MBA in Technology Management SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Offered Online Only

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is the most widely awarded and recognized graduate degree in the field of business. The MBA in Technology Management is a degree program that offers a broad and integrative perspective across business functions, and a chance to specialize in a field of the individual’s choice. It also responds to the current needs of business communities by combining a rigorous study of traditional management topics with a unique focus on technology and innovation leadership.

The program prepares students for upper-level management jobs by stressing the use of contemporary techniques to frame, analyze, and solve business challenges. The program's diverse coursework is grounded in evidence-based management, finance, accounting, and economic principles. It incorporates the use of quantitative and qualitative analyses, design-thinking approaches, and robust experiential learning techniques.

The MBA curriculum is designed to prepare students for management and leadership roles, especially those that are involved with emerging and evolving technologies. Our well-qualified graduate faculty and the modern technological infrastructure at SUNY Poly provide an ideal student-centered learning environment to integrate technology with practical management curriculum.

The MBA program accommodates both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can complete the program in two years. Part-time completion will vary based on total number of credits taken each term.

MBA degree holders can seek careers in a wide variety of areas such as corporate administrators, business entrepreneurs, industry consultants, and government administrative employees. The broad learning scope and advanced professional training in the MBA curriculum make it possible for graduates from this degree program to hold positions in a variety of roles in diverse industries, government, non-profits, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Technology Management Core Courses

TIM 500 Project Management (3)

Reviews traditional project management techniques and project based organizational structures. Special attention is given to the integration of project management with technology and strategic objectives. Organizational issues, project tracking, the project manager, and project management techniques are examined both from the conceptual and the applied aspects. The potential for transferring knowledge gained from projects to multiple areas in the organization is also covered. Students will experience computer application software to support and implement project management activities.

TIM 530 Managing New Product Design and Development (3)

Regardless of the industry or business involved, careful attention must be given to the way new products are designed and developed. Various aspects of product design and development are studied; including the functions of research and development, marketing, finance, design, manufacturing, and technical specifications. Special attention is given to the tools and methodologies necessary in the creation and development of a new product. An important focus of this course is on the challenges and perspectives presented by products that result from high technology environments or are themselves “high technology products.” Prerequisites: TIM 500 or permission of instructor.

BLW 570 Business Law, Ethics, and Intellectual Property Rights (3)

Designed to provide the student with the legal environment of business transactions including court structure and procedure, contracts, sales, commercial paper, secured financing, and property transactions. Covers the ethical aspects of business with particular emphasis to intellectual property (IP) rights as they relate to technology innovation and high technology environments. The IP issues which will be addressed include copyrights, patents, trademarks, software, domain names, licenses, royalties, and business processes.

ENT 575 Innovation and Entrepreneurship (3)

This course provides a perspective strongly grounded in innovative thought along with a comprehensive introduction to the entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, and innovative activity. Because entrepreneurship emphasizes and values innovation, we focus on technological and creative entrepreneurial ventures that highlight the act of innovation and its communication. An emphasis is placed on the practical formation, understanding, communication and implementation of innovative ventures – laying the groundwork for the focus of all successive courses in the entrepreneurial series. Contemporary articles, case studies, progressive texts, and applied, real-life learning is emphasized when possible.

TIM 585 Leading Organizational Change and Innovation (3)

Leading change at the individual, group, and organizational levels is critical to the survival, growth and success of various types of organizations. This course aims to prepare leaders for the challenges of guiding organizations through strategic change and innovation projects. Pressures in the dynamic external and internal environments of firms create opportunities for, or make necessary, innovation and transformation. Given the complex nature of change, the course offers a holistic and multi-disciplinary view of sustainable change and innovation by integrating knowledge from three discrete domains: creativity and design, leadership, and organizational change. This course expands the standard innovation discourse by introducing technological design concepts and principles as tools for effectively envisioning future change states. Furthermore, the course explores the human, technological, network, environmental, industry, public sector, and societal variables that mediate creative and innovation outcomes for organizations. Prerequisites: TIM 500 or permission of instructor.

TIM 685 Strategic Planning (3)

This is the capstone strategy course that covers the economics and strategy of technology and innovation management. An integrating experience using case studies to apply the various skills and knowledge accumulated throughout the required coursework in business and technology management. Special emphasis will be upon how organizations fit within the social, political, and economic environments. Managerial strategies to optimize achievement of objectives in high technology environments will also be covered. [Formerly BUS 685]

Business Management Core Courses

ACC 520 Accounting for Managers (3)

The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the basic principles of short-term financial planning. Topics coverage shall include (1) trends flow statement development and analysis, on both cash and working capital bases, (2) common size analysis, (3) index analysis, (4) cash budgeting, (5) working capital management, (6) pro forma statement development and analysis, and (7) general forecasting methodologies (including subjective, historical, and causal techniques).

