STANDARD MBA PROGRAM

Distinctive Features

• Admission Requirements
• The MBA Standard Program Curriculum
• MBA Standard Program Course Sequence
• Course Descriptions
• Contact Details

Click here to download the MBA Standard Program 2010 Catalogue (pdf)

Distinctive Features

The MBA Standard Program is one of the flagship offerings of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business (AGSB) designed for young adult practitioners who wish to upgrade their managerial skills for eventual promotion to higher-level management.

The curriculum is designed to equip the students with fundamental skills, to make them strategic thinkers, and to move them with the passion for excellence to become managers and leaders for others.

All courses in the program are conducted with the use of interactive methods appropriate for the workplace-based and experience-driven adult learner with the faculty assuming a facilitative and coaching role. Big and small group discussions, case analysis, simulations and role-playing, debates, and other interactive methods animate the conduct of the courses in class. Thus, the students must come to class prepared to tackle the issues assigned for the particular session.

AGSB sees it fit to divide the MBA market into different segments on account of empirical evidences that different practitioners require different ways of proceeding. For example, there is a huge market for young professionals who desire to improve their qualifications for promotion in their companies to higher executive levels. The Standard Program is designed for these types due to their relative young experiences in the business management field. Thus, they have to undergo and take 5 pre-requisite courses before they can proceed to the MBA program proper.

(Keep the original description handy, just in case we need to revert to the previous version.)

Admission Requirements

To qualify for the MBA Standard Program, a Filipino applicant must have:

• A bachelor's degree in any field from a recognized college or university
• An official transcript of records from the college or university
• A general undergraduate average of 85% or B or 2.0
• Meaningful employment and work experience of at least two (2) years. Supervisory experience is an advantage.
• Satisfactory score in the entrance examination
• Fully accomplished online application
• Three (3) statements of qualification and recommendation
• Interview as may be required by the Admission Committee for Appeals.

To qualify for the MBA Standard Program, in addition to the above-mentioned requirements, a foreign applicant must have:

• Transcript of records or documents showing academic accomplishments from the country of origin, translated into English and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Philippine Consular Office in the country of origin
• Certificate of degree of equivalency from the education ministry of the country of origin, where necessary and applicable
• Working English proficiency, both oral and written, and where insufficient, be currently enrolled in an English proficiency course in the Philippines
• Copy of passport
• Approved student visa or if working in the Philippines, an employment permit issued by the Philippine government
• Police clearance from the country of origin or from the Philippines if already having been in the country for at least sixty (60) days
• Affidavit of support and financial capacity
• Alien Certificate of Registration
• Certificate of Employment

The MBA Standard Program Curriculum

1. General Description

a.    The MBA Standard Program is offered on a trimestral basis and the subjects that are offered follow a logical sequence. Any change needs the approval of the Registrar.

b.    The MBA Standard Program consists of the following courses:

Pre-MBA Courses	10 units
Core Courses	30 units
Electives	6 units
Integrating Courses	6 units
Total	52 units

c.    The regular load per trimester is three (3) subjects. A student may be allowed to take up to a maximum of five (5) subjects per trimester, subject to the approval of the Registrar.

d.    The program allows exemption in the Pre-MBA Courses (with the exception of Research for Management) by passing the validating examinations before the star of the trimester. Validating examinations are administered by the Office of the Registrar.

2. Pre-MBA Courses

COURSE	CODE	UNITS
Applied Mathematics	SPAPMATH	2
Business Communication Workshop	SPBUSCOM	2
Financial Accounting	SPFINACC	2
Managerial Statistics	SPMASTAT	2
Research for Management	SPMETRES	2

3. Core Courses

COURSE	CODE	UNITS
Business Ethics	SPETHICS	3
Managerial Accounting	SPMANACC	3
Information Technology for Managers	SPINFOTE	3
Leadership	SPLEADER	3
Principles & Dynamics of Management	SPPRIMAN	3
Applied Management Science	SPMANSCI	3
Human Resource Management	SPHUMRES	3
Financial Management	SPFINMAN	3
Operations Management	SPOPEMAN	3
Marketing Management	SPMARKMA	3

