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Business Management Professional Certificate Program


Program includes National Certification &an Externship Opportunity


The Business Management Professional

The Business Management Professional program provides students the basic competencies involved in a leading a team whether from the very top of a company, middle management or first-line supervision. Managers at intermediate levels serve as the bridge between their staff and higher management understanding how to execute the project, exercising good judgment over costs and risks but also able to extract and rely on the talent of their team to get things done effectively. Good leaders are key to cultivating positive morale among their staff while also best situated to identify policies or procedures that are not working and improve upon them to benefit both staff and management. Effective managers have unique skill sets that promote collaborative, orderly and productive work environments from which everyone can benefit.


The Business Management Professional Program

Leading a team of colleagues or managing your own staff requires a set of leadership skills that are often few and far between in today’s business culture. Understanding the personalities working for you and with you, while also maneuvering to get the most out of the different skill sets and personalities on your staff is essential to effective leadership and productive management. This collection of skills and knowledge will ensure students understand the delicate balance of leadership, motivation, delegation, and authority while fostering an environment of encouragement and teamwork. From business communication and basic supervision to the fundamentals of leadership and project management, this program ensures students will emerge with the confidence to make the tough decisions managers are faced with every day coupled with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to be a true leader.


Program Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Contrast theories and techniques of managing, motivating, and leading others
  • Analyze the impact of an organization’s culture, environment, and design on management
  • Examine how social responsibility and ethics affect management functions
  • Analyze issues facing managers when performing management functions
  • Examine challenges related to organizational strategies and processes that managers face in today’s business environment
  • Evaluate approaches to communication to best fit an organizational structure
  • Apply theories of leadership and motivation to effectively manage others
  • Assess approaches to controlling organizational performance
  • Examine operations management
  • Describe the key components of the contemporary U.S. and international business environment
  • Describe the role of ethics and social responsibility in the business environment
  • Examine how businesses can be organized and structured
  • Analyze the various functions of and approaches to management
  • Analyze marketing processes, forces, and issues in a business enterprise
  • Examine the key strategies, tools, and issues involved in business operations
  • Examine the key financial concepts involved in the business enterprise
  • Develop a business plan incorporating sound business concepts, systems, and strategies
  • Analyze the competencies and skills needed to be an effective supervisor
  • Explain contemporary workplace considerations with respect to a supervisory role
  • Plan strategically using goal-setting and organizing skills
  • Recommend a staffing, recruiting, and retention strategy
  • Recommend a control process strategy
  • Propose a decision-making strategy
  • Explain motivational leadership in the context of today's workforce
  • Use effective communication strategies
  • Propose group- and-team-building skills
  • Analyze the performance appraisal process
  • Recommend strategies to improve workplace health and safety
  • Propose conflict resolution strategies
  • Analyze factors that impact change management
  • Analyze the supervisor's role in the collective bargaining processes
  • Use Microsoft Office

INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT

  • Describe characteristics of good managers
  • Examine how management theories and techniques have evolved over time
  • Identify current trends and issues facing managers
  • Describe the impact that management theories have had on the functions of management

MANAGING IN A BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

  • Categorize dimensions of organizational culture
  • Explain dimensions of organizational culture and the impact on managers
  • Identify current organizational culture issues
  • Examine how corporate culture affects a manager's effectiveness
  • Examine the impact of corporate culture on an organization and its management function
  • Identify issues of managing in a global environment
  • Compare the advantages and disadvantages of conducting business globally

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MANAGERIAL ETHICS

  • Identify how an organization's social involvement can affect its economic performance
  • Recognize the factors that affect ethical or unethical behavior
  • Describe the effects of shared organizational values

DECISION MAKING

  • Describe decision-making styles
  • Explain the steps to decision-making
  • Identify pitfalls to decision-making
  • Identify the manager's role in decision-making
  • Describe the purposes of planning

PLANNING AND THE MANAGER’S ROLE

  • Explain the importance of having stated goals and plans
  • Identify types of plans
  • Discuss the steps to goal setting
  • Explain the challenges associated with goal setting and planning

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING TECHNIQUES

  • Explain strategic management process
  • Describe organizational strategies
  • Identify the challenges related to organizational strategies and processes that managers face in today's business environment
  • Describe the project management process

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS

  • Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an organizational structure
  • Discuss issues dealing with chain of command
  • Examine methods to manage organizational communication

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

  • Discuss contemporary issues that HR managers must face
  • Identify the elements of the human resource management process
  • Explain how managers can effectively deal with change
  • Explain how managers can minimize employee stress

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MANAGEMENT

  • Discuss the impact culture has on one's behavior and personality
  • Identify factors that influence human behavior
  • Identify principles of learning
  • Describe learning principles managers can utilize to affect employee behavior
  • Explain factors that contribute to team success
  • Compare teams and groups
  • Explain approaches managers can take to effectively communicate with employees

