Modules 

MDW consists of ten comprehensive modules.  Gain an understanding of leadership, the marketing process and the elements of effective business communication.  Explore the use of creative problem solving and lateral thinking to deal with organizational change, as well as the tools for analyzing and developing business strategy.  Practice key accounting, budgeting and financial concepts.  Learn project management strategies and examine organizational behaviour issues in human resource management.

Each module’s content is divided into two or more sections which are offered at different times over the course of the program.  By spreading out the content, you will have a greater opportunity to connect classroom and workplace learning. You will also have time to reflect before returning to the classroom for more instruction.

Accounting and Budgeting
Focuses on developing an understanding of how accounting and budgeting information influences management decisions.  Topics include... reading and understanding financial statements in the public and private sectors; ratio analysis; the accounting process; the use of budgets to provide information for financial decision making; fixed and variable costs; break-even analysis; contribution margins; standard costing; and cost allocation.

Business Communications
Emphasizes the elements of effective communication and presentations; understanding the communication process and barriers to communication; applying communication and assertiveness skills to workplace and personal situations; understanding the importance of giving and receiving feedback; developing strategies for effective listening skills; and conflict resolution.

Business Strategy
Creates an awareness of the roles and interface of all levels of management in the formulation of an organization’s strategy. Discusses industry opportunities and threats, as well as the social, economic and political constraints which influence strategy. Topics include... strategy formulation and implementation; functional business areas and how they fit in strategy development and evaluation of organizations’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This module explores several tools for analysing and developing strategy.

Change Management and Creative Problem Solving
Examines the use of creative problem solving and lateral thinking in dealing with changes that affect organizations, as well as people inside and outside the workplace. Topics include... exploring creativity; brainstorming; lateral thinking; challenging assumptions; macro trends affecting society; dealing with change; and overcoming resistance to change.

Finance
Introduces finance in the institutional environment, an overview of the Canadian financial market, sources and forms of financing, and the time value of money. Also addresses: the importance of managing working capital, cash, accounts receivable, and capital expenditures; and techniques for evaluating capital projects.

Human Resource Management
Addresses major issues in human resource management/leadership within the context of the development of an overall business strategy. Topics include... the strategic importance of human resources; building human resource management/leadership into the planning process; and recruiting and selecting the best people. Also includes: monitoring, evaluating and providing effective feedback to employees; respecting diversity; team building; techniques for leading in a unionized environment; training and retraining; the effect of technological change on the workforce; grievance handling; and the legal framework. 

Leadership
Explores the various components of leadership and the qualities that make an effective leader in any organization.  Topics include... leadership vs. management; theories of leadership; identifying leadership characteristics; transformational goal setting process; and women in leadership.     

Marketing
Provides an understanding of the marketing process, focusing on how to construct a marketing plan. Discusses how markets are segmented and how managers create offerings to appeal to such segments, and how to develop offerings that deliver customer value and build revenues by focusing on products, price strategies, distribution and promotion. You will gain an appreciation of the exciting business-to-business (B2B) marketplace.

Organizational Behaviour
Examines what people do in an organization, how that behaviour affects the organization’s performance, and how to make organizations work more effectively. Specific Topics include... understanding what organizational behaviour is; developing skills to understand and diagnose the components of an organization; understanding the meaning and concepts around a learning organization; outlining a personal mastery vision plan; defining and drafting a template of the participants’ learning organization; and creating an organization’s shared vision.

Project Management: Planning for Success
An introduction to professional project management methodology, following the Project Management Institute’s Framework and Best Practices. Although project execution, control and close-out will be addressed, the major topic of focus will be project planning. Participants will gain a strong understanding of key project management concepts, receive a toolbox of tips and traps, and learn a common lexicon of terms.