Courses > Business Administration

Click any title below to view a complete course description including a syllabus, instructor biography, prerequisites, and requirements.

Project Management Fundamentals
Instructor: Tony Swaim

There are more projects occurring today than at any time in history. Organizations initiate projects to create new computer applications, erect bridges and buildings, improve processes, develop new products, and reorganize company operations. Unfortunately, most organizations do not manage projects well, creating an unprecedented demand for project management practitioners. If you're organized, perceptive, detail-oriented, and an excellent communicator, you just might have what it takes to succeed in the fast-growing field of project management. If you're new to project management, this course will provide you with the essential information you'll need to prepare for and complete your first project. If you're an experienced project manager, this course will make you more valuable to your employer by increasing your skills and competencies. This course will also help you prepare for the internationally recognized Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exams offered by the Project Management Institute.

Project Management Applications
Instructor: Tony Swaim

In this course, an experienced Project Management Professional will teach you the same powerful tools and techniques that experienced project management professionals rely on every day. You'll increase the probability of project success by mastering the tricks of the trade: Earned Value Performance Measurement, Gantt Charts, Network Scheduling, Work Breakdown Structure, and Cost-Volume Analysis. You'll also become proficient at recruiting project team members and empowering them to succeed. You'll understand the stages of team development, and you'll gain skills in developing and motivating team leaders. You'll even learn about project software, statistics, change management, processes, and estimating. And you'll gain valuable experience with project planning, control and data analysis tools. This course will also help you prepare for the internationally recognized Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exams offered by the Project Management Institute.

Fundamentals of Supervision and Management
Instructor: Patricia Adesso

Learn how to be an effective manager or supervisor. Master the basics of business and organizations, learn the people skills required to motivate and delegate, and learn tools for solving problems and resolving conflicts.

Fundamentals of Supervision and Management II
Instructor: Patricia Adesso

Learn how to be an effective manager or supervisor. Master the basics of communicating effectively, and learn tools for developing your own interpersonal skills.

Administrative Assistant Fundamentals
Instructor: Becky and Tony Swaim

Rapid growth in the health, legal services, data processing, management, public relations, and other industries have created many new job opportunities for administrative assistants. This course will help you discover and master the essentials of managerial and staff support, information and records management, communications technology, travel and meeting coordination, space planning, and office ergonomics. You'll become an indispensable member of your team by identifying opportunities and implementing solutions to turn your office into a high productivity machine. This course may help you prepare for the internationally recognized Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) exams offered by the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Administrative Assistant Applications
Instructor: Becky and Tony Swaim

Gain the skills and knowledge you'll need to prepare for the Certified Administrative Professional exam and begin a rewarding career as an administrative assistant. Discover how economics, accounting, business law, organizational behavior, and management affect administrative assistant responsibilities and activities. Determine how the world economy can affect an enterprise, learn the basics of accounting, including the general ledger and key accounting terms, and see how financial statements and controls help keep your organization moving in a positive direction.

Understand the fundamentals of business law, contracts, and the principal-agency relationship; discover ethics and organizational politics; and understand the basics of international business. Learn about key management functions such as planning, control, motivation, and organization, discover how to increase creativity, and find out how marketing differs from sales. Learn the basics of operations management, understand why effective change management is so vital, and determine how to recruit, evaluate, select, and train team members. This course may help you prepare for the internationally recognized Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) exams offered by the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Understanding the Human Resources Function
Instructor: Ann Nevers

This course is designed to help people without experience in human resources to understand this very vital link in the organizational chain. It will prepare both managers and business owners to handle basic human resource functions in a way that will ensure the best possible result.

Mastery of Business Fundamentals
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Are you interested in acquiring practical business experience in strategic planning, management, and finance without enrolling in an MBA program? This course is for you! You'll understand the significance of strategic planning and discover how external and internal environmental factors affect an organization. You'll learn about various organizational structures and determine how to use leadership, motivation, and control for maximum impact. You'll master the fundamentals of accounting and increase your knowledge about key financial terms, cash flow management, financial statements, and cost control. You'll also discover various financial investment models and you'll learn the basics of financial planning and budgeting methods. You'll even understand the basic principles of business law, contracts, and the principal-agency relationship.

