Purpose
Companies operating in a global market tend to have complex supply chains, multi-country operations, and numerous interlocked processes and projects that must be tracked using real-time data. The Master of Science in Business Innovation (MS-BI) degree provides process innovation, project management and data analytics skills to enable organizations to innovate and employees to perform better in complex tech and data-driven environments.
Using a three-pronged approach, students learn the process, analytic, and management skills necessary to leverage organizational data for lasting competitive advantage. First, business process innovation is covered in-depth by using SAP, the industry leader in enterprise systems. Best practices in business process management are learned, including how to take existing processes that may be disjointed and ineffective, and convert them into processes that are efficient and well-functioning. Second, the curriculum focuses on data analytics, from the data collection / extraction phase to the final professional-quality analytics report. Students obtain technical skills in SQL (structured query language) to extract and combine data. Then, industry-leading analytic software such as SAS and Tableau, along with advanced techniques in Microsoft Excel, are used to uncover new insights from the data. The curriculum’s third focal point develops project management skills, which will help the student overcome the myriad technical, data, and people issues that invariably impact process innovation and data analytic projects.
Widener University has been named a “Center of Excellence for Business Process Innovation” by SAP and Software AG since 2003.
Student Learning Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: MSBI graduates can leverage information systems for a competitive advantage and to promote organizational strategy.
- Objective 1: Students will analyze a business/department and recommend appropriate information systems, technologies, and processes to address the identified needs.
- Objective 2: Students will complete projects and assignments that adequately address the non-technological aspects of information systems.
Goal 2: MSBI graduates communicate effectively with business and information technology professionals in writing and orally.
- Objective 1: Students will successfully make a presentation on an information systems project that addresses both managerial and technological issues.
- Objective 2: Students will research and present current literature in the field and apply it to the material covered in class.
Goal 3: MSBI graduates are effective project managers.
- Objective 1: Students will participate effectively in teams.
- Objective 2: Students will apply project management techniques and skills to complete case analyses and projects.
Goal 4: MSBI graduates make use of appropriate resources to maintain currency in the field.
- Objective 1: Students will use current certification exam materials to prepare for assignments in the project management and database courses.
Academic Policies and Standards
The academic policies and standards for the School of Business Administration apply to the MSBI program. A candidate must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours (ten 600-level courses) and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to qualify for the degree. The minimum residency requirement is 24 semester hours (eight courses).
- Students must complete all degree requirements within five academic years from the date they matriculate into the program.
- Students wishing to take a leave of absence from the program must formally notify the director of graduate business programs.
- Students not taking a course in a 24-month period are considered inactive. Students who wish to return must petition the graduate program director.
Degree Requirements
The requirements for the degree are:
- Three required courses in information systems.
- One required course in management.
- Three required courses in business process innovation.
- Three Concentration electives.
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