Gerald Schwartz School of Business

This course will have a primary focus on the sport industry, including professional sport entertainment, amateur, for-profit & non-profit sport participation, sporting goods, and sport services. Students will examine applications of managerial concepts and processes and look at the ways in which sport organizations interact with each other, and with corporations, the government and non-governmental organizations. Micro aspects of management applied to sport, including human resources, sport marketing, sponsorship, finance, event management, and sport law. Restricted to students in BBA and HKIN. May be used in a minor in sport management or as an elective in BBA or HKIN. Three credits.

An introduction to the Canadian business environment including exposure to the issues, trends, forces, organizations and personalities affecting businesses in Canada. The course exposes students to the types of teaching/learning experiences they will encounter in the BBA program, including case studies, teamwork, exercises, presentations, simulations, readings and lectures. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 111 or BSAD 101. Three credits and lab.

Introduces students to the challenge of making business decisions, to the primary areas of business (management, marketing, operations, finance), and to the role of the general manager. The course provides an introduction to the core vocabulary and analytical tools appropriate to the functional areas, and helps students develop their analytical, presentation, small group management, and self-management skills. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 112 or BSAD 102. Prerequisite: BSAD 111/101. Three credits and lab.

An introduction to the basic concepts, principles and procedures underlying financial accounting and financial statement preparation and interpretation. Prerequisites: BSAD 111, 112. Three credits.

An introduction to the basic concepts of management accounting and the use of accounting information for managerial decisions. Prerequisite: BSAD 221, completed or concurrent. Three credits.

Customers do not buy products. They buy benefits, satisfactions, and solutions. Students will leave this course with the client focus central to effective marketing. The course introduces core marketing concepts, employs exercises and cases to develop students’ analytical skills, and provides an opportunity to demonstrate these skills through development of a comprehensive marketing plan. Prerequisite: BSAD 102 or 112 or PB DIP standing. Three credits.

Covers fundamental aspects of financial decision-making, including financial analysis and planning, valuing stocks and bonds, capital budgeting, accessing capital markets, the cost of capital, and working capital management. Prerequisites: BSAD 221 completed or concurrent. Three credits.

Organizational behaviour introduces students to the context, concepts, principles and theories of human behaviour in organizations. The topics explored range from motivation to teamwork to communication. The objective is twofold: to understand how an organizational member might experience, interpret, and manage human relations as an individual and a group member; and to understand how the influences on human behaviour in turn contribute to organizational effectiveness. Prerequisites: BSAD 101, 102 or PB DIP ENITM standing. Three credits.

This course introduces technology deployment and management in organizations. Through cases and hands-on use of leading software solutions, students will explore how technology enables and supports the innovativeness and competitiveness of organizations. Topics include technology’s relationship to organizational effectiveness and strategic positioning, IT management, enterprise systems, security, social media, business intelligence and analytics, and ethics. Cases of leading tech companies and radical innovations are used to illustrate concepts. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 281 or INFO 102. Prerequisite: BSAD 112/102 or PB DIP ENITM standing. Three credits.

Develops the ability to request and use accounting information in the process of planning and control. Topics include cost accounting, cost and revenue analysis for decision making, budgeting, and performance analysis. Prerequisite: BSAD 223. Three credits.

Examines in greater depth the topics introduced in BSAD 321, applying the concepts to more complex cases. Essential for students pursuing a career in accounting; useful to non-accounting students with an interest in managerial uses of accounting information. Prerequisite: BSAD 321. Three credits.

An introduction to the tools and systems available for effective leadership and people management in sport organizations. It will also cover various careers in sport management through guest speakers who are current professionals in the field. Topics include leadership and management principles, sport planning, career planning, and strategic resource management. Credit will be granted for only one of SMGT 322 or BSAD 363 completed prior to 2024-2025. Restricted to students in the sport management minor program. Prerequisites: SMGT 101; BSAD 261. Three credits.

