Supply Chain and Business Technology Management Courses

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 214 or equivalent.

Description:

This course presents the principles and techniques of widely used statistical software systems, such as SAS, for data management (information storage and retrieval), data modification, file handling, and statistical analysis and reporting. The course covers special features such as graphics, macro languages, software and/or library interfacing and the basics of data mining. Classes are to be held in computer labs and half of the time is devoted to lab work.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 445 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 214.

Description:

This course introduces and examines the role of contemporary statistical methods in improving business and industrial processes. The methodologies selected for discussion represent those that are most extensively used in contemporary business studies and analyses. The topics covered include modern statistical thinking, linear regression analysis, logistic regression, and experimental methods in product and process designs. The course involves mostly analyses of real-life data using statistical software packages. The understanding of the rationale of the methodologies introduced is also emphasized.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 376, 378, or BSTA 378 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 214 or equivalent.

Description:

Reliable managerial forecasts of business variables must often be obtained against a background of structural changes in markets. This course focuses on the theory and applications of the most widely used methods of forecasting including decomposition methods, exponential smoothing, and the Box-Jenkins (ARIMA Building) techniques for non‑seasonal and seasonal modelling. Recent approaches in forecasting such as artificial neural networks are also introduced. Business and economic databases are analyzed using statistical software packages in both class and project assignments.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 477 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 214.

Description:

The course covers essential ideas and techniques for extracting information from large amounts of data. It discusses both supervised and unsupervised methods, and covers topics such as dimension reduction, multiple regression, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, classification and regression trees, neural networks, association rules, cluster analysis and multi-dimensional scaling. Illustrations of the concepts and methods are given, and students gain practical experience in data mining with the use of popular data mining software.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 478 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description:

This course allows for more intensive examination of one or more topics in business statistics.

Component(s):

Lecture

Description:

This course covers topics in information and communications technologies, including software, hardware, the Internet, and office productivity applications. Students learn about the technologies and their use, as well as acquire hands-on experience in key software applications.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students enrolled in BA or BSc Major in Mathematics and Statistics programs may not take this course for credit.

• Students who have received credit or exemption for DESC 200, INTE 290, or for this topic under a COMM 499 number or equivalent, may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 226 or COMM 301.

Description:

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of developing computer applications. Students gain knowledge and learn techniques necessary for building business applications, based on the modern object-oriented development paradigm. Students learn the principles of object-oriented programming using a contemporary language and integrated development environment. Topics include control structures, objects, classes, inheritance, class hierarchies, and polymorphism. Using appropriate business examples, this course enables students to solve business problems using the fundamentals of object-oriented programming.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 381 or 391 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 226 or COMM 301.

Description:

This course provides a comprehensive foundation for designing, building, and working with databases, enabling students to understand and use commercially available database products effectively. The course examines different models of representing data with emphasis on the relational model. Topics include data modelling, database design, queries, transaction management, implementation issues, and an overview of distributed database management systems, data warehouses, databases in electronic commerce, and database administration. Examples are drawn from various functional and operational areas including enterprise and supply chain operations, management, and planning.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 382 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 226 or COMM 301.

Description:

This course covers the essentials of how e-business is conducted and managed. Its major opportunities, limitations, risks, and issues for individuals, organizations, and society are discussed. Topics covered include business architectures, models, technologies, and privacy and security issues. Applications such as e-learning, e-government, and telemedicine are also discussed.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 387 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: BTM 380.

Description:

This course covers the concepts and tools used in programming of business systems that require Internet connectivity. Methods and technologies used to build web-based systems including e-business, e-learning, and online meeting places are discussed. The course gives students the opportunity to learn about and use such technologies as scripting, interactive charting, and database connectivity.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 395 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following courses must be completed previously: COMM 225, COMM 226 or COMM 301.

Description:

This course responds to the demand for the integration of technological and business resources by providing the student with opportunities to understand and analyze practical business problems and processes via the use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications. Topics include analysis and design for information technology integration, implementation strategies, and use of ERP for process integration. Technological solutions examined include ERP software, middleware applications, and the use of web services.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 389, 420 or 430 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 226 or COMM 301.

Description:

This course provides a comprehensive foundation of information systems’ governance, auditing and security. The first part of the course covers information systems’ risks, risk management, information technology (IT) controls, information systems’ governance standards and the processes to audit information systems. The second part focuses on key points of managing information security including business continuity planning, incident management, backups, restoration procedures and security policies. The course uses a combination of theory and applied learning through intensive cases and the completion of a hands-on IT auditing and security management project with the help of a computer-assisted auditing tool.

Component(s):

Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 225 or COMM 226 or COMM 301.

Description:

This course covers the theory, tools, and techniques associated with the management of projects including the use of project management software. Cases from various business contexts are used to illustrate essential steps in setting up project plans, scheduling work, monitoring progress, and exercising control to achieve desired results. The course integrates the Project Management Body of Knowledge with the Project Management Institute’s certification requirements.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 483 or for this topic under a DESC 490 number may not take this course for credit.
  