4. Electives

COURSE	CODE	UNITS
Brand Management	SPBRANMA	3
Business Franchising	SPFRANCH	3
Business Improvement Solutions	SPBUSSOI	3
Business Intelligence	SPBINTEL	3
Business and Professional Discourse	SPBPDISC	3
Consumer Behavior and Marketing Action	SPCONBEH	3
Controllership	SPCONTRO	3
Corporate Leadership	SPCORPLE	3
Demand Management	SPDEMMAN	3
Economic Development	SPECODEV	3
Electronic Commerce	SPE-COMME	3
E-Marketing	SPE-MARK	3
Entrepreneurship	SPENTREP	3
Financial Analysis for Decision-Making	SPFINDEM	3
Financial Engineering	SPFINENG	3
Global Marketing	SPGLOBMA	3
High Performance and Team Development	SPHPTEAM	3
Information Security Management	SPINFOSEC	3
International Finance	SPINFIMAN	3
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management	SPINVEMA	3
Law and Business Environment	SPLAWBUS	3
Leading Organizational Change	SPLEADOC	3
Lean Six Sigma	SP6SIGMA	3
Management of Financial Institutions	SPMAFINS	3
Marketing Communications	SPMARCOM	3
Personal Finance	SPPERFIN	3
Personnel Management	SPPERMAN	3
Project Management	SPPROJMA	3
Quality Management Systems	SPQUAMAN	3
Service Marketing	SPSERVMA	3
Strategic Marketing	SPMASTRA	3
Supply Chain Management	SPSUPMAN	3
Total Quality Management	SPTOQMAN	3

5. Integrating Courses

COURSE	CODE	UNITS
Economics for Managers	SPECOMAN	3
Strategic Management	SPSTRAMA	3

MBA Standard Program Course Sequence

Course Descriptions

1. Pre-MBA Courses

Applied Mathematics (SPAPMATH)

    The course is an MBA-level mathematics refresher course. It provides a solid foundation in mathematical tools and an appreciation of their relevance in business. It enables the students, including those whose primary area is other than mathematics, to view the subject in a practical setting relevant to their careers and to prepare them for advanced courses in operations, finance, marketing, and management science.

Business Communication Workshop (SPBUSCOM)

    The course is a study of the concepts, principles, strategies, and procedures for expressing ideas, positions, and values cogently and convincingly through forms of oral, written, and electronic means of communication. It deals with the application of principles and the use of strategies in listening, reading, speaking, and writing underlined by critical thinking in the processes of corporate life, operations, and management. It situates business communication in a global context and underscores advances in technology.

Financial Accounting (SPFINACC)

    The course is an introduction to accounting as the “language of business” and as an information system that renders the finance function effective. The course focuses on fundamental financial reports, and the principles, concepts, and conventions underlying the preparation of such reports, specifically those related to the Philippine Accounting Standards and the International Accounting Standards. Emphasis is given to understanding and interpreting financial statements and how they relate to the decision-making processes, not only of management, but of the various stakeholders.

Managerial Statistics (SPMASTAT)

    The course provides students with tools and techniques used for decision-making under uncertainty, as well as for the conduct of research studies. It includes concepts of probabilities, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics. The approach is conceptual and problem-oriented and focuses on the use of computer software to perform statistical computations.

Research For Management (SPMETRES)

    The course offers students basic knowledge and skills to undertake, present, and evaluate research concerning management problems of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. The course enables students to apply what they learn about business research to their other MBA courses and in their own workplace. The general framework of research integrates Lonergan’s basic principles of the dynamic structure of human knowing with business research process, functions of theory in research, and ethics in business research.

2. Core Courses

Business Ethics (SPETHICS)

    The course is an introduction to Business Ethics and equips future managers with a foundation to deal with ethical issues that may be encountered in the workplace. The first module of the course focuses on theory with discussions on moral principles, moral reasoning, and stages of development. The second module focuses on process. Students will participate in exercises of analysis and resolution of ethical dilemmas encountered in the workplace.

Managerial Accounting and Control (SPMANACC)

    The course explores the uses of accounting for effective management and decision-making and discusses the basic concepts of controllership as they relate to management information needs for planning and control. The topics include a review of financial accounting processes and techniques, analysis of financial statements, cost concepts, methods and systems, the use and analysis of cost data for decision-making, evaluation of performance, responsibility accounting, short- and long-term managerial decisions, capital budgeting, and basic concepts of controllership. Emphasis is given to decision-making, its ethical implications, and its impact on business and national development.

Information Technology for Managers (SPINFOTE)

    The course presents management concepts that lead to an understanding of information technology and its role within the enterprise, as well as in building the nation. It includes enhancing awareness of the digital and economic divide within a nation and how a business performs its economic activities while at the same time investing in marginalized sectors/communities. Building consensus among business and technology professionals using modern approaches to strategic planning, business process re-engineering and systems development are discussed, highlighting the ethical and legal principles that impact this environment.