An examination of accounting and reporting issues of the public reporting companies as they relate to published financial statements. The course examines controversial aspects of financial accounting with reference to current writings and the pronouncements of professional accounting bodies including IFRS. Emphasis is placed on income measurement and accounting for assets. Prerequisite: BSAD 221. Three credits.

A continuation of the examination of accounting and reporting issues of the public reporting companies as they relate to published financial statements. Emphasis is placed on accounting for debt, equity and special topics. Prerequisite: BSAD 323. Three credits.

Marketing strategies are developed to capitalize on marketplace opportunities and overcome marketplace threats in order to create and deliver value. The key components of an overall marketing strategy are segmentation, target market selection, positioning, product/service, pricing, distribution, and advertising/promotion. Students will leave the course with an enhanced understanding of customer personas and journeys by developing marketing strategies using cases, projects, and a simulation. Prerequisite: BSAD 231. Three credits.

Research is about being curious and providing information needed for fact-based decision-making. This course examines the research process, including ethics approval, with a focus on both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Students will leave the course knowing how to use industry leading software tools such as Statista, Qualtrics, NVivo, and SPSS. Although the primary context is about understanding the customer experience (CX), the research process is applicable to all areas of business. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 332 or BSAD 391. Prerequisite: BSAD 231. Three credits.

This course addresses the nature of professional selling. The course covers changes in the traditional selling process; strategically planning sales within a larger account strategy; strengthening communications; and building partnerships. Prerequisite: BSAD 231. Three credits.

Marketers study consumer behaviour to understand and predict how and why products and services satisfy consumer’s needs. Students will learn how to apply concepts from psychology, sociology, and anthropology while exploring topics such as perception, motivation, attitude, culture, and reference groups. Students will complete exploratory consumer behaviour exercises and assignments and use theoretical concepts to create marketing solutions to cases. Prerequisite: BSAD 231. Three credits.

Enhances students’ knowledge of the financial management topics covered in BSAD 241 through the application of financial decision-making techniques and theories to business cases. Topics include risk and capital budgeting, dividend policy, leasing, capital structure, cost of capital and debt financing. Prerequisite: BSAD 241. Three credits.

Examines marketable securities as an investment medium, and the analytical techniques that may be employed in selecting a security and meeting an individual investor’s requirements. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 344 or BSAD 443. Prerequisite: BSAD 241. Three credits.

This course draws on the principles of finance and applies them to decisions faced by individuals in the management of their personal finances. The course explores the planning process using readings, cases and problems. Prerequisite: BSAD 241. Three credits.

This course provides participants with the tools to make informed managerial decisions regarding a company’s investments, financings, and operations. Techniques learned in this course will be used to understand the biases, limitations, and messages conveyed via the financial statements of a business. The course will examine issues such as revenue recognition, cash flow, profitability, and business valuation principles. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 346 or BSAD 498 (2013-2014). Prerequisites: BSAD 221, 241. Three credits.

This course aims at providing students with general understanding of Canadian financial institutions like commercial banks, mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies, brokerage firms, hedge funds, credit unions, savings institution and their importance for efficient working of the financial markets. The structure of each financial institution and regulations like capital adequacy and deposit insurance pertaining to each institution is explored. Major risks associated with financial institutions like interest rate risk, credit risk, off-balance sheet activities risk, liquidity risk, foreign exchange risk and other operational risks are also discussed. Emphasis is also placed on the management of these risks by different financial institutions. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 348 or BSAD 496 (2014-2015, 2015-2016). Prerequisites: BSAD 241, 342, completed or concurrent. Three credits.

Introduces the legal system in Canada and provides a practical examination of laws affecting Canadian businesses, including: forms of ownership; the management and composition of corporations; the powers and duties of the board of directors; contract law (sale of goods, employment, insurance, real estate); creditor-debtor rights including bankruptcy; and the initiation and conduct of civil court actions. Prerequisites: BSAD 241; third or fourth-year status. Three credits.

