TABLE OF CONTENTS Prologue: Orientation to the ProgramThe MBA "Secrets of Life" Chapter 1. Marketing and Product Management Differing Schools of Thought Customer Service and Customer Focus The Macroenvironment Dimensions of Buyer Perception Participants in the Buying Process The Rational Buyer Vis-a-Vis the Emotional Buyer Cognitive Dissonance Postpurchase Dissonance (Also Known as "Buyer's Remorse") Dimensions of Market Segmentation Marketing Strategies Product Positioning Marketing Research The Marketing Mix Cross-Selling Up-Selling Relationship-Based Selling Factors in Marketing Analysis The Marketing and Product Management Checklist Chapter 2. Accounting and Finance Financial Statements Tax-Reduction Considerations "Creative" Accounting Internal Control Other People's Money (OPM) Improving Cash Flow Budgets Time Value of Money (Discounted Cash Flow) Investment Appraisal More Alphabet Soup? Key Financial Ratios Lease Versus Buy Versus Rent Funding Some Tips The Accounting and Finance Checklist Chapter 3. Human Resources and Operations Management Human Resources Management Dimensions of Managerial Effectiveness Work Versus Play Psychological Contracts in the Workplace Line Versus Staff Communication Compensation Learning Diversity and Discrimination Crisis Management Operations Management Economies of Scale Crossover Analysis Break-Even Analysis Linear Programming Network Analysis The Pareto Principle: 80/20 Rule Queuing Theory Monte Carlo Simulation Just-in-Time (JIT) Production System Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) and Reorder Point (ROP) The Human Resources Management Checklist The Operations Management Checklist Chapter 4. Statistics Conducting a Research Project Basic Terminology Key Statistical Measures A Statistical Anecdote: What Is "Normal"? Stories Behind the Statistics: Creative Interpretation Regression Analysis Time Series Analysis Exponential Smoothing Other Parametric Statistical Methods Nonparametric Statistical Methods A Reminder The Statistics Checklist Chapter 5. Economics Macroeconomics Microeconomics The Economics ChecklistChapter 6. Technology Management Management Information Systems Knowledge Management The High-Tech Challenge to Management Progress Through Technology? The Technology Management Checklist Chapter 7. Business Policy and Ethics Formulation of Ethical Standards Application to Specific Business Issues Contracts Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) The Business Policy and Ethics ChecklistChapter 8. Strategic PlanningObjectives, Strategies, and Tactics Establishing Organizational Objectives Establishing Corporate Objectives Creating the Strategic Plan Evaluating the Strategic Plan Forecasting Methods The Strategic Planning ChecklistEpilogue: Reflection, Introspection, and Enlightenment Management Decision Making: Art or Science?Postscript: Education and Career Pathing You Are a Product! Do You Really Need an MBA? Choosing an MBA Program Alternatives to the MBARecommended Reading Organizations and Resources Bibliography Index
