The dissertation requires students to identify problems and issues facing a real organization, conduct a comprehensive external and internal analysis, and develop a plan of action and recommendations for the organization by integrating the knowledge acquired in classes. It not only serves as a culminating experience for students but also represents the contribution of our MBA program to Macau and the Region.

The modern business enterprise must manage in a world defined by uncertainty, emerging realities, and a high level of unpredictability. The value of planning and of linear management has been greatly undermined as a globalized economy grows more and more complex. The ability to think, rather than plan, strategy, to understand leadership as a forward-looking and dynamic function, and to value people as strategic capital of an organization will be recurrent themes in this course.

The aim of this module is to enable students to apply the fundamental ideas of financial economics to problems in the area of corporate finance. Students will gain an overview of valuation principles, and how financial decisions – capital structure, dividend policy, investments, etc. – can affect valuation, learn basic principles of corporate finance from the perspective of a financial manager, and analyze many of the important financial decisions made within firms.

This module examines different types of operational environments and their links with strategy thinking and management of operations. Topics covered include tools and techniques for optimal use of resources, interfaces with quality management, technology management and distribution management.

This module provides a theoretical foundation and a set of practical tools for the development of creative environments, management of innovation, and the change associated with it, both in corporate settings and start-up situations. For the purposes of the module innovation is defined as the profitable commercialization of a new idea: product, market, process, or technology.

Students will examine the dynamics of organizations from the perspective of the new sciences of complexity. Special emphasis will be given to modern areas of research in economics, such as increasing returns and path dependence.

Students will explore the concepts and problems pertaining to export marketing with emphasis on multinational businesses. Topics include product modification, differential pricing, national social and commercial policies, promotion, and logistical issues.

This module provides a broad view of how accounting contributes to an organization. Students will gain (a) an understanding of the concepts and language of accounting so it can be used as an effective tool for communication, monitoring and resource allocation and (b) familiarity with how modern accounting and control theory is used in evaluating economic conditions and making organizational decisions.

The objective of this module is to study the major decision-making areas of managerial finance and some selected topics in financial theory. The course reviews the theory and empirical evidence related to the investment and financing policies of the firm and attempts to develop decision-making ability in these areas, including leasing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, financial planning and working capital management, and some other selected topics, including investment decision making under uncertainty, cost of capital, capital structure, pricing of selected financial instruments and corporate liabilities, and dividend policy.

This module explores the use of corporate acquisitions as a method of affecting substantial changes in the business mix of large corporations. The module focuses on the impact of acquisitions on the acquiring firm and the target firm involved in the transaction. Equal attention will be devoted to theoretical issues and their managerial implications. A conceptual framework with theoretical underpinnings will be presented as a basis for understanding of the phenomenon. Then managerial issues involved in implementing such transactions will be examined. Topics covered include diversification strategy, competitive bidding, joint ventures, contractual arrangements, leveraged buyouts, and the concept of corporation governance. In each of these topics, both organizational and economic issues will be dealt with.

The purpose of this module is to provide the necessary skills to value and to employ options, futures, and related financial contracts. Topics covered include the valuation of futures contracts on stock indices, on commodities and Treasury instruments; the valuation of options; empirical evidence; strategies with respect to these assets; dynamic asset allocation strategies; swaps; and the use (and misuse) of derivatives in the context of corporate applications.

This module covers the finance of technological innovation, with a focus on the valuation tools useful in the venture capital industry. These tools include the “venture capital method,” comparables analysis, discounted cash flow analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, contingent-claims analysis, decision trees, and real options.

This module discusses (1) managing globally by identifying major geopolitical driving forces; (2) political processes, patterns of public policy and the relationship between politics and business; (3) regional trading blocs and systems of regional integration; (4) latent conflicts, peace and war and political instability, and (5) democracy, democratization and market capitalism.

The primary focus of this module is on new product/service decisions and development processes. The course provides a comprehensive analytical coverage of the various product decisions, critical discussion of the research needed as input to the decisions, and the contributions of management and behavioral sciences to the development process. The module covers the following areas: the role of new products in marketing and corporate management; basic product policy concepts, product life cycle, product positioning, product portfolio, and new product development testing, management and launching.

This module covers topics that span marketing and operations management. The module examines issues and decisions that require significant coordination between managers in marketing and operations. Topics covered include channel management, supply chain design, product variety management, and service operations pricing and control.

This module discusses (1) managing world's business systems; (2) culture & management in Asia; (3) ethical dilemma in managing Asia; (4) international management behavior & human resources management; (5) managing across cultures; (6) strategies for Asia Pacific; and (7) strategies for Latin America.