The context, models, trends, opportunities, and challenges associated with social entrepreneurship focus on areas of public concern such as economic development, education, community welfare, and healthcare. These issues are examined using case studies, group projects, and experiential learning. Emphasis is on how entrepreneurship is combined with the tools of business to create effective responses to social needs and innovative solutions to social problems. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 352 or BSAD 457. Cross-listed as DEVS 352. Prerequisite: BSAD 241. Three credits.

Learn to think and act like an entrepreneur. This course provides the foundation for your entrepreneurial journey, covering topics such as the entrepreneurial mindset, problem discovery, customer discovery, business model development, and pitches. Throughout, you will be introduced to the theories and tools modern entrepreneurs use to design their ventures and be challenged to develop your own skills through class discussions and a term project. Cross-listed as HNU 471. Prerequisite: BSAD 112/102. Three credits.

This course examines the theory and methods of engaging in business internationally. The course involves selected aspects of globalization, culture, international trade theory, political economy, foreign direct investment, regional economic integration, the global monetary system, global strategy and international operations. Prerequisite: BSAD 112/102. Three credits.

An application of philosophical theory to a variety of current issues relevant to business. By examining the consequences of business decisions upon a wide range of stakeholders, students are provided with an overview of the many ways in which business interacts with society and the social and moral responsibilities that this interaction may generate. Classes feature a mix of lectures and lively discussion, debates, and analysis of current events. Prerequisite: BSAD 261 or permission of the instructor. Three credits.

Introduces students to important organizational theories and organizational design principles. The course focuses on topics ranging from organizational strategy, structure and culture to organizational change. It also addresses the historical development of the modern business corporation and its changing role in society currently as an agent and vehicle of globalization. Classes feature lectures and discussions, student presentations, and case-based applications of the covered material. Prerequisite: BSAD 261. Three credits.

Introduces students to key concepts, theories, and principles of career management from the perspective of the individual and the organization. The course focuses on topics ranging from occupational choice, individual career patterns, and organizational career systems to career performance. The course provides students with conceptual knowledge which will be helpful not only for developing their own career strategies and tactics but also for making informed decisions as organizational leaders. Classes feature lectures, discussions, and workshops. Prerequisite: BSAD 261. Three credits.

A review of the many functions of human resource management, including but not limited to employee selection, development, appraisal and compensation, in addition to the broader social and legal context which influences the HR practice. This course makes a case for the strategic role that proper management of human resources plays in successful organizations while providing an important critique of the practice. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 363 or SMGT 322 completed prior to 2024-2025. Prerequisite: BSAD 261. Three credits.

A course that addresses contemporary successes and challenges in the doing of Indigenous business in Canada. The course covers such topics as the direct impact that history and policy, past and present, have on business and business education; meaningful consultation; cross-cultural relations; Indigenous models of management and leadership; the Truth and Reconciliation process and Calls to Action; colonization, decolonization, and indigenization processes; protection work towards climate just futures; and more. The course introduces students to the works of various Indigenous scholars and practitioners in business and business education. Prerequisite: BSAD 261. Three credits.

This course introduces enterprise systems and its role in achieving effective business process integration. The course will discuss enterprise systems theory, the limitations of conventional information systems, and the challenges and business value of effective integration across departments along the supply chain. The SAP S/4HANA enterprise systems will be used to illustrate course concepts, with students receiving exposure to SAP S/4HANA navigation, modelling ontology and administration. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 382 or INFO 245. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits.

This course focuses on concepts that will help business managers to take advantage of the evolving world of mobile commerce (m-commerce) and social media opportunities. The various concepts include e-business models, e-business technology infrastructure, building e-commerce mobile presence, social networks and mobile platforms for marketing and advertising, digital content and media, online retail mobile commerce from various industries, supply chain management and collaborative commerce, m-commerce security and payments, and ethical issues in m-commerce. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 383 or BSAD 415/INFO 446. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits.

