MBA Online

Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration at Hokkaido University

The purpose of this course is to train highly specialized professionals to cultivate profound knowledge in economics and business management, an open perspective, and rich creative ability. This course consists of the following two sub-courses.

1. Economic Policy Course
In this course, we train professionals with the ability to draw up economic policies and then analyze them logically and empirically, and insights on the culture and history of socioeconomic aspects. Upon completion of the course, they can be expected to work for government and public offices, private think tanks, planning and research departments of corporations, universities and research institutions, international cooperation organizations, and NGOs.

2. Business Management (MBA) Course
We train highly skilled professionals who have the expertise and the analytical abilities necessary for business creation and management, along with mathematical and IT skills required to make effective and accurate managerial decisions. The students who have completed the school can flourish as specialists who manage corporations and NPOs, independent entrepreneurs, investigation and research staff for think tanks, and financial analysts.

Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration at Hokkaido University

These courses focus on a variety of research subjects such as the rapidly diversifying modern economies and management systems, which stem from advances in globalization and information digitization, and management information that is located at the core of value creation in modern society.
More specifically, they will examine the logical analysis of economy, analysis of economic systems and history, NPOs’ proposals for corporate management, and the utilization of information technology in business management.

Product Development Strategy
Product development is vital to ongoing business growth. Students will learn to develop strategies to respond to the changing needs of consumers, new technology, product lifecycles, and intensified competition at both domestic and international levels. The processes of concept development, product creation and market testing will be examined, and product development will be examined within a comprehensive business strategy approach.

Innovation and Business Development
The course examines how firms develop new businesses based on product and process innovation. In particular, we will look at how firms cope with disruptive changes, identify new markets to enter, acquire new technologies, manage internal corporate ventures, and vitalize organizational dynamics for innovation and new business creation. The course gives an overview of major theoretical perspectives and introduces several cases for class discussion.

ICS , Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy

[Term 1] Knowledge Management (I. Nonaka / K. Ichijo) (2008/Term 1&2 (Fall&Winter))

The objective of this course is to offer an overview of knowledge management through philosophy, academic articles, and case studies. Starting with the definition of knowledge, students will learn various aspects of knowledge creation and utilization and are expected to understand the theory of knowledge creation as well as the practical application of knowledge management.
Course Structure

The course starts with the definition of knowledge by such philosophers as Descartes, Nishida, and Plato. Next, classical organization theoretical works, such as those of Barnard, Simon, and Maslow will be discussed to see how organizational knowledge-creating theory is based on them, and how it differs from them. Then, the theory of organizational knowledge creation will be discussed, including various components such as ba, knowledge assets, leadership, and enablers.

The theoretical part is followed up by the study of case studies to learn how firms have built their knowledge-based business systems. Companies such as Suntory, Seven-Eleven, Eisai, Honda, NTT DoCoMo, and the U.S. Marines will be studied.

Students will also learn about theory building methodologies to construct their own theory. Finally, the application of knowledge creating theory to broader fields, such as regional or national knowledge creation, will be discussed.
Teaching Method

The theoretical part of the course will be conducted mostly through the use of lectures and the dialectic approach. The application part of the course, which deals with knowledge creation within companies, will be conducted mostly through the use of case studies and discussion, augmented by outside speakers representing the respective companies taken up in the case studies. Also, throughout the course, students are required to make presentations in small groups on what they have learned.

Marketing Strategy
An examination of the role of marketing in creating value for customers that, in turn, leads to the creation of value for other firm stakeholders. It seeks to prepare future CEOs and general managers to deal with core marketing issues by providing a way of thinking strategically about the firm’s products, services and markets.

Entrepreneurship (EKM 2101)

The course introduces students to entrepreneurship, especially for small enterprises. The discussions begin with idea creation, feasibility analysis, business plan, organization, and business development. The aims of this course are to introduce students to entrepreneurship concepts, to exercise students in developing and analyzing ideas, arranging and drafting plan, organize and develop business, and to provide an opportunity for students to exercise their skills in conducting research on some small businesses.

Advanced electives comprise over 40% of the curriculum and help students develop expertise in specialized areas. Over 50 different electives are available every academic year. Courses offered in a particular year will depend on program requirements and faculty schedules.

Below are samples of electives offered in recent years:
Accounting Corporate Financial Reporting
Financial Statement Analysis

Economics China’s Economic Development and Reform
China’s External Relations and their Economic Impact
China’s Industry Analysis
Competitive Strategy
Global Macroeconomics
Politics and Socioeconomic Environment of China

Finance Advanced Derivatives Analysis
Derivatives Analysis
Equity Investment Management
Fixed Income Analysis
Hedge Funds
Investment Analysis
Investment and Finance in China
Risk Management for Financial Institution
Strategic Finance and Value Creation
Venture Capital and Private Equity

Information Systems/Operations Management Business Optimization
E-Logistics
Global Supply Chain Management
Information Strategy and Economics
Innovation Management
Knowledge Management Systems
Software Project Management
Telecommunications Policy and Regulations

Management Being a Global Leader
Leadership in Asia
MBA Leadership
Management in a Chinese Context
Managerial Consulting
Managerial Decision Making and Leadership
Managing in China
Strategic HRM
Strategic Management in China

Marketing Brand Management
Channel Management
Marketing Analysis for Customer Value Management
Marketing Research
Negotiation
Retailing

Other Business Plan Competition
Case Analysis Competition