Drive your career forward while delivering critical value to your organization. The Mastering Business Essentials Program focuses on the most critical "need-to-know" elements in business, allowing participants to sharpen their business acumen and make strategic decisions in today's complex business environment. Participants learn how to see the bigger picture by gaining knowledge in key disciplines including accounting, finance, economics, operations/processes, marketing, human resources, and project management and learning how to apply them to increase productivity and profitability. This program delivers learning in key subject areas and relates it to practical, real-world examples and exercises delivering tools and techniques to apply immediately in the workplace.

Each course is delivered by subject matter experts and practitioners who provide current and practical content combined with real-world experiences and learning activities to solidify participant knowledge and practice.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Build a solid foundation in the key functional areas of business
• Recognize the connections between different functional areas 
• Know how to assess a business from multiple angles to reach more informed decisions 
• Develop your ability to spot opportunities and manage challenges
• Identify the ways in which corporate strategy connects to every business function
• Learn how to promote cooperation and action between various areas of the business
• Deepen your experience with peer networking and collaboration

Program Schedule

Program Content

Strategy and Environmental Analysis
Learn how a clearly defined strategy instills purpose throughout organization and informs a value proposition that brings true benefit to customers. 

• Define purpose, objectives and benefits of strategy
• Identify critical components of the strategic planning process
• Increase awareness of the internal and external factors that guide and impact strategic thinking
• Discuss sources of competitive advantage and barriers to entry
• Explore contemporary models of strategic planning
• Consider the implications of strategic decision-making

Organizational Leadership
Learn how human behavior affects performance and leadership strategies in an organization. 

• Understand individual and group behavior in organizations and how they guide leadership strategies today
• Leverage key concepts to facilitate alignment of priorities across your organization
• Evaluate team dynamics within an organization and how this affects leadership behaviour
• Develop the ability to apply these concepts and theories to recognize, analyze, and suggest solutions to organizational problems.

Strategic Human Resources
Learn how an effective strategic human resource plan aligns with corporate strategy and develops culture and competencies for organizational growth. 

• Explore the fundamental principles of strategic human resources and strategic human resource planning
• Discuss the benefits of engaging human resource professionals in strategic planning
• Identify essential legislative requirements in the employment relationship
• Explore best practices for attracting, acquiring and developing top talent
• Review the strategic role of training and development within an organization
• Outline the importance of goal setting and building confidence in employee development
• Discuss the benefits of succession planning

Business Processes and Policies
Learn how well-managed processes impact an organization's bottom-line and create value for its customers.  

• Define business processes and business process management (BPM)
• Describe the business benefits of well-designed business processes
• Identify, model, analyze, redesign and monitor business processes
• Explain how to manage the implementation of a redesigned or new business process
• Identify ways to increase efficiency and lower costs
• Review concepts in capacity and resource management

Accounting and Financial Reporting
Learn how to interpret and analyze financial statements in order to assess the financial position of an organization.  

• Discuss the role of accounting and the purpose of financial reporting
• Identify the main users of financial statements, their information needs, and the desirable characteristics of financial information required to meet those needs
• Review and analyze the components of financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, statement of retained earnings and cash flow statement
• Describe how financial statements interact with each other
• Describe the regulatory frameworks for financial accounting, reporting and assurance and appraise their effectiveness in ensuring the integrity of financial statements

Finance Fundamentals
Gain a clearer understanding of business finance basics, including financial planning and budgeting, resource management, and risk management. 

• Recognize the connection between organizational strategy and financial performance
• Review concepts in modern investment and finance, including: asset valuation, capital budgeting, risk management and performance assessment
• Interpret the information contained in the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows to gauge financial health and performance
• Develop budgets/forecasts for the business
• Review a firm's financing options and understand the implications of these choices for the value of the firm
• Identify financial models used in decision making and appraise a finance project based on investment decision rules

Supply Chain Management
Learn the importance of supply chain management and its impact on your organization.