Databases and database management systems (DBMS) provide the foundation for virtually all modern information systems. In this course, students develop an understanding of databases with a focus on relational database technology. Students learn to use the ‘language’ of relational databases, Structured Query Language (SQL), and how to design and implement databases. The course outlines how databases are designed to support both transaction processing and business intelligence applications. A major component of the course is a group project where student collaborate to conceive, design and build a computer-based application and database. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 384 or CSCI/INFO 275. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits.

This course introduces business application programming using the ABAP programming language. Topics include basic business programming concepts, variables, parameters, flow control, events, internal tables, SQL, external files, error handling, and code debugging. Professional programming techniques and best practices will be emphasized. Students will code management and drill-down report programs using data generated by an SAP S/4HANA enterprise system. The course assumes no prior knowledge of programming and is open to students in all PB DIP and business administration streams. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits.

Effective project management is critical for organizational success given rapidly evolving technologies, environmental complexity, and constant change. This course introduces project management and the internal and external influences of project success. Topics include project scope and plan, project costing and time techniques, risk management and mitigation, effective project team management, and project ethics. Leading software solutions will be used to illustrate concepts. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 386 or BSAD 416/INFO 416. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits.

Effective organization design is critical to enhancing the performance and innovativeness of today’s complex and global companies. This course introduces organization design theory and practice. Through a case study, students will use SAP S/4HANA to undertake key organization and personnel management processes such as creating structures, departments, and positions, and performing recruitment and qualification management activities. This course is open to students in all PB DIP and business administration streams and recommended for students interested in HR Management. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits. Offered 2024-2025 and in alternate years.

Technology is both an enabler and driver of change in organizations. This course explores the relationship between technology, innovation, and organizational change. Emphasis is placed on selecting technological opportunities and understanding the organizational challenges that prevent technologies from being successful. Topics include the industry dynamics of technological innovation, standards battles and platform competition, steps to protect technological innovations, technology deployment strategies, and technology life cycles and obsolescence. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits.

An introduction to academic research in business and management. Topics include positivist and interpretivist paradigms in management research; developing conceptual models and hypotheses; defining a thesis statement; conducting a literature search; evaluating research; and understanding the limitations of management research. The key deliverable will be a thesis proposal. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 391 or BSAD 332. Required for all honours students. Three credits.

Through this course students will gain an understanding of marketing and its role in the sport industry. Through examination of the marketing process, students will learn how to plan, create, and implement successful marketing strategies specific to the sport industry and its consumers. Additionally, students will apply marketing principles through the design and implementation of a marketing strategy for a sport event and/or brand. Prerequisites: SMGT 101; BSAD 231. Three credits.

A study of the development of accounting theory and the relationship of theory to practice. Major contributions to accounting theory will be examined. Prerequisite: BSAD 323. Three credits.

An examination of audit strategy, procedures, and risk, as well as reporting standards and ethical and legal considerations in the current business environment. Emphasis is placed upon the theory of auditing in the context of the attest function. Prerequisite: BSAD 323. Three credits.

Develops an understanding of the financial reporting process by examining theory and practice in the management of financial disclosure. The course also deals with the accounting treatment of inter-corporate investments and consolidations. Prerequisite: BSAD 324. Three credits.

Examines such accounting topics as the financial reporting of foreign currency transactions, the translation of foreign operations, and the financial reporting of not-for-profit and public sector organizations. The reporting requirements for interim and segmented financial statements are also examined. Prerequisite: BSAD 426. Three credits.

This course covers brand strategy development processes and helps students understand ways to position or reposition brands across all consumer touch points including online conversations and social media. It will also cover key concepts such as brand risk, brand health tracking, the role of the brand manager, and the unique considerations in corporate and product brand marketing. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 436 or BSAD 498(2016-2018). Prerequisites: BSAD 331, 335. Three credits.

Focuses on aligning and executing a digital marketing strategy sensitive to the ways in which consumers interact with their brands and make purchasing decisions in today’s hyper-connected media environment. By embracing the changing digital marketing landscape, students will learn to shape a digital strategy that allows insights to come to life in the right channel, for the right consumer, at the right time. Prerequisite: BSAD 331. Three credits.

