Bachelor of Business Administration

The thesis course provides the opportunity for students to benefit from an extended period of independent research and critical study. Learners will explore a topic of interest in detail and thereby gain in-depth knowledge and competences, as outlined in the learning outcomes of the NEOS BBA program. Students are expected to show an understanding and awareness of the subject, and to be able to identify, discuss and analyze appropriate texts relevant to the subject of study. Given the marketing emphasis of the BBA program, the research topic should be marketing oriented.

The need for effective public relations in both the private and public sectors is growing rapidly, especially with the prevalence of social media and online communities of interest. This course teaches students the importance of developing a favorable public opinion towards the organization, firm or individual and how to apply the principles of public relations in a strategic manner. Included is a preliminary review of communication planning, crisis communication and issues management. Special attention will be placed on public relations in online media.

This course provides a complete overview of all aspects of digital marketing. Students are familiarized with essential digital technologies and electronic marketing tools. They learn how to assess various digital channels and select those most suitable for their strategic objective. Students also learn to formulate effective digital marketing campaigns that are aligned with their marketing objectives and to create attractive user experiences. Social media risks, challenges and ethical issues concerned are also discussed.

This course shows how brand considerations (with a strong emphasis on online media), can be linked closely to a business and/or product strategy. Specifically, students will learn to identify and develop brand positioning and values, evaluate brand equity, plan and implement brand marketing programs and retain brand loyalty and attachment. Special focus will be placed on brand marketing in the digital world.

The course focuses on the process of recognizing and creating opportunities for business ventures. Students learn about planning, organizing and controlling activities involved in setting up a business. Challenges such as financing, staffing and marketing new ventures are discussed, as are government regulations. The course also deals with the problems of running a family business, working with family members, transition management and the growing of a small business. Instructions on how to create a good business plan form the practical aspect of this course.

This course examines the process by which buying decisions are made in consumer markets. Various issues and concepts relating to consumer research are explored and critically appraised in terms of their intellectual validity and their managerial significance. The aim of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to develop a theoretical understanding of consumer behavior in conjunction with the skills to apply this knowledge to practical marketing situations.

This course introduces the vital role technology innovation plays in management strategy. Models of technological innovation past and present are explored, and students are shown how the innovation process can be embedded in an organization. Specifically, students are taught the how innovation needs are identified, innovation projects are selected, new product are developed, and the value of innovation is captured.

In this practically-oriented course, students familiarize themselves with the e-business strategy framework, using the steps of the e-business strategy formulation roadmap, linking the individual steps of the roadmap to the different parts of the e-business strategy formulation. They explore the main business issues involved in each stage of the roadmap and apply the concepts in the design and implementation of an e-business initiative. Management of Innovation and Technology

This course emphasizes the strategic importance of marketing communication in creating long-term, durable relationships with customers. Students study the fundamentals of marketing communications, with an emphasis on its effect on consumer behavior and cultural aspects of communication. On the practical side, students learn to plan and evaluate integrated marketing communications strategies and promotion plans.

This course focuses on how firms formulate, implement, and evaluate strategies in a turbulent and rapidly changing environment. Students focus on integrated decision-making in terms of strategy formation, implementation, and evaluation. The course is designed to allow students to synthesize the knowledge gained through previous courses, using and applying the tools, models and theories of different business and management disciplines. In this, the course serves as a capstone course for the fundamentals portion of the program.

This practice-oriented course provides the student not only with the theoretical understanding of the Project Life Cycle within an organizational context but allows familiarizes the student with hands-on tools and techniques of effective project management. PM activities that are explored include: developing project plans and schedules, allocating and coordinating resources, risk assessment, budgets and controlling costs, and managing teams.

The course presents concepts, tools and techniques involved in managing the flow of resources (e.g. materials, goods, information etc.) through a global supply chain. The risks and rewards of outsourcing organizational R & D, production and delivery processes are discussed. Core topics include: supplier selection, warehousing, quality control, procurement, negotiations, risk management, and distribution, among others. The result is an in-depth understanding of organizational cost, quality, and innovation as it pertains to a company’s supply chain.

The course provides an analytical framework for the study of international trade. Students explore a broad array of relevant topics applying both theoretical models and empirical studies to determine a model that best fits “real world” data. Competing theories concerning the nature of international trade and the gains or losses thereof are discussed. Student will also explore the relevance and policy implications of these theories/models, especially in terms of growth, income distribution, and development.