• Understand the benefits of an effective supply chain management program
• Explain supply chain management concepts and structure
• Understand the value of supply chain planning
• Gain greater insight into the role that innovation, technology and sustainability play in the supply chain

Marketing Strategy
Learn how organizations recognise strategic market opportunities and create value for customers by differentiating themselves from the competition. 

• Explore the role of marketing in the value creation process and how products, services and strategic branding determine your marketing mix
• Identify essential marketing concepts such as: buyer behaviour, segmentation, targeting, and positioning
• Discuss contemporary marketing strategies that lead to organizational growth
• Explain the importance of socially responsible marketing decisions
• Examine the components of an effective strategic marketing plan

Strategic Communications Planning
Learn how a successful communications plan connects your organization with employees, partners, and clients in clear, meaningful ways.

• Identify the building blocks of a successful communications strategy:
• identify and analyze target audiences
• create useful key messages
• identify appropriate spokespeople
• explore strategic considerations
• create the tactical plan
• measure for success
• Examine how corporate communications functions can be structured within organizations or what resources can be sourced externally
• Create a communications strategy to support business objectives and build on lessons learned from the previous topics

Applied Learning Report

Participants are required to submit an Applied Learning Report at the end of the program.  This report is intended to focus on the lessons learned by each participant, providing them with the opportunity to share what they have put into practice or are attempting in their real-world environment.  The report length is 2-4 pages, total.

Recommended Background

The Mastering Business Essentials Program is designed to benefit those who are: 

• Looking to transition into a managerial position
• Professional people who have little background in business but who quickly need to get up to speed on strategic business practices
• Entrepreneurs who would like to develop a well-rounded business acumen
• Technical professionals looking to broaden their skills and advance in their organization
• Business people who are seeking a refresher in business knowledge and skills

Continuing Education Contact Hours: 63

Upon completion of all modules, participants will be issued a digital badge and framed certificate.

Instructor(s)

Craig Drover

Craig Drover has 10+ years of progressively responsible experience managing, analysing and directing financial reporting, modelling, audit and investment analysis activities within public and private sector organizations. He is currently the Director Corporate Services for a crown agency, owner of Coastal Accounting, and a Business Management Instructor at the College of the North Atlantic.

Craig is a Chartered Professional Accountant and obtained an MBA from Memorial University. He is currently completing the LLM program at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.

Jennifer Jewer

Dr. Jennifer Jewer is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Faculty of Business Administration, Memorial University. She teaches in the areas of information systems, business process modelling and implementation, and project management at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Prior to joining Memorial, Dr. Jewer was an instructor for the bachelor of technology and master of technology management programs at the Marine Institute. She also taught previously at the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Jewer’s research interests include information technology governance, digital transformation and health informatics. She’s currently conducting several research projects in these areas. Dr. Jewer’s work has been published in information systems and health informatics journals, and she has presented her research at numerous academic conferences.

Prior to academia, Dr. Jewer worked in the information systems consulting industry with xwave, Accenture and KPMG in Canada, the USA, and France. She received her PhD and MASc in management sciences from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) and a Bachelor of Education (Post-secondary) from Memorial University. In addition, she is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI).  

Lynn Ansara

Lynn Ansara (Best) is a skilled, experienced facilitator who is passionate about supporting the achievement of organizational goals and employee development. Lynn holds a Master's Degree in Adult Education, two undergraduate degrees in Arts and Post-Secondary Education, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching. Lynn also holds a number of certifications including Legacy Leadership(TM),  Emotional Intelligence, Myers Briggs Personality Indicator, True Colors(TM), and Coaching Out of the Box(TM). Lynn uses a coach approach to teaching and learning. She creates trusting, collaborative partnerships and learning environments directed at achieving results while infusing humour, challenge, and accountability.

Lynn is the President of CreAction Consulting, facilitating workplace learning and employee development. She has worked with a wide-variety of public, private and not-for-profit industries supporting organizations and employees in achieving their goals.