Social media has changed the way we communicate and how we interact with brands. Marketers are increasingly using social media to increase brand awareness, generate leads and build meaningful relationships with consumers. This course focuses on developing a social media marketing strategy with the use of analytics to inform and modify hose strategies. Students will explore specifics of marketing in multiple social networks, develop their own personal social media brand, and develop and execute a social media marketing strategy. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 438 or BSAD 495 (2022-2023). Prerequisites: BSAD 331, 335. Three credits.

Considers a broad range of financial management issues using the theory and procedural skills developed in earlier courses and applied to comprehensive case situations. Topics include working capital management, capital structure, dividend policy, cost of capital, capital budgeting, and mergers and acquisitions. Prerequisites: BSAD 342, 344. Three credits.

This comprehensive course in derivative markets and instruments focuses on analyzing standard derivative instruments such as forwards, futures, swaps, and options. By the end of the course, students will understand how these products work, how they are used, how they are priced, and how financial institutions hedge their risks when they trade the products. Additionally, they will better understand the social and economic consequences of derivatives, and their implications for the larger investment community. Prerequisite: BSAD 344. Three credits.

This course provides an exploration of the theory and practice of portfolio management. Students will learn tools for managing risk, allocating funds among asset classes, and measuring the success of managers. Student will also learn how market factors, at both the macro and micro level, impact portfolio performance. By the end of the course, participants will be able to construct an investment portfolio based on a solid understanding of investment principles and be able to use available financial market information to assess its on-going performance. Prerequisite: BSAD 344. Three credits.

The Canadian economic environment is characterized by taxation legislation that impacts the financial decisions and cash flow planning of individual Canadians. The course examines the tax implications, as required by the Income Tax Act, on personal financial decisions. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 450 or BSAD 454. Prerequisite: BSAD 241. Three credits.

This course enables students to explore topics addressed in the introductory course BSAD 357 in more detail and requires students to apply the knowledge in a cross-functional manner for decision-making and problem solving. Students are required to systematically work in teams and analyze cross-functional problems from an international business perspective. Course methods: cases; simulations; exercises. Prerequisite: BSAD 261. Three credits.

The course examines topics at the intersection of international business and strategic management. This includes market variation; foreign market entry; and business strategies drawn from different theoretical perspectives set in a future-oriented context. Course methods may include a CEO panel interview experience, lectures, curated readings, guest speakers, and a variety of individual and team-based elective assignments. Prerequisites: BSAD 261; completion of second year BBA program. Three credits.

Entrepreneurial finance is designed for students who aspire to start or expand an entrepreneurial firm as well as others who anticipate working with the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) sector such as lenders, investors, accountants or suppliers. Students will learn about identifying appropriate financing sources and strategies across the venture lifecycle of the development, launch, survival, growth and maturity stages. Prerequisites: BSAD 241, 261. Three credits.

This course examines the unique aspects of managing a small firm, its growth and its harvest. The course incorporates current theory and practice in dealing with a variety of general management topics, and students will gain practical decision-making experience in small business management issues. Prerequisite: BSAD 261. Three credits.

Entrepreneurship is a dynamic way of thinking and acting that capitalizes on opportunities with innovation to create value and solve problems. This is a course about entrepreneurship and the related aim to create and extract value centered around your idea for a new business, social enterprise or project. Students will develop a proposal and plan for a new venture via an applied, project-centred experiential course. Prerequisite: BSAD 261 or permission of instructor. Three credits.

The Canadian corporate economic environment is characterized by taxation legislation that impacts the financial performance, cash flow, investment valuations and structure of transactions of corporations operating in Canada. The course examines the tax consequences of corporate financial decisions as required by the Income Tax Act including corporate taxes, HST/GST and investment tax credits. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 460 or BSAD 454. Prerequisite: BSAD 241. Three credits.

