With improvements in computing technology and the ability to generate/collect vast amounts of data, many organizations are quickly finding themselves data rich yet information poor. The goal of this course is to expose students to techniques and technologies that will enable them to become key players in helping organizations transform unstructured and structured data from various sources including, social media, the web, databases and archival data, into meaningful and insightful information facilitating effective decision making.

This course deals with central concepts and applications at the intersection of technological innovation, organizational growth, and corporate entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship. Building an organization to achieve high growth and successfully and repeatedly bring innovations to market is a daunting managerial challenge. The first part of the course examines why it is so challenging to maintain sustained growth in disruptive environments. In the second part, the course takes a look at technological innovation as a lever that can help firms achieve sustained growth, by providing a number of applied tools, frameworks, and practices mangers can use to manage growth and innovation in their organizational contexts.

One of the learning objectives in the MBA Program is that all students will graduate with an understanding of these core knowledge assembled from various disciplines that contribute courses to the program. We assess the learning as part of our Assurance of Learning Program. This zero credit course provides an administrative mechanism for accomplishing this goal.

The internship provides an opportunity for MBA students to gain business experience in a professional setting, applying their course-based learning to challenges in a business or non-profit enterprise. Students explore the relationship between theory and practice while completing at least 250 hours of time on site. Required of all full-time MBA students (unless waived due to significant prior relevant professional experience). The internship is completed in the summer term, but students can begin it in the spring by registering for it in term IV if needed.