• Experienced managers who need a solid foundation in current business theory and practices.
• Technical professionals moving into management positions who need more management “know-how”.
• Managers looking to advance their careers, who need to become knowledgeable in a variety of functional areas.
• Those who need to broaden their understanding of how functional areas within a business interrelate.
• Executives or business graduates who need to update their fluency in business concepts and practices. 

Led by Gerald Graham, Ph.D., R.P. Clinton Distinguished Professor

Leaders facilitate the movement toward a common goal or shared objective. Leaders can be found in all types of organizations, but a common set of behaviors has been show to differentiate outstanding leaders from ordinary ones.  This session examines the behaviors of outstanding leaders: challenging the status quo, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to perform, setting an example and rewarding accomplishments.

Led by Sue Abdinnour, Ph.D., Omer Professor in Business

Firms exist to create value. The production or operations area of an organization is where the goods are produced, or services rendered, that justify the existence of the firm.  With effective Operations Management (OM), a firm can gain competitive advantage by delivering high-quality and cost-competitive products and services.  This session will cover some of the concepts and techniques related to designing, managing and improving operations.

Led by Michelle Lohrengel, H.R. Professional

An organizations most important capital is its human capital.  In this session, you will learn methods to ensure alignment of your people strategies to organizational goals.  Additionally, you will assess and review methods to identify talent, align performance and develop your team to deliver results.

Led by Joseph Jabara, JD, Col. (Ret) Kansas Air National Guard,  Director, Cybersecurity Hub, Wichita State University

Information technology (IT) impacts every facet of business from product supply chain to shipment and delivery, to accounts receivable and personnel management.  IT enables business to be more efficient, resilient, and profitable…to have global reach yet retain local relevance.  IT also presents business leaders with significant risk: legal, ethical, financial.  Successful leaders will have an understanding of the national cyber legal and policy framework and know how to identify areas of legal risk associated with IT. This session will assist leaders in communicating technical concepts to colleagues and staff, as well as legal experts and to understand key legal concepts as applied to cyber security.

Led by John Perry, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic Operations and Undergraduate Programs

Ethics is the heart of leadership.  Understanding ethics makes business sense; it can contribute to organizational survival and success and make you a better leader and manager.  The basics of ethics include a review of ethical terms, corporate examples, and in identifying dimensions of ethics.  Business decision-making is frequently based on the judgment of managers and is not simply choosing right from wrong.  Successful leaders understand how their personal character attributes can positively or negatively affect the organization.

Led by Michael Flores, MAcc, CPA, Allen, Gibbs and Houlik Fellow in Accounting

Managers need to be able to read and understand financial statements. This skill allows managers to better communicate with financial personnel and use the information to make good management decisions.  Concepts used in preparing financial statements and interpreting their meaning will be an important part of this session.  We will focus on key principles and practices of accounting including financial reporting, taxation, auditing and analysis.

Led by Brian Rawson, MBA

This session examines the fundamental functions of marketing management (analysis, planning, implementation and control) with respect to the driving mission of the organization – the creation and maintenance of long-term customer relationships that profitably satisfy customers’ needs.  The effect of marketplace trends and recent developments in marketing will also be discussed.

Led by Sue Abdinnour, Ph.D., Omer Professor in Business

For decades, business collected data and stored it but did not use it much.  Today, there are also free sources of secondary data on the Internet that firms can use in conjunction with the data they have available.  Competitive firms are analyzing all this data with Analytics to gain insights into who their customers are and what they are purchasing.  This session will cover some free sources of data on the Internet and the basic tools of Analytics.

Led by Dr. Gery Markova, Professor and Department Chair, Management Department, Wichita State University

Working in a diverse workplace brings unique challenges. This workshop offers insights of how to create a positive, highly functioning work environment by overcoming biases, stereotypes and prejudice about racial, ethnic, religious, and other groups in the workplace. We will engage in interactive exchanges that shatter preconceived notions and invite alternative ways to think about common work situations. Ultimately, this self-reflective workshop will invite participants to seek solutions to everyday tasks in organizations.

Led by Brian Rawson, MBA

It is critical to focus on the long-term perspective while operating in the present.
By identifying  the key elements required to reach organizational goals, you can create a structured plan and business map for objectives and success. Understanding how to integrate a strategic plan into your organizational culture lays the foundation for  successful teams, meeting goals and objectives,  and being a leader in your industry.

Substitutions are free and must be done prior to the start of the certificate program.

Cancellations or rescheduling must be received in writing and full refunds will be given up to four business days prior to the start of the certificate program.

Any cancellation or reschedule submitted with three or less business days notice is subject to a $75 charge on certificate programs.  

No refunds after the first day of the program.