Mastery of Business Applications
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Learn the essence of business applications. Understand how marketing differs from sales, how the marketing concept helps a firm succeed, and why consumer behavior is such a challenging topic. Increase your knowledge of the basics of international business and learn about the various options and requirements for success. Discover the nature of information technology and realize how operations management helps increase efficiency and effectiveness. Learn the definition of quality, discover the nature of Six Sigma and total quality management (TQM), and find out how to implement a quality culture. Understand the nature of project management and learn about the different phases of the project life cycle.

Employment Law Fundamentals
Instructor: Ann Nevers

Learn the basics of employment law so you can legally hire, evaluate, and manage employees. Learn the difference between an employee and an independent contractor; the basic types of employee benefits; effective hiring, evaluation, and termination procedures; methods to resolve employment disputes in and out of court; discrimination and union laws; and workplace safety rules. This course is a must for anyone who is (or aspires to be) a supervisor, manager, or human resources professional.

Six Sigma: Total Quality Fundamentals
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Learn how to effectively apply the fundamentals of total quality. Understand what quality is and learn about the history of the quality movement. Discover the role of customers in quality and determine the major elements of a quality system. Master key concepts such as the cost of nonquality, variation, and total employee involvement (TEI). Increase your value to your company by learning about various motivational models, leadership, and teamwork. Determine how to effectively apply quality standards by creating and implementing internal and external auditing activities. Learn the ins and outs of ISO 9000, ISO 14000, and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Six Sigma: Total Quality Applications
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Learn how to effectively apply the elements and methods of Six Sigma. Understand how more than 25 tools and methods relate to the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) model. Determine the relationship of basic statistics to Six Sigma and learn about the Six Sigma business case including strategic planning, the voice of the customer (VOC), quality function deployment (QFD), benchmarking, and financial investment methods. Discover how to use brainstorming, Pareto charts, and critical to quality to help define processes, problems, and opportunities. Master the use of other key tools such as cause and effect diagrams, checksheets, scatter diagrams, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and force field analysis. Learn the basics of advanced Six Sigma tools such as design of experiments (DOE), analysis of variance (ANOVA), hypothesis testing, control charts, and probability distributions. This course will also help you prepare for the internationally recognized Six Sigma Black Belt and Quality Manager exams offered by the American Society for Quality.

Purchasing Fundamentals
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Improve your company’s bottom line profitability by mastering the fundamentals of purchasing. Become an indispensable member of your organization by learning key strategic concepts such as supplier partnerships, capital budgeting and green buying. Enhance day-to-day tactical effectiveness by learning about negotiation, supplier sourcing, record keeping, purchase requisitions and purchase orders. Learn the basics of business law, leasing, make-or-buy analysis, outsourcing and supplier visits. This course will also help you prepare for the internationally recognized Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) exam offered by the Institute for Supply Management.

Purchasing Applications
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Become a more effective member of your company’s operating team by learning how to apply advanced purchasing concepts. Move beyond the traditional order placing role of purchasing by discovering the role of information technology, the basics of international business, and the principles of economic forecasting. Learn how to evaluate suppliers' capabilities by investigating their commitment to Six Sigma, statistical process control (SPC), and maintaining a quality system (ISO 9000). Discover the elements of a logistics system and see how you can use material requirements planning (MRP) to identify company needs in an organized and timely manner. Learn the ins and outs of inventory management, understand how public and private purchasing differ, and improve your understanding of financial statements. This course will also help you prepare for the internationally recognized Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) exam offered by the Institute for Supply Management.

Introduction to Business Analysis
Instructor: Frank David

Learn powerful techniques to improve your decision-making skills at work.

Managing Customer Service
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Customer service personnel interact with current and potential customers every day. But do they truly spend time finding out what customers really want and giving them the highest service possible? In this six-week online course, you'll discover dynamite methods for bringing out the best in your team, measuring customer service, and anticipating the needs of your reps and your customers. Learn how to attract and hire top-notch reps, succeed with teams, and minimize customer complaints. As an added bonus, you'll unlock the power of leading by example and setting new trends for customer service in your growing business.