This course introduces students to the basic concepts of operations management and the transformation process that converts organizational resources to finished products and services. Operations Management responsibilities like process and layout design, plant location, production planning and scheduling, quality management and control, capacity and inventory management will be covered. Qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis will be applied to Operations Management issues.

In this course, the student will be exposed to an integrative study of organizations in a changing business environment. The course equips students with the necessary skills to critically assess an organizations’ strategic position, and to formulate, implement and lead change effectively.

This course presents and illustrates fundamental advertising principles. Students learn where advertising fits in the promotional mix and the unique characteristics that separate advertising from other forms of promotional communication. The course will revisit some familiar marketing concepts within a new framework, approaching the subject from the advertiser’s perspective. The module uses a case-based approach that focuses on the activities of a real-world advertising agency.

In this course, students explore the nature of organizational, individual and group dynamics and learn how to influence these positively to increase organizational effectiveness. Specifically, students will study individual and group behaviors dealing with morale, conflict resolution, power and motivation and explore effective leadership models and communication strategies. Discussions will also include the impact of change and effect of the diversity.

The course provides the foundation for understanding information systems and examines IT-related roles, functions and strategies in today’s business environment. The student will be introduced to the principles and concepts of IS, the motivation for using IS in business, the technologies implemented and their applications, and the reciprocal relationship between the organization and information technology.

Today’s globalized business environment and an increasingly cultural diverse workplace, require that managers are culturally aware. To prepare students, this course focuses on cultural and cross-cultural issues and explores suitable management and communication approaches. The course highlights aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility as they relate to intercultural settings.

This course explores the concepts of corporate finance, investments and capital markets. Throughout, attention is given to trade-offs of risk and return in financial decision making. Issues presented include the time value of money, the nature of financial markets, financial analysis and planning, security valuation and capital markets, capital budgeting, IRR, the Profitability Index, Net Working Capital, credit policies and receivables management.

The course is an introduction to the issues surrounding human resources and the complex relationship between management and employees. Students examine human behavior. They are presented with effective human resource management practices that are aimed at promoting employee well-being and improving the productive efficiency of the company. Topics include: recruiting and selection, staffing, development and performance appraisal of human resources. Also discussed are topics such as labor management-relations and ethics.

This course covers the marketing process as it relates to the “four p’s”: product, place, promotion and price. Specifically, the course explores the concepts and practices of marketing management, sales, channels of distribution, consumer behavior, pricing strategies, advertising, and market research.

The course provides an understanding of economic issues as they pertain to national economies and international trade. Topics covered include: national income, employment, GDP, the dynamics of inflation, aggregate demand and supply, money and the banking system, monetary and fiscal policies, and international trade. Some time is also spent presenting competing economic models. In other words, the course presents the macro framework in which business is conducted.

The course provides students with the necessary skills to communicate in a manner that is both concise and persuasive. Students learn to write professional reports, proposals, tenders, letters and other commercial correspondence. The course also explores the features of dynamic presentations, including methods of structuring, visualizing and delivering a message.

This course provides students with fundamental tools and techniques necessary to conduct research in social science. Students gain an understanding of the role and importance of research for strategic and operational managerial practice and problem-solving needs. The course covers quantitative and qualitative methodologies with a special focus given to statistical research, thereby preparing students for various research projects throughout the program, including the final thesis paper.

This course explores the legal and ethical framework in which businesses operate. Sources and areas of business law are presented and compared internationally. Students also learn to critically analyze and evaluate the behavior of business owners, managers, and employees. Given heightened consumer scrutiny of corporate ethical conduct, a portion of the course will focus on how managers can navigate ethical dilemmas, meet the expectations of customers, employees, suppliers etc. and flourish as good corporate citizens.

The course introduces accounting for business entities such as sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations, focusing on how business events impact the balance sheet, income statements, and the statement of cash flows. Topics include: the process of recording and analyzing transactions, the accounting cycle including record-keeping, preparation of financial statements, and the theory of accounts.

This course provides an overview of the basic management functions of planning, organizing, influencing and controlling. Tools and techniques for decision-making, tactical and strategic planning, the organization of work flow, change management, human resource management, team dynamics, and production and control are explored. Leadership and communication skills are discussed and practiced.