HRM 518 Human Resource Management (3)

Manage human resources more effectively improving analysis and planning. Focus on the development of state-of–the-art systems which support basic business objectives, as well as foster good working relations between employees and managers.

MIS 515 Management Information Systems (3)

Strategic uses of information that affect customers, markets, and products are becoming common today. Information is used to manage organizations, carry out strategy, control operations, and assist in decision-making. As a result, information is a resource with value equal to that of traditional assets such as inventory, capital, and human skills. In this course students will learn to manage and use information systems and technology. The MIS course provides concepts, methods, and techniques to identify an organization’s information needs and to employ systems to meet these needs. The course introduces business students to topics such as information systems, database management, information technology, expert systems, and decision support systems. [Formerly BUS 515]

MKT 505 Marketing Management (3)

Emphasizes a managerial approach in marketing decision making in the modern technology environment. Topics in this course include the marketing mix, marketing problem solving through case analysis, marketing strategy concepts and tools, and development of a strategic marketing plan. Students learn these topics and many other relative subjects through teamwork and course projects.

BUS 505 Multinational Economics of Technology (3)

Managerial economics is the application of economic theory and methodology to decision-making problems encountered by public and private institutions in a multinational setting and within the framework of technology innovation. Emphasis is on the identification and selection of alternative means of obtaining given objectives as efficiently as possible. It is a special branch of economics bridging the gap between abstract theory and managerial practice. Areas of study will include managerial economics, economic theory, statistical and econometric applications, demand, supply, markets, costs, profits, government and business.

FIN 525 Financial Management Problems (3)

Provides the student with in-depth experience with the subject of Business and Corporation Finance for their future development as practicing executives. Students solve cases and problems faced by financial managers in the real world, that focus on major financial decisions and such current issues as corporate governance, securities issuance, globalization, privatization, financial analysis and planning, capital budgeting, capital structure, cost of capital, valuation, dividend policy, short/long term financing, financial markets, firm performance, and corporate restructuring.

MGS 511 Quantitative Business Analysis (3)

This survey course addresses the study of the scientific method as applied to management decisions. The forepart of this course addresses the development of basic statistics up to hypothesis testing. Topic coverage also includes (1) bivariate regression analysis, (2) multiple regression analysis, (3) PERT and CPM, (4) linear programming (graphic-method only), (5) decision making under uncertainty (including maxi-max, mini-max, and maxi-min techniques) and (6) the basic elements of forecasting (including the classical time series model).

Concentration Courses

ACC 585 Financial Statement Analysis and Reporting (3)

Investigates business objectives through financial analysis, cash budgeting, and ratio analysis. Additional topics may include capital budgeting, utility analysis, basic portfolio concepts, the capital asset pricing model, and the study of efficient markets. Long-term financing strategies of the corporation, including the theory of valuation for corporate securities, capital structure theory, dividend policy, and analysis of overall cost of capital to the corporation. Prerequisite: ACC 201 or ACC 520 or equivalent.

FIN 532 Investment Strategy (3)

Introduces current technological trends market microstructure, and strategies for investment management in the financial market. Topics include (1) stock/securities market structure, (2) risk-return tradeoffs on instruments, (3) auction, negotiation, online trading mechanisms, (4) mutual fund investments, (5) asset pricing and valuation theory, (6) security/industry/company analysis, (7) stock market/equity/technical/financial statement analysis, (8) capital market theory, and (9) combining stocks with other alternative investments, and (10) portfolio management. Prerequisite: FIN 525.

FIN 685 Seminar in Accounting & Finance (3)

An integrating experience to apply the varied skills and knowledge accumulated through the required course work to make the student competitive in capital markets. Special emphasis will be upon mastery of body of accounting and financial knowledge including significant current development on the economic and financial scene. Students acquire greater understanding of global capital markets, demonstrate the ability to use the tools and techniques of accounting and investment analysis in the valuation of assets, and provide a synthesis of all previous related course work. Prerequisites: ACC 520 and FIN 525.

HIM 501 Health Care Informatics (3)

The theoretical basis of health care informatics and health information systems is presented and the use of technology to deliver health care is explored. Study of the impact of informatics on the socio-cultural environment of health care and the infrastructure to support health care informatics is a primary focus.

