments, customer assessments, operations management, and strategic analysis. This simulation is consistently rated as one of the best aspects of the course and was custom-developed for Learning Tree to support the many concepts and tools covered in Course 247.

I have no hands-on management experience. Will this course help me?

Yes. In this course, you gain fundamental skills applicable to a range of business disciplines that do not require a background in management. Prior experience as a project team leader, supervisor or manager may help you absorb the concepts and topics covered in this course. However, management experience is not required.

I have in-depth knowledge of one or more of the core topics covered in this course. Will the coverage of these areas be too elementary for me?

The coverage of the core topic areas starts at a foundation level and then moves on to advanced topics. Additionally, rather than learning and applying each core area individually, you learn how to fully integrate all of the core topics. Through real-world workshops, you gain practical skills you can immediately employ at work, giving you a competitive advantage.

How much time is spent on each topic?

How much of this course is spent in workshops?

Approximately 40 percent of this course is spent in small groups and partnered and individual workshops, including:

• Assessing the impact of your decisions through a comprehensive and realistic Business Simulation
• Analysing profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements
• Evaluating operating budgets and financial performance measures
• Applying root cause analysis to improve effectiveness
• Integrating tools and techniques to develop business, services and product strategies
• Developing key concepts and components of an effective marketing plan

I have already attended Course 280. Will I benefit from this course?

Yes. While Course 280, Finance and Accounting for Nonfinancial Managers, covers similar financial concepts, Course 247 provides a wider context into which the financial management skills gained can be applied.

What is the difference between this course and Course 290 or Course 906?

Course 290, Management Skills, and Course 906, Management Skills for an IT Environment, provide the necessary skills to successfully manage people. The knowledge gained can be immediately applied to your work, enabling you to more effectively delegate, motivate and coach employees for successful team performance.

Course 247 provides an overview of the entire business process. In addition to gaining skills for managing people effectively, you also learn the practices and strategies of the overall business process. There are also several unique leadership and supervisory topics and activities included in Course 247 that are not included in Course 290.

Is this course applicable toward a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification?

Yes. Though this course is not designed as preparation for an exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward, or maintaining, a PMI certification. Most PMI certifications require a specific number of PDUs in order to obtain and maintain the credential. Completion of this course provides 17 professional development units (PDUs).

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

In addition to the aforementioned courses, you may be interested in the following Learning Tree courses:

In Course 195, Power Excel^®: Analysing Data to Make Business Decisions, you use advanced Excel techniques to build sophisticated spreadsheets. You learn to perform "what if" analysis, apply statistical and financial functions, manipulate PivotTables and present your results to make better decisions for planning and budgeting.

In Course 212, Building an Effective Business Case, you learn how to analyse, create and communicate a successful business case to meet your organisation's unique needs.

In Course 222, Leadership Skills: Building Success through Teamwork, you learn how to inspire service teams to work together to deliver high-quality results.

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USA