BUS 449 - Special Topic: Management

Unit(s): 2 or 4

Specialized topics in management. Topical areas provide in-depth coverage of special and/or current interest which give the student a better insight into the broad field of management. fall 24: *Evidence Based Management (BUS 449-01)* Evidence-based Management exposes students to the concept of evidence-based practice within the broader managerial disciplines (e.g. Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Psychology, People Operations etc.). The course aims to (1) equip students with the necessary skills to source and evaluate high-quality research evidence; (2) to use this evidence to better inform their own behaviors and organizational practices in general and; (3) to be a change agent in the creation of a culture of evidence based-practice across all aspects of organizational life. Upon completion, students will hold valuable, tangible and usable skills which inform organizations on the value of their interventions and in turn, create impactful and defensible managerial behavior in their own professional lives. Those successfully completing the course will receive a certification of competence and practice from the CEBMA.org; The Centre for Evidence Based Management (University of Amsterdam). *Negotiations (BUS 449-02)* We negotiate every day. We negotiate with potential employers, coworkers, landlords, parents, bosses, service providers, spouses, and even our children. Yet, although people negotiate all the time, most know very little about the strategy and psychology of effective negotiations. Why do we sometimes get our way whereas other times we walk away feeling frustrated by our inability to achieve the agreement we desire? Negotiation is the art and science of securing agreements between two or more parties who are interdependent and who are seeking to maximize their outcomes. It is a craft that must hold cooperation and competition in creative tension. The purpose of this course is to understand the theory and processes of negotiation as it is practiced in a variety of settings.*Professional Power and Influence (BUS 449-03)* A practical and evidence-based understanding of power and influence can be a pivotal asset in the career of any professional, including organizational members, managers, and leaders. This course is designed to deliver such an understanding by summarizing foundational literature on the construct of power, examining power bases and their use within organizations, and exploring the psychosocial underpinnings of successful influence tactics. Using frequently observed settings and situations as context, students learn how to ethically utilize individual and group processes, systems, and power structures to navigate political landscapes. Coursework features a blend of assigned readings, discussions, case analyses, and experiential exercises.

Prerequisite: BUS 304 or BUS 494
School of Management