Leadership (SPLEADER)

    The course is an introduction to the foundations of leadership, i.e., identity and mission.

    It draws from both the theory and practice of leadership, as well as psychology and spirituality. The Jesuit tradition and Ignatian values in leadership shall be the guiding framework of the course. The course includes an exploration of key leadership concepts with the student undergoing exercises on self-awareness, self-mastery, and discernment of mission.

Principles and Dynamics of Management (SPPRIMAN)

    The course provides an understanding of the role of management and the analytical tools to competently cope with the challenges facing today’s management. It is designed to familiarize students with accepted management standards, procedures, and techniques employed by corporate, business, and functional level managers.

Applied Management Science (SPMANSCI)

    The course provides formal training in the use of quantitative tools and techniques for analyzing and solving management problems in finance, marketing, production, operations, human resources, and other functional areas. The approach is conceptual and problem-oriented, using appropriate computer software. The students are expected to formulate decision problems mathematically, derive computer solutions, interpret results, perform sensitivity analysis, and draw managerial insights from quantitative solutions.

Human Resources Management (SPHUMRES)

    The course emphasizes the alignment of Human Resource Management practices and programs with the goals and strategies and values of the organization. It presents tools for analyzing strategic alignment and provides a fresh perspective on the role of HR and its function as change agent, and how in partnership with top management, one of the most critical sources of sustainable competitive advantage – an organization whose design, culture, and people are aligned with strategy and values – can be built.

Financial Management (SPFINMAN)

    The course deals with the application of contemporary finance theory to the solution of management problems, focusing on policy formulation and decision-making under uncertainty. Critical evaluation of concepts is emphasized to assess their usefulness in practical business situations. Problem-solving methodology is used to illustrate the theories and tools in financial decision-making, including the use of computers as an analysis tool. It tackles the ethical issues and dilemmas faced by the finance manager in his day-to-day work and how these are resolved using an ethical decision analysis framework. The course discusses the implications of financial management decisions in the life of the enterprise and how such impact the national economy.

Operations Management (SPOPEMAN)

    The course is a study of specific Operations Management (OM) philosophies, concepts, trends, tools, and techniques to highlight the importance of OM in a manufacturing and service organization. It focuses on strategic and tactical issues covering quality management, process management, and supply chain management, among others. While it provides students with technical and quantitative tools, it focuses more on the managerial aspects of operations, as well as on the social and ethical implications of OM decisions.

Marketing Management (SPMARKMA)

    The course provides training on the fundamental concepts and practices of Marketing in the context of the new economy. It focuses on the formulation and implementation of marketing strategies in the areas of research, products and services, pricing, distribution, advertising and promotion, market analysis, alternative approaches to competition, brand building, and revenue-generating activities. It provides an understanding of administrative processes in which Marketing plays a central role in demand creation and customer satisfaction.

3. Electives 

Brand Management (SPBRANMA)

    The course provides a deeper exposure to product decision-making in general and to brand management in particular. The course examines in depth the general components of product management, including practical methods of analysis, strategy formulation, and implementation.

Business Franchising (SPFRANCH)

    The course is an informative and practical introduction to the Franchise System designed for those interested in entering the field of multiple outlet businesses, whether in purchasing and operating a franchise (becoming a Franchisee) or developing an existing business into one that can be franchised (becoming a Franchisor); The course will also be of interest to those who will work or consult with franchisees or franchisors.

Business Improvement Solutions (SPBUSSOL)

   The course provides a comprehensive exposure to various business improvement tools and methodologies, in both manufacturing and service sectors, to strengthen the student’s foundational understanding of business processes, particularly the “value-adding” aspects of operations. The course provides an in-depth appreciation of emerging applications, tools, and techniques used by successful companies engaged in manufacturing and service operations, while emphasizing the ethical and social implications of all business improvement solutions.

Business Intelligence (SPBINTEL)

    The course explores the several types of management information, decision support, and other information systems. It shows how the Internet, intranets, and other Web-enabled information technologies have significantly strengthened the role that information systems play in supporting the decision-making activities of every manager and knowledge worker in business.

Business and Professional Discourse (SPBPDISC)

    The course equips foreign graduate students and other MBA students wishing to improve listening and oral communication skills in English to enable them participate in an intelligent with clarity and confidence, with individuals or groups, whether in a formal or an informal context. It presents concepts, principles, and guidelines, as well as exercise and activities for the further development and mastery of discourse and communication styles within the context of various business encounters.