Distribution and Logistics Management
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Distribution and logistics management is a critical company function. Professionals in this field play a key role in fulfilling customer demands, ordering and managing inventory, controlling inbound and outbound shipments, reducing costs, saving time, and meeting company objectives. This course will not only show you how to create and operate a logistics function, but it will also show you how to achieve success through a combination of strategies and tactics. You'll discover the key elements of a logistics system, including physical distribution, warehouse selection, material handling, packaging, order fulfillment, customer service, receiving, production stores, and returned goods. You'll also find out how to manage inventory, effectively use technology, manage a logistics department, and complete and control transportation documents.

Supply Chain Management Fundamentals
Instructor: Tony Swaim

This course will help you succeed as a supply chain management professional. You'll master the fundamentals of supply chain management, including customer demand forecasting, master production scheduling (MPS), material requirements planning (MRP), capacity planning, and production activity control (PAC). The course also includes essential information to help you prepare for internationally recognized supply chain and materials management certification examinations, including the Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) exam.

Supply Chain Management Applications
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Learn how to apply the essentials of supply chain management (SCM). Discover the finer points of SCM including manufacturing strategy, inventory budgeting and management, lean manufacturing, total quality management (TQM), Six Sigma, total employee involvement (TEI), the theory of constraints (TOC), manufacturing technology, and facility selection. Add increased value to your organization by applying these innovative concepts and improving company processes. Learn how to supplement existing supply chain management fundamentals, such as S&OP, MPS, and MRP with cutting-edge, progressive methods. The course also includes essential information to help you prepare for internationally recognized supply chain and materials management certification examinations, including the Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) exam.

High Speed Project Management
Instructor: Tom Myers

With accelerated schedules driving many technology projects today, the smart project manager must rapidly retool their skill set. This course offers a breakthrough model for dealing with the realities of managing projects at supersonic speeds. Learn to meet and win the challenges of truncated timelines, short-staffed project teams, skimpy budgets and crippling risks.

Successful Construction Business Management
Instructor: Gene Fessenbecker

Your contracting business can gain a powerful and permanent advantage over the competition by practicing expert business management. You and each person on your management staff can reap the business rewards from this complete, hands-on approach to expert management practices. This course can help you design and construct a superior business operation that serves your customers better and keeps them coming back. Better business operations usually keep talented employees happy and loyal too. Learn business skills the same way you learned your trade: one step at a time and with an eye on how the pieces go together successfully.

Principles of Sales Management
Instructor: Kent Smedley

Master the art of managing sales teams from a sales management professional. Learn the essential roles and responsibilities of a sales manager and develop leadership, motivational and team-building skills. Learn proven techniques and strategies for communication, conflict resolution and sales planning to deliver superior sales-team results.

Manufacturing Fundamentals
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Learn the basic skills required to work in the manufacturing field. Discover the role of production design, process planning, and the heart of 13 different manufacturing processes. Understand why facility location and plant layout decisions are so vital and learn how job design helps you accomplish company goals and achieve worker satisfaction. Find out what makes up the physical work environment and learn how to characterize different types of production materials. Master product development concepts such as the voice of the customer (VOC), quality function deployment (QFD), and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA). Learn how performance measurements and standardization improve manufacturing operations.

Manufacturing Applications
Instructor: Tony Swaim

Increase efficiencies and productivity by learning to apply the principles and concepts of manufacturing. Discover the nature of strategy and learn how it leads to the development of manufacturing strategy. Understand the purpose of customer demand forecasting and find out what forecasting methods are suitable for which situations. Explore the nature of planning and learn how to effectively use Gantt charts and the precedence diagram method. Determine how purchasing, production and inventory control, and logistics support a manufacturing operation. Discover the basics of lean manufacturing and see how capacity management converts production plans into concrete products. Learn why manufacturing, industrial, and quality engineering are so essential to any firm.

Building Teams That Work
Instructor: Vivian Harte

Teams are becoming a staple in today's workplace. In this course, you'll learn the components of a successful team and the stages of its development. You'll master the skills you'll need to effectively manage projects, make decisions, and solve problems in a team setting. Plus, you'll have a chance to learn the pitfalls of unhealthy group interaction and minimize any of its effects on your team.

Going Green at the Workplace
Instructor: Brad Bergman

Learn how to position your business as a responsible environmental leader in a world of green consumers and carbon-conscious regulators. Explore ways to save energy, save money, and save the environment by making your building's lighting, HVAC, and information systems more efficient. In addition, discover simple and cost-effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint by conserving water, using alternative transportation fuels and vehicles, and generating your own renewable energy on-site.