A theoretical and a practical exploration of leadership. Using a range of materials and individual examples, students will develop an understanding of the leadership role in organizations and the behaviours of exemplary leaders. Experiential learning techniques will allow students to perform, observe and reflect upon leadership to gain a better sense of themselves as a leader. Prerequisite: BSAD 361. Three credits.

This course examines the history, current structure, and future of industrial relations in Canada, including trade unions and management, collective bargaining, and contract administration, plus topics in workplace health and safety and more. Students will benefit from guest lectures and from engaging in negotiation-simulation exercises. Prerequisite: BSAD 363 or SMGT 322. Three credits. Offered 2024-2025; may not be offered 2025-2026.

This is the capstone course in business and is required of all BBA students. The course takes a strategic approach to industry and firm analysis, alternative development, and implementation planning, through the lens of corporate, business, functional and operational levels of strategic management. From the perspective of senior executives, students study the sources of sustainable competitive advantages to enhance firm performance and growth. Case methods feature prominently and result in an in-depth team-based strategic analysis and a case-based individual examination. Prerequisites: BSAD 241; fourth year standing. Three credits.

This course introduces students to advanced topics in corporate social responsibility, providing students with deeper insights into management’s responsibilities to various stakeholders. Topics discussed range from environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance to financial investing to the responsibility infrastructure which includes the UN Global Compact, Sustainable Development Goals and more. Classes feature seminar discussions, guest speakers, service learning and a team project. Prerequisite: BSAD 358. Three credits.

Students will explore the challenges of managing human resources in an increasingly international business context. The course covers a range of topics relevant for IRHM practitioners including the role of culture, international business strategies and IHRM models, international recruitment, expatriation and repatriation, international compensation, and performance management. A comparative approach to selected topics like employment governance and industrial relations is included. Key international employment regulators and regulative frameworks are also covered. Methods: lectures, cases, presentations. Prerequisites: BSAD 363 or 357. Three credits.

Making insightful and ever-faster decisions from data can add agility and strategic advantage to organizations. Data analysts use a mix of best practices, specialized technology, and creative problem solving to derive actionable insights from diverse data sources. This course introduces decision intelligence and analytics, and related concepts, best practices, and software used by data analysts, IT professionals, and digital marketers. This course is open to students in all BBA streams and recommended for students in marketing or enterprise systems. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits.

This course introduces systems analysis as an IT discipline and describes the role of the systems analyst in the development of enterprise systems. The course introduces system development methodologies and key systems analysis and design tools and techniques, including requirements discovery methods and data and process modelling. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 483 or INFO 415. Prerequisite: BSAD 384. Three credits.

This course provides a practical understanding of ERP configuration with reference to SAP S/4HANA. The course familiarizes students with ERP implementation methodologies and tools. Students will learn to configure the financial and materials management functionality enabling a company to do basic procurement, inventory management, and financial accounting activities. The implementation will be expanded to enable the capturing of costs (controlling) and manufacturing (production) functionality. Credit will be granted for only one of BSAD 484 or INFO 448. Prerequisite: BSAD 382. Three credits.

This course will explore from a managerial perspective recent technological advances and their implications to information systems and innovation management. Topics may include the distributed enterprise, cloud and edge computing, blockchain, autonomic systems, hyper automation, composable applications, and digital transformation strategies. Prerequisite: BSAD 281. Three credits.

Under the supervision of a faculty member, honours students will prepare and submit a thesis. Normally students develop and present draft proposals as part of BSAD 391, then complete the proposal, conduct the fieldwork and present/defend their theses as part of BSAD 494. Prerequisite: BSAD 391. Six credits.

The topic for 2024-2025 is AI for Marketing and Technology Management. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed organizations by automating tasks, improving data analytics, enhancing customer experiences, and fostering innovation. This course explores from a management perspective AI and its impact on organizations. Topics include technological foundations of AI, machine learning and prediction, strategic impact of AI, AI and innovation, legal and regulatory issues, and ethical implications. Cases and exercises related to marketing and technology management are used. Prerequisites: BSAD 231, 281; fourth-year BBA or second-year PB DIP standing. Three credits.