HIM 509 Legal Issues in Health Informatics (3)

A study of the overall legal aspects of the various dimensions of health informatics and information management. Specific applications and study will include areas of health informatics and information management, the medical staff, facility liability, consent for treatment, confidentiality of health information, computerization of health information, professional negligence/medical malpractice and other related topics.

HIM 600 Quality Improvement in Health Informatics (3)

Overview of quality improvement methods in healthcare organizations with emphasis on health information systems and informatics. Also includes topics on general workflow and human factor re-engineering, risk management, quality assessment, patient care management, and change management. Prerequisites: STA 100 and HIM 501.

HRM 615 Labor Relations (3)

A complete understanding of the history and development of labor management relations is critical for managers in both union and non-union organizations. Places special emphasis on the behavioral and economic underpinnings which set the stage for labor management relations in today’s work settings. The structure, process and institutional framework within which these relations occur are also studied. Prerequisite: HRM 518.

HRM 620 Compensation (3)

Often referred to as one of the most important elements of the work place environment, the subject of compensation is examined in this course across a broad spectrum. Current theories, models and concepts are presented and analyzed in an effort to provide the basis for development of an equitable and effective pay system. Key topics included are motivation theory, performance appraisal, legal bases for pay and internal and external pay equity. Prerequisite: HRM 518. Cross listed with MGT 320.

HRM 650 Human Resource Information Systems (3)

The need to integrate human resource management with the overall stream of strategic decisions and techniques demands the support of a current and responsive human resource information system. Although the course recognizes that human resource information systems can run the gamut from paper and pencil manual systems to the most sophisticated mainframe systems, the emphasis is on microcomputer applications to which the student will be able to relate based on the comprehensive course curriculum. Concepts developed in the course focus on bridging the needs of the most senior executives in an organization with those of the operating personnel manager. Prerequisite: HRM 518.

MKT 510 Marketing Survey Design and Data Analysis (3)

Provide prospective managers with an understanding of marketing survey procedures and data analysis techniques. Various quantitative and strategic approaches in marketing are introduced and applied in case studies and problem solving. Topics of this course include: formulation of marketing survey design, comparison of survey designs, preparation of marketing data, quantitative techniques of marketing decision analysis, managerial aspects of coordinating survey projects, and the implementation of derived strategy. Prerequisite: MKT 505.

MKT 652 Sales Management (3)

Presents the techniques for delivery of effective selling in business-to-business situations and explores the components necessary to achieve effective management of the sales function. Included within this presentation is exploration of the sales function, the duties and necessary skill set for effective B2B selling, training, and selection decisions in sales management, the role of negotiation and forecasting in sales management, and ethical and legal issues confronted in the B2B sales environment. Prerequisite: MKT 505.

MKT 654 Services Marketing Management (3)

Introduces students to the challenges and innovative strategies that are ubiquitous to the marketing of services. Topics covered in this course include commonalities and differences between goods and services, the critical role of customer contact employees in service delivery, customer relationship management, the design and execution of the service delivery process, measurement and management of service outcomes, and the emerging roles of globalization and technology in service provision. Prerequisite: MKT 505.

Additional Courses

BUS 595 MBA Internship (3)

Internship placements provide students with a field experience related to their academic preparation enabling them to apply classroom instruction to the work site. Students are placed with an organization related to their major and specific area of interest to work along with, and be proctored by, experienced professionals. These are opportunities that cannot be duplicated in the classroom environment and provide an excellent transition into the field.

CMT 600 Continuous Registration (1)

Maintaining continuous registration is a requirement for all graduate degrees. Students who have completed most course requirements but are finishing projects, capstone experiences, thesis or are satisfying Incomplete or In-Progress grades must register to maintain continuous matriculation. Course may be taken up to 6 semesters at which time it is expected that all program requirements will have been met. Credit is not used toward program completion requirements. Only S/U grades are awarded for this course.

HI 610 Databases and Knowledge Discovery in Health Care (3)

Practical approaches to topics of data modeling, databases, and data warehousing. Investigation of big data, data quality, data stewardship, and database administration in health care. Study of query techniques for information retrieval, patterns recognition, and knowledge discovery in health care.

Many large and small companies interview and hire SUNY Poly graduates. Below is a list of some of these companies:

• IBM
• American Express Financial Advisors
• Bank of New York
• Blue-Cross and Blue Shield
• Fleet Boston Financial Group
• ITT
• NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
• NYS Department of Labor
• Social Security Administration
• State Farm Insurance
• The Hartford Insurance
• Travelers Insurance
• Price Waterhouse Coopers
• A variety of accounting firms