Michael Pickard

Michael Pickard has spent 20 years in the private sector and 7 years in the university sector as a strategist, researcher, planner and creative director. Having worked for two leading Canadian advertising agencies and an international software development company, Michael has helped develop strategies, creative concepts, and promotional campaigns for tourism destinations, tech firms, airlines, universities, packaged goods brands and not-for-profits. Michael's experience started in traditional advertising but has grown into analytics, data analysis, and digital/social media.

Paula Dyke

Over the course of her career, former newspaper and television reporter Paula Dyke turned strategic communications professional has provided media training and media relations strategy to hundreds of individuals and dozens of organizations across Atlantic Canada. She has worked in government, agency, union, corporate and crown corporation environments and advised clients across sectors.

Paula holds a Bachelor of Journalism (Honours), Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, is an internationally accredited business communicator and certified reputation management professional. She has received international and national communications awards and career recognition with IABC-NL's 2014 Award of Excellence for Communications Professional.

Susan Gardiner

Susan holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Honours) from Queen’s University, a Masters of Business Administration from Memorial University, and a Certified Management Accountant designation from the Society of Management Accountants.  Susan joined the Faculty of Business Administration’s outreach centres in March 2003 as the Associate Director of Finance and Administration, and moved to the Dean’s Office as the Senior Administrative Officer in 2012. She is also a part-time accounting instructor with the Faculty of Business Administration. 

Prior to joining the Faculty, Susan worked in the private sector as comptroller for a large building supplies retailer and land development firm, and has owned and operated her own small business in the St. John’s region.  She sits on the board and serves as the chair of the finance committee for Anglican Homes Incorporated.  In the past, Susan has also volunteered as the chair St. John’s Sports and Entertainment Limited, the treasurer of the East Coast Trail Association, and as VP with the 2005 Scott Tournament of Hearts.

Tom Cooper

Dr. Tom Cooper is a Professor of Strategic Management at the Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial University. 

Prior to taking his position at Memorial University, Dr. Cooper was a senior manager in PwC's Performance Improvement Consulting practice in London, UK. He is an active facilitator with the Gardiner Centre at Memorial, a business consultant, company founder, board member, and is a Certified Management Consultant.

Tony Williams

Tony Williams is the Senior Director of Supply Chain for Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS). Tony started with NLHS in December 2017 and prior to that was in a supply chain leadership role with the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information (NLCHI) for over 10 years.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, a MBA and also the supply chain management professional designation (SCMP). To support the profession, Tony has volunteered as Vice President for the local Supply Chain Canada Provincial Institute, taught SCMP modules and workshops to candidates throughout Canada and teaches two courses in Supply Chain Management at Memorial University's Faculty of Business. He is also certified in a Supply Chain simulation game (The Fresh Connection).

Outside of work, Tony plays guitar. He doesn't sing very well but given most of the songs he knows are from Bob Dylan that doesn't matter. 

In terms of sports, he loves squash, tennis, and running.

Travor Brown

Dr. Travor C. Brown is the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial Univeristy.  He is a Professor of Labour Relations and Human Resources and former President of ASAC (the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada).  He has taught at Memorial University, the University of Toronto and the University of Ulster.  Since joining Memorial University, he has also served as the Associate Dean (Research) and the Director of the Master of Employment Relations, MSc (Management) and PhD (Management) programs.  Dr. Brown has been appointed to the provincial roster of arbitrators.

Dr. Brown has authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, a textbook and over 70 conference presentations.  He has also been the sole investigator on two national Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) grants.  Much of his research examines issues concerning goal setting and training effectiveness, with special focus on managment and leadership development.

Dr. Brown's academic background is coupled with extensive industry experience.  He worked in the telecommunications and manufacturing sectors prior to completing his PhD at the University of Toronto and remains active in the practitioner community.  Given this background, Dr. Brown is well known for this ability to engage both practitioner and academic audiences and to show the 'real world' implications of his research.