The MBA in Management Systems prepares managers to lead organizational change and to make the strategic decisions necessary for business to survive in today's globally competitive world. Courses go beyond the narrow functional specializations of the past, integrating behavioral and systems concepts to produce a new management systems technology called Quality Management.

Quality Management utilizes and extends principles associated with the teachings of W. Edwards Deming, Joseph M. Juran and others concerning quality management and flexible systems, principles that have demonstrated remarkable potential for improving quality, productivity and competitive position. These principles and how leading companies apply them globally represent the foundation of the area curriculum. The principles are relevant to all levels of management and all types of business organizations.

The Master in Business Administration in Management Systems consists of 60 credits; additional prerequisites of up to nine credits in economics and quantitative methods may be required. Please refer to the MBA Concentrations main page for prerequisites, core courses, and other requirements for the program.

Click here to print this concentration's Program of Study Sheet

Suggested Management Systems Specializations

1. Quality and systems management

(Intended for students interested in careers in the management of high-quality industrial or service operations.)

• MG7605 Process Control
• MG7610 Leadership and Change
• MG7621 Studies in Quality Management
• Plus two other advanced-level MG or DG courses

2. Quality and systems design

(Intended for students interested in careers involving the decision-making and analysis required to design high-quality products and productive processes.)

• MG7605 Process Control
• DG7820 Statistical Reasoning
• DG7830 Optimal Design
• Plus two other advanced-level MG or DG courses
• MK7730 Marketing Research and MK7790 Product Management are two highly recommended breadth electives for this specialization.

3. Competitive strategy

(Focuses on management concepts needed to formulate and implement effective strategies for the long-term health of corporations; intended for students interested in careers in strategic planning and management consulting.)

• MG7671 Industry Analysis and Strategic Planning
• MG7673 Global Strategy Implementation
• MG7675 Strategic Management of Innovations and Technology
• Plus two other advanced-level MG or DG courses
• Students are strongly urged to work closely with professors in the strategy area when selecting advanced concentration courses and electives.

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