MOTIVATING AND LEADING OTHERS

  • Explain theories of motivation
  • Identify challenges faced by managers in motivating employees
  • Identify current approaches to leadership
  • Recognize various leadership theories
  • Discuss leadership challenges facing today's managers

CONTROLLING ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

  • Explain characteristics of approaches to control systems
  • Discuss why control is an important management function
  • Diagram the control process
  • Explain methods used to manage organizational behavior

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

  • Discuss why operations management is important to organizations and managers
  • Identify current issues of operations management

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

  • Define the goals and functions of business
  • Identify the factors of production in an economic system
  • Explain each of the major types of economic systems
  • Explain the major features of a market economy
  • Explain the concept of supply and demand
  • Define the various degrees of competition in a free enterprise system
  • Define the dimensions of the external U.S. business environment
  • Explain emerging challenges and opportunities related to the U.S. business environment

BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Define social responsibility
  • Define ethics
  • Distinguish social responsibility from ethics
  • Define a business or industry code of ethics
  • Outline a model of ethical judgment making
  • Describe how social responsibility applies to internal and external stakeholders in a company
  • Explain the four approaches to social responsibility

NEW BUSINESS VENTURES IN THE US AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

  • Define entrepreneurship
  • Distinguish between entrepreneurship and small business
  • Outline the steps in starting a new business endeavor
  • Identify the reasons for success and failure of new businesses
  • Compare each type of business organizational structure
  • Identify major issues involved in creating and managing a corporation
  • Describe the major world market places
  • Explain the concept of competitive advantage
  • Explain the concept of import-export balance of trade
  • Identify challenges and barriers associated with doing business internationally

MANAGING THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

  • Identify the planning functions of effective management
  • Describe the four activities involved in the management process
  • Produce an organizational chart for various management levels and areas
  • Identify the basic skills required for an effective manager
  • Define corporate culture
  • Define organizational structure
  • Identify the building blocks for organizational structure
  • Map the organizational structure necessary for effective decision making
  • Explain the ways organizations can be structured
  • Identify emerging trends in organization design

MANAGING AND MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES

  • Define human resources
  • Outline the steps in human resource staffing
  • Identify ways a workforce is developed
  • Define various ways employees are compensated
  • Explain the legal issues associated with human resources
  • Explain why workers organize into labor unions and utilize collective bargaining
  • Explain the theories of motivation in the workplace
  • Explain strategies used to improve motivation and job satisfaction
  • Compare common management styles

MARKETING PROCESSES

  • Define marketing
  • Define the components of the marketing mix
  • Describe marketing research methods
  • Explain the concept of target marketing, including market segmentation
  • Describe how marketing research is conducted
  • Describe the key components that influence the consumer buying process
  • Define organizational marketing
  • Compare organizational buying behavior with consumer buying behavior
  • Explain the elements of the international marketing mix

PRODUCT PRICING, DISTRIBUTION, AND PROMOTION

  • Define a product in terms of a value package
  • Describe the new product development process
  • Describe the stages of the product life cycle
  • Explain how price is determined for a product
  • Explain the distribution mix
  • Describe common distribution strategies
  • Explain the promotion mix
  • Explain how products are advertised
  • Outline the personal selling process
  • Describe various promotional strategies
  • Analyze pricing strategies and tactics

PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY

  • Distinguish between goods production and service operations
  • Identify the factors involved in operations planning
  • Explain factors involved in operations scheduling
  • Explain factors involved in operations control
  • Relate quality to productivity
  • Explain how one can manage for quality
  • Identify the tools used for total quality management
  • Define supply chain management
  • Identify various strategies used to improve productivity and quality

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

  • Define information management
  • Explain why businesses must manage information effectively
  • Discuss how the communication technologies can be used to improve business

PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING

  • Identify the roles of accountants in business
  • Define the different types of accounting
  • Identify the components of a balance sheet
  • Identify the components of an income statement
  • Identify the components of a cash flow statement
  • Identify the components of a budget
  • Explain the use of various financial ratios
  • Explain specific issues related to international accounting

BANKING AND FINANCE

  • Describe the characteristics and functions of money
  • Describe the different kinds of financial institutions that make up the U.S. financial system
  • Identify special financial services in the U.S. financial system
  • Discuss the structure and function of the Federal Reserve System
  • Identify the tools the Federal Reserve System uses to control the U.S. money supply
  • Identify issues related to international banking
  • Define the different types of stocks and bonds
  • Describe various investment opportunities
  • Analyze the process by which securities are bought and sold
  • Explain how the securities market is regulated

FINANCIAL AND RISK MANAGEMENT

  • Describe the responsibilities of a financial manager
  • Distinguish between operating expenditures and capital expenditures
  • Identify sources of short-term funds
  • Identify sources of long-term funds
  • Explain the risk-return relationship
  • Define risk management
  • Outline the steps in a risk management process
  • Identify the types of insurance that can be purchased by a business

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SUPERVISOR? HOW IS YOUR CULTURAL COMPETENCY?