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Students must have completed a total of 24 COMM credits prior to enrolling. The following course must be completed previously or concurrently: BTM 382.

Description:

This course covers the first phase of the systems development life cycle, which culminates in the systems proposal. Topics include the preliminary survey, analysis of existing systems and identification of deficiencies, the development of functional specifications, feasibility and cost/benefit analysis and development of a recommended course of action. In addition, various diagramming techniques are examined.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 481 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department of Supply Chain and Business Technology Management is required.

Description:

This course allows for more intensive examination of one or more topics in business technology management.

Component(s):

Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following courses must be completed previously: BTM 380 or DESC 381 or DESC 391; BTM 382 or DESC 382; BTM 481 or DESC 481.

Description:

The main objective of this course is to expose students to the concepts, tools, and techniques they need to transform the information system requirements, resulting from the system analysis phase, into system design specifications, and to transform the information system design specifications, resulting from the system design phase, into a system prototype. The course introduces the concepts, techniques, and methodologies of the object‑oriented approach to information system design. The unified modelling language is used to develop design specifications for the systems. Topics include design of use case models, classes and class diagrams, interaction diagrams, and state chart diagrams.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 495 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: BTM 481 or DESC 481.

Description:

This course addresses issues involved in administering the activities related to information technology (IT) resources in an organization. Topics covered include IT strategy, governance, sourcing, architecture, risk management, security policies, resource allocation, and change management. The course also covers areas related to the external environment of an organization such as the IT industry evolution, scanning, and its emerging solutions.

Component(s):

Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 225.

Description:

This course deals with application of management science models to operations management problems in allocation of scarce human, physical, and financial resources. Among the topics covered are transportation, assignment and trans-shipment problems, integer linear programming, network models, multi-criteria decision problems, and waiting line models. The emphasis is on modelling issues and interpretation of solution through the use of optimization software packages.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 361 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously or concurrently: COMM 225.

Description:

This course combines the product/service design issues and the continuous improvement efforts required throughout the life cycle of products and services. The topics covered in this context include essentials of creativity, organizational and operational issues in product/service design, mass customization, business process re-engineering, layout, and quality management. Cases and enterprise resource planning applications are studied to provide a unifying theme in terms of organizational change, supply chain re-engineering and integration aspects.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 363 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: SCOM 361 or DESC 361.

Description:

Production/service planning and control issues in managing supply chains are covered in this course. Mathematical modelling is emphasized in dealing with facility location, capacity planning, demand and supply management, aggregate planning, scheduling, and inventory management decisions. Supplier evaluation/development practices and outsourcing are studied. Relevant enterprise resource planning modules with advanced planning and scheduling functionalities are introduced to illustrate the integration and coordination issues in supply chain planning and control.

Component(s):

Laboratory

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 372 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 225.

Description:

This course covers the tools and techniques associated with movement of materials throughout the supply chain. The topics covered include fundamentals of customer relationship management, distribution channels, purchasing, warehousing, transportation management, third part logistics, reverse logistics and issues in global logistics. Relevant enterprise resource planning modules are introduced and logistics games are played to illustrate the integration and coordination issues in supply chain logistics.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 374 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department of Supply Chain and Business Technology Management is required.

Description:

This course allows for more intensive examination of one or more topics in supply chain operations management.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: COMM 225.

Description:

This course covers fundamental quantitative and qualitative tools of risk management used to mitigate against supply chain risks in the context of supply and demand management strategies. Globalization initiatives in trade and money markets and increased worldwide security concerns have exposed supply chains to ever-increasing risks. Consequently, risk management along the supply chain has become an important function in order to decrease the level of vulnerability for the stakeholders. Topics include review of supply chain fundamentals and principles, risk identification and management, trade‑offs in risk management, supply chain strategies for robustness, and scenario planning. Various case studies are used to highlight design and implementation issues.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 491 may not take this course for credit.
  

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: BSTA 450. The following courses must be completed previously or concurrently: SCOM 372 or DESC 372 or SCOM 374 or DESC 374.

Description:

This course focuses on simulating various supply chain scenarios using supply chain simulation package(s). Modelling issues in simulation are covered. Experimental design and analysis techniques are used in designing scenarios and analyzing the outcomes, which are also studied from a wider strategic business perspective.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 492 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following courses must be completed previously or concurrently: SCOM 372, and at least six credits from SCOM 363, SCOM 374, BSTA 450.

Description:

This course involves a project carried out in a real-life setting. Guest speakers from industry are invited to present supply chain issues in practice. Various tools and techniques of supply chain operations management are used in identifying and analyzing supply chain problems. Improvements and solutions are designed along with appropriate performance metrics.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for DESC 498 may not take this course for credit.