The Most Interesting New MBA Courses At B-Schools This Year

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Yale School of Management

Connected Cities and Urban Ecosystems

Instructor: Sasson Darwish

This course introduces students to the technological forces reshaping urban ecosystems. More than 50% of the world population lives in cities. These cities use 80% of the world’s energy; consume 60% of the world’s drinking water; and, generate 70% of the world’s carbon emissions. Furthermore, rapid population growth is straining the capacity of cities to provide essential goods and basic services such as electricity, drinking water, sewage, and trash removal, as well as provide a reliable transportation infrastructure. Can autonomous cars, buses and taxis help solve this? Can sensors tracking water usage and trash levels help create incentives for city dwellers to consume less and conserve more? Can cameras tracking pedestrian and traffic patterns help reduce congestion and pollution?

Inequality and Social Mobility

Instructor: Barbara Biasi

This course provides a description of current trends in inequality and social and intergenerational mobility in the US and abroad, their possible causes, and the impact of public policies in shaping these trends. Drawing primarily on empirical evidence from the economics literature, we will examine the role of education, segregation, and race in shaping economic opportunities within and across generations. The course will also provide a set of analytical tools required to understand and critically “consume” empirical academic research, as well as public commentary and policy, related to this topic. Class sessions are a mixture of lectures and student presentations of existing research. Assessment will be based on these presentations and on a final project. The course is designed as a complement to MGT 581-01 (Education Policy), but the two courses can also be taken in isolation.

University of Virginia Darden School of Business

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business has announced 18 Darden Worldwide courses for the 2019-2020 academic year, including new courses to Australia, India, South Africa, and Kenya. When the Class of 2019 graduated in May, a record 85% of full-time MBA students had participated in at least one global academic program, up from 79% for the Class of 2018; 40% of the 2019 class participated in more than one offering. Thanks to the Batten Foundation Darden Worldwide Scholarship program, which covers the course fee for a global course for all full-time MBA students, first-year participation in a global course rose to 72% from 66% the previous year. A total of 425 students participated in Darden Worldwide course in the 2018-2019 academic year.

Culture and International Business Expansion in Australia

Instructor: Shane Dikolli

In this course, students explore Australian culture and business climate “through the lens of three specific industries: travel, sport and wine.” They also examine “the dynamic nature of Australia’s business innovation and change” in four specific organization: Qantas, Cricket Australia, Australian Football League, and Giant Steps Wine. They will then take what they have learned and apply it to a set of recommendations for top management at U.S.-based company, RestoraPet, on the expansion of their business into Australia.

Community-Based Conversation: Stakeholder Management and Social Business

Instructor: Scott Beardsley

Darden’s dean will teach this course as part of “The Business of Conservation” in South Africa, also a Darden Worldwide course.

NYU Stern School of Business

Operations in Entertainment: Las Vegas

Instructor: Harry Chernoff

“When we think of entertainment, perhaps the most popular location that comes to mind is Las Vegas. Behind the glitter and excitement are industries dedicated to supplying entertainment to customers. Operations address the supply side of business, including how products are produced and how services are supplied. This course goes behind the scenes to observe and analyze the operations involved. This course presents an opportunity to observe and study the entertainment industry including strategy formation and decision-making.

“The entertainment comes in various forms. The underlying driver is gaming, but the industries surrounding the various forms of gambling have also become major profit centers. During a one-week visit to Las Vegas, students will observe and study some of the major industries that comprise the broad scope of entertainment in this city. Although Operations Management models, techniques, and strategies in this field are applicable anywhere, Las Vegas is the epicenter of the industry.”

Climate Science: Realities & Risks of a Changing Climate

Instructor: Steven Koonin

“This course will focus on climate science — the basics of the Earth’s climate system, how it is observed and modeled, how it has changed in the recent and distant past, how it might change in the future under natural and human influences, and what impacts those changes might have on ecosystems and society. The most recent U.S. government and UN assessment reports will serve as texts, supplemented by the original research literature and media coverage. Critical thinking will be emphasized throughout.”

University of Texas-Austin McCombs School of Business

Business and Policy in the Age of Inequality

Instructor: Joel Cobb

“Inequality is one of the defining issues of our era. Its impact is economic, political, and moral. Inequality creates momentous challenges for workers, managers, companies, institutions, governments, and societies. This class will teach students how to think about inequality and its implications in their role as managers and as citizens, and how to deal proactively with the consequences of this pervasive phenomenon.”

Reputational Risk and Crisis Management

Instructor: Linda Golden

“This course focuses on issues in branding and effective crisis risk management to protect the firm’s reputation and brand equity. Today’s business world is more dynamic than ever and this course is designed to prepare tomorrow’s financial profit and social profit executive for embracing the rapid changes that are inevitable. In so doing, multiples of business goals and functions are examined in the context of crisis risk management, marketing and reputational brand equity considerations through text readings and lectures. This course will draw heavily on professor and guest lectures so that the currently active business climate is infused into your learning.”

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