The UB School of Management has added a new concentration that focuses on the dynamics of global distribution and supply chains to the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program.
The concentration is called global service and supply management (GSSM) and will be available to all students accepted into the MBA program beginning in Fall 2008.
Rajiv Kishore, co-director of the GSSM concentration, said the program development began last fall and the classes will launch in Fall 2009, once the first group of students have fulfilled the core requirements. Students must complete the 30 credits of core courses that are required for the MBA program before beginning GSSM courses.
According to Nallan Suresh, chair of operations management and strategy in the School of Management, the GSSM concentration will combine the aspects of global business into one comprehensive curriculum.
Through the program, students will be trained in 21st century management. This requires knowledge in global services and manufacturing, globally dispersed information, as well as logistic and supply networks to give students a better understanding of cross-cultural organizations, Suresh said.
"The option provides skills needed for new jobs in the US," Kishore said. "Skills like...student understanding of business process analysis, supply chain and project management."
In the modern American business world, where outsourcing manufacturing and services overseas is common, it is important for future managers to have knowledge about subjects encompassed by the GSSM concentration, according to Kishore.
"Our program is unique compared to other universities in many ways," Suresh said. "It is integrated with an IT-enabled service and a physical supply chain."
These features will allow students in GSSM to interact with international companies through video conferences. The program will also provide students with an opportunity to work on business projects.
"We will bring industries to the classroom," Suresh said.
He added that the program has strong international network connections, especially with companies in China and India.
The GSSM concentration branches off from two departments: management science and systems, and operations management and strategy. New courses will be added to already existing courses to make up the curriculum.
"Some of the courses already exist, some courses are new," Kishore said.
Newly added courses include management of globally distributed services and enterprise models, according to Kishore. Already established courses will be reconstructed to include the global components for the program.
Suresh said that students do not necessarily have to have any international business experience to be accepted into the program, but it is preferred; having interest in the subject is sufficient.
"We are looking for students who have interest in managing this global service and supply chain," Kishore said.
Kishore explained that it is also important for students to have interest in information technology, because it is an integral feature of the concentration.
