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and provider perspectives, and managing radical organizational
change. The perspective of the course is integrative and the
focus is on successful execution.
Format: The class will involve a mix of case discussion, outside
speakers, lectures and exercises. Participation is an important
component, making attendance crucial. The course is project
based. The major assignment will consist of a small group
project working on a real “live” organization that is undergoing
change and drawing lessons and making recommendations
from such field research.
Prerequisite: MGMT 611 or MGMT 612.
MGMT 780x
Management of Crisis Relief Preparedness
and Response
Description: From 2000-2012 natural disasters affected
(displaced, injured, killed) nearly 3.5 billion people around the
world. Additionally, during this time, irreparable disasters have
struck numerous high profile corporations and organizations
from Enron to British Petroleum. Natural disasters, business
failures, and organizational upheavals are some of the most
pressing challenges faced by today’s leaders. This course is an
opportunity for business school students to learn crisis management
skills, but more importantly to learn how to implement
systems to prevent and mitigate the impact of potential
crisis. Students will develop an understanding of how a disaster
impacts various institutions from developing countries to for
profit corporations. In addition to completing course readings
and attending lectures, students will utilize their talents
to assist organizations dedicated to mitigating the effects of
disasters. The curriculum is designed to leverage the talented
Wharton community (students, faculty, and alumni) to improve
the lives of disaster victims through a well-coordinated
strategic response.
Format: The course will meet for one semester once a week
for three hours. Each class will consist of a one-hour lecture
followed by a presentation from an outside speaker. Outside of
class, students will be expected to work on a field study project
with an organization dedicated to disasters response, rebuilding,
or prevention. These projects will be organized by the TAs.
Deliverables will include weekly class participation and a final
presentation on the work completed in the field study project
MGMT 782
Strategic Implementation
Description: This course is directed toward the attainment of
five interdependent objectives: 1) to develop an understanding
of strategy implementation in complex organizations;
2) to understand how organizational planning, design, control
and human resource decisions are interdependent and critical
to successful implementation; 3) to develop a sensitivity to the
“realities” of strategy implementation in “real world” organizations;
4) to obtain a deeper understanding of your personal
management style and how it may help or hinder strategy
implementation; and 5) to become a better communicator and
implementer of strategy. To meet these course objectives, the
MANAGEMENT
emphasis will be on learning powerful ideas about how to be
systematic in strategy implementation efforts, making use of
research about case problems, class discussions, in class exercises,
and student presentations. Much of the learning will take
place in group discussions outside the classroom in preparation
for the time we meet in the classroom.
Format: Case research, participation in class discussions, presentations,
group projects, individual paper.
Prerequisites: Familiarity with basic concepts of business strategy
is a helpful preparation for this course.
MGMT 783
Strategies for Economic Inclusion
Description: The majority of humans, estimated to exceed
4 billion people, exist on incomes less than $300 per year.
Over 1 billion of these poor exist on less than a $1 per day.
Many poor are denied the opportunity to engage in the global
business environment. Constraints they face include those of
capital, knowledge, and services. This course is designed to attract
those who are interested in the market for the poor. It will
provide a managerial guide to those who may want to pursue
careers in this space. The course is designed to present a multifunctional
view of decisions managers will face.
Format: Lecture followed by a presentation of an outside
speaker, field study project, weekly class participation and a
final presentation.
MGMT 784 (.5 cu)
Managerial Economics and Game Theory
Description: The purpose of this course is to develop students’
abilities to apply game theory to decision making.
Development of the tools of game theory and the application
of those tools is emphasized. Game theory has become an
important tool for managers and consultants in analyzing and
implementing tactical as well as strategic actions. This course
will primarily focus on examples useful for developing competitive
strategy in the private sector (pricing and product strategy,
capacity choices, contracting and negotiating, signaling and
bluffing, takeover strategy, etc.). Game theory can also be used
to address problems relevant to a firm’s organizational strategy
(e.g., internal incentives and information flow within a firm)
and to a firm’s non-market environment (e.g., strategic trade
policies, litigation and regulation strategy).
Format: Active participation and term paper.
Prerequisites: MGEC 611 (intermediate microeconomics) or
equivalent. It is expected that the student has been introduced
to some basic game theory. There will be a quick review of the
basics and some recommended supplemental readings for those
who have little or no background in game theory.
MGMT 788
Governance and Management of Chinese Firms
Description: This course provides brief but intensive information
of some of the largest business firms in the People’s
Republic of China. From 1949 to 1988, business firms as we
know them did not exist in the PRC. In 1988, independent
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