  • Describe characteristics and competencies needed to be an effective supervisor
  • Identify personal goals for improving effectiveness as a supervisor
  • Describe the role and responsibilities of the supervisor
  • Describe how globalization, technology, and diversity impact the supervisor's job
  • Explain what it means to act and react ethically as a supervisor

WHAT DO SUPERVISORS DO AND WHY? PART ONE: PAPERWORK AND PROFITABILITY

  • Differentiate between planning in a top-down vs. bottom-up organization
  • Describe common elements of goal-setting programs
  • Identify key differences between traditional supervisors and entrepreneurial supervisory styles
  • Explain the balance between authority and responsibility

WHAT DO SUPERVISORS DO AND WHY? PART TWO: PEOPLE AND PRODUCTIVITY

  • Describe the human resource management process
  • Discuss the influence of government regulations on human resource decisions
  • Identify compensation systems, training, and development plans as recruitment and retention strategies
  • Describe methods of evaluating performance to increase productivity and profitability
  • List the characteristics of control systems
  • Compare positive and negative aspects of preventive, concurrent, and corrective supervisory control

WHO DECIDES WHAT AND HOW?

  • List the seven steps in the decision-making process and four types of decision-making styles
  • Discuss common decision-making errors

REWARDS AND RESULTS: WIN, LOSE OR TIE

  • Describe five personality characteristics needed to understand employee behavior
  • Describe three theories of motivation that impact job satisfaction

ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS: SUPERVISORS LEADERSHIP STYLES: WHO LEADS AND WHO FOLLOWS?

  • Discuss the difference between a leader and a supervisor
  • Differentiate between task-centered and people-centered leadership behaviors
  • Differentiate between visionary, participative, and situational leadership styles

WHEN AND HOW TO COMMUNICATE: SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY

  • Differentiate between formal and informal communication and how each affects performance
  • Describe techniques and behaviors to overcome communication barriers and provide effective feedback
  • Describe assertiveness techniques that can be used to improve communication

STIMULATING YOUR TEAMS’ SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE

  • Explain how group cohesiveness influences productivity
  • Identify characteristics of emergent leaders in an informal group
  • Describe how a team's morale and productivity reflect the supervisor's behavior and attitude

KEEPING EMPLOYEES ON TRACK AND SAFE ON THE JOB

  • Differentiate between formal and informal performance appraisals
  • Discuss ethical and legal issues that may emergein performance appraisals
  • Describe individual and organizational responsibilities for risk management and workplace safety
  • Describe the leading causes of safety and health accidents and how they may be prevented
  • Discuss ways to cultivate a workplace environment that encourages health, wellness, and a "fully fit" workforce

OPPORTUNITIES: MANAGING CONFLICTS AND CHALLENGES

  • Describe techniques for resolving conflict
  • Discuss negotiation strategies, organizational politics, and disciplinary interventions
  • Describe creative problem solving, active listening, and communication techniques that improve employee/supervisory relationships

MAKE “CORRECT CHANGE”: ATTENTION TO DETAIL EQUALS PROFITABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY

  • Describe traditional and contemporary views of change in employer-employee relationships
  • Explain how a supervisor's attitude toward change management impacts employees and the organization

BARGAINING A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR ALL

  • Describe the union-organizing process
  • Outline the steps in the collective bargaining process
  • Discuss impasse resolution techniques including effective grievance procedures
  • Identify personal goals for improving effectiveness as a supervisor
  • Use an integrated software package, specifically the applications included in the Microsoft Office suite
  • Demonstrate marketable skills for enhanced employment opportunities
  • Describe proper computer techniques for designing and producing various types of documents

Note: This program can be completed in 6 months. However, students will have online access to this program for a 24-month period.

Education and National Certifications

  • Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • There is a National Certification exam available to students who successfully complete this program:
    • National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Business Management (B-MGMT)

National Certification

Students who complete the Auburn University Business Management Professional program will be prepared to sit for the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Business Management (B-MGMT)national certification exam(s). In order to work as a Business Management Professional, many states nationwide are requiring that learners achieve national certification prior to working in that state. Students who complete this program are encouraged to complete the practical/clinical externship option with their program. This comprehensive program is designed to prepare students to sit for National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Business Management (B-MGMT) exam(s). Students who complete this program can and do sit for the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Business Management(B-MGMT) national certification exam(s) and are qualified, eligible and prepared to do so.

Externship / Hands on Training / Practicum

Although not a requirement, once students complete the program, they have the ability to participate in an externship and/or hands on practicum so as to practice the skills necessary to perform the job requirements of a professional in this field. Students will be assisted with completing a resume and/or other requirements necessary to work in this field. All students who complete this program are eligible to participate in an externship and will be placed with a participating organization near their location. The institution works with national organizations and has the ability to place students in externship opportunities nationwide

Note: No refunds can be issued after the start date published in your Financial Award document.