Consumer Behavior & Marketing Action (SPCONBEH)

    The course discusses the fundamental concepts and applications of the Psychology of the Consumer and the Consumer in Society as they relate to the formulation of effective marketing strategies. It focuses on consumer preferences and the societal policy implications of consumer behavior and marketing strategy.

Controllership (SPCONTRO)

    The course builds on the concepts, principles, and tools of controls learned in foundation and core courses. It focuses on the deepening of knowledge, application, and analysis of the role of controllership in organizations involving planning, controlling and providing reliable information for corporate decision-making.

Corporate Leadership (SPCORPLE)

    The course provides a holistic view of the challenges facing corporate organizations in the light of the rapidly growing global economy, information technology, competition, and cross-cultural challenges viewed from the perspective of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization. This course provides opportunities for the students to interact with top executives of industry and government.

Demand Management (SPDEMMAN)

    The course provides the knowledge and skills that will translate internal customer demand, or user demand, into realistic and cost-effective product specifications that will in turn facilitate the manufacture and purchase of the product. The course introduces techniques, such as Value Engineering, Value Analysis, and Forecasting.

Economic Development (SPECODEV)

    The course deals with the economics of long-term growth and development. It focuses on areas and issues of policy-making that are likely to remain of primary concern in the efforts of underdeveloped and developing countries to achieve economic growth and development.

Electronic Commerce (SPE-COMME)

    The course guides managers through the processes of overcoming the fear of change and embracing the benefits of e-commerce for customers, employees, and shareholders. It provides a complete introduction to the world of electronic commerce, including technical and business topics. Implementation strategies are analyzed, using examples of both successful and unsuccessful implementations.

E-Marketing (SPE-MARK)

    The course introduces students to marketing applications of electronic information technology and communication technologies and to the impact of these technologies in the marketplace. Students examine how these technologies offer opportunities for changing the 5p’s of the marketing function: people, product, price, place, and promotion. The course also examines the forces that counter the E-marketing revolution.

Entrepreneurship (SPENTREP)

    The course is designed to inspire and to encourage entrepreneurship, through the examination, discussion, and analysis of contemporary entrepreneurs. It focuses on the principles, concepts, and evaluation techniques used in assessing entrepreneurial capability, resource requirements, and risks for increased likelihood of strategic success.

Financial Analysis for Decision-Making (SPFINDEM)

    The course deals with the understanding and analysis of financial information for decision-making, with emphasis on the critical analysis, diagnosis, and evaluation of financial information as applied in practical business situations. Problem-solving methodology is used to illustrate the theories and tools in financial decision-making, including the use of computers to help with the analysis.

Financial Engineering (SPFINENG)

    The course deals with the basic concepts and the application of the principles of financial innovation, the process that seeks to adapt existing financial instruments and processes or develop new ones to enable financial market participant to cope more effectively with the financial risks inherent in a changing world. It focuses on financial engineering as a tool to interrelate the areas of planning, organization, administration and control of company affairs; financial instruments, institutions, and techniques that have evolved over time; new developments and approaches to asset and liability management; and the application of innovative tools in risk management in response to current issues and developments in Philippine and international financial markets.

Global Marketing (SPGLOBMA)

    The course deals with concepts and practices related to global marketing and address various issues faced by international marketers. It highlights the emerging trends in the design of strategies pertaining a company’s marketing mix – products, pricing, promotion, and distribution. It discusses contemporary environmental forces that have an impact on strategies and programs as well as their implementation and control.

High Performance and Team Development (SPHPTEAM)

    The course focuses on teams in the workplace. Major topics include the appropriate use of teams, development stages of high performance, membership diversity, relationships to organization culture and leadership, and managing differences.

Information Security Management (SPINFOSEC)

    The course provides a broad view of information security. It discusses the terminology of the field, the history of the discipline, and the management of an information security program. Case studies and business examples complement conceptual coverage to provide a real-world context.

International Finance Management (SPINFIMAN)

    The course provides a conceptual framework by which the key financial decisions of the multinational firm can be analyzed. It also provides a better understanding of international and global financial issues that affect the present world system.

Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (SPINVEMA)

    The course deals with the application of the principles of investment analysis and portfolio management of corporate and personal finances. The steps and procedures involved in the investment process are discussed and simulated by the students to provide them the skills of creating their own corporate or personal investment portfolios. Risk and return management strategies are discussed and analyzed as they apply, not only to global investment setting, but also, to specific