IMBA Programa

Introduction to the global economic environment and its sustainability

The market: supply and demand. Price elasticity

Introduction to firm internationalisation and trade policies

Measuring macroeconomic activity

The exchange rate market, interest rates and prices

Euro and the Optimal Currency Area Theory

The goal of this course is to develop the analytical skills for making corporate investment with regards to financial decisions and risk analysis. This course will examine various theories and employ the concept of present value, the opportunity cost of capital, discounted cash flow analysis, capital budgeting, corporate capital structure and financing decisions, and issues of corporate governance and control.

This strategy course introduces the fundamental concepts, analytical tools, and strategic options at the basis of strategic analysis and action. We will use a combination of lectures, case studies and an individual company project to explore and apply theoretical frameworks and methodologies in different industry and company situations. For instance, we will explore methods for assessing the strength of competition and the relative bargaining power, for anticipating competitors’ actions, for analyzing cost and value structures and their relevance to competition, and for assessing potential changes in the scope of the firm (diversification and vertical integration). Basic mastery of these tools has relevance to everyone seeking a career in business as a manager, an entrepreneur or a consultant.

This course aims at helping participants:
> To create value by considering societal challenges and addressing social and environmental problems that intersect with business concerns.
> To use concepts and tools based on updated research in business ethics, corporate sustainability, corporate social responsibility, strategy.
> To practice the posture of an agent of change and ethical leader.

The course/seminar is built upon four parts:

Part 1: Stories about change (Ethics, sustainability, responsibility, and change: the corporate side)

Part 2: Building foundations (Ethics, sustainability, responsibility, and change: the stakeholders’ side)

Part 3: Innovating for a sustainable future (Business model innovation)

Part 4: Leading the change (Ethical leadership and individual impact)

This course explores the following topics:

Individual and collective differences of various kinds

Perception, motivation and stress

Groups, teams and other collectives

Leadership effectiveness

Organizational structure and design

Change management and change makers

Ethics, responsibility and sustainability implications

The aim of this class is to develop leadership potential and sharpen leadership competencies through experiential learning: through a series of lectures and exercises this class develops leadership knowledge, skills, and attitudes in four important leadership domains: task-oriented, relation-oriented, change-oriented, and ethics-oriented leadership. Next to these important theoretical building blocks, we will zoom in on the Leroy-Claeys model of leadership and leadership development, research on authentic leadership, leadership effectivity, implicit leadership theory, business ethics etc.

This course will help participants to:

Demonstrate an understanding of accounting terms, concepts and principles.

Adjust accounts and complete the accounting cycle.

Discuss various methods of accounting for inventory.

Determine the cost of plant assets through different depreciation methods.

Compare and contrast US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Understand the basic functions and philosophies of the key financial statements.

Synthesize accounting theory and analysis in applied business and industry scenarios.

Enhance participant understanding on how to evaluate a company’s liquidity, solvency, cash flow, asset productivity, profitability, competitiveness, and other critical financial factors.

Comprehend the similarities, differences and interplay between and among accounting, finance and audit.

This course deals with the following topics:

Role of the HR function in a multinational company, and the required competencies. The HR policies. The complexity coming from an international context. Different approaches: HCN, PCN, TCN. Planning the workforce in a multinational company.

Recruitment and selection of multinational companies: advantages and disadvantages of different approaches. Diversity issues in the selection of HR. Discussion of a case study.

Issues and complexities in assessing performances across the world. Ethical issues in the use of HRM tools. Compensation systems: expatriates vs. locals. Gender discrimination in pay. The importance of pre-departure and post-departure training. Discussion of a case study.

Re-entry issues and the management of dual career couple. Gender stereotypes for expatriates. Strategies evolution of companies going abroad. Presentation by a guest.

This course discusses the complexities of international marketing in a globalizing society. It focuses on the key decisions a manager faces in the international marketing environment. In addition to lectures, students will apply the theory learned in class based on group discussions, in-class exercises and business cases. After the course, students should have gained knowledge about globalizing markets, how they affect business decision, and how local/regional/global cultures shape international business decisions.

This course deals with the following topics:

The nature of operations.

Process strategies, the 4V’s of operations, strategic operational decisions.

Principles of transnational operations: integration, coordination, trade-off, focus.

Optimal resource allocation in transnational operations.

Competencies in transnational operations: cost, flexibility, quality, time, value, revenue, scalability, ubiquity.

Supply chain management principles and supply chain integration.

Operations management technologies for transnational networks.

The course is designed to provide students with theoretical and applied tools aimed at business model development and new venture creation. Through lectures and student presentations this course will aim at developing entrepreneurial thinking and behaviors, beneficial to both future entrepreneurs and business leaders. Combining theoretical concepts with analytical thinking, participants are expected to gain entrepreneurial knowledge and behaviors that support creative yet validated solutions.

This course is intended to provide students with practical skills to understand, evaluate, create, and ultimately manage an effective the innovation process within an organization. The students will have the opportunity to appreciate the relevant skills to manage innovation using examples of main leading international firms. We will make use of several materials such as books, case studies, and other sources in the public domain.

13 to be selected from the list:

Advanced International Accounting

Advanced Operations

Banking and Financial Markets

Business Analytics

Business Plan Development

Consultancy Management

Consumer Behavior

European Union Lobbying and Negotiating

Firm Valuation and Risk Management

Focused Operations Management

Information Systems Management

International Negotiation

Lean Management

Luxury Marketing

Managing Intangibles: Some Legal Issues

Mindfulness and Management

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Project Management

Startups and Investors

Strategic Performance Management

Through this business game, the students will be leading a simulated technology company that operates in three continents, managing day-to-day operations involving issues related to Finance, Marketing, Logistics, HRM, R&D, and Production. Throughout the game, the students will encounter unexpected events and fierce competition in a dynamic environment. The aim of the course is for the students to apply the knowledge that they have gained from the IMBA program in overcoming the challenges of running an international business.

This course involves visits to companies to learn about various aspects of business in practice. Participants will draw from parallel coursework. They will also familiarize themselves with companies visited before each visit. This familiarity will be used to inform visits and consider issues, raise questions etc.

Reflection is facilitated by the “visit diary” which they would maintain through the visits.

This course deals with the following topics:

Regression analysis using Ordinary Least Squares

Using Excel to estimate regressions

Assessing the quality of estimation results

Making predictions about future outcomes

Modeling using alternative functional forms

Interpretation of estimation results

Hypothesis testing

Dealing with the problem of multicollinearity

French language lessons at every level are included in the program for international students.
French is the mandatory choice for all non-French speaking students.

Our Career Program helps participants to establish their professional career plan by working on their skills, personal strengths, and using networking tools to be prepared to meet recruiters’ expectations internationally.

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

Build a professional career plan;

Identify personal skills and accumulated experiences (e.g., Master experience);

Adapt professional tools (e.g., CV, LinkedIn) to the local market;

Develop an accurate representation of their professional profile;

Use personal networking to better identify professional opportunities;

Gain insight into techniques and tools to find a job or an internship in France or abroad;

Build self-awareness of personal vocations and interests.

Learn more about the Career Program

The capstone project of the IMBA program can consist of ANY of the following four alternatives. For all of these options, students need to submit a report at the end the applicable period.

A work experience which can either be an internship of 4 to 6 months or a full-time job in an organization.

A thesis done under the supervision of an academic advisor.

A consulting project done for an organization under the guidance of an organizational supervisor and an academic advisor.

An entrepreneurial project involving attempts to start/expand a business or develop a business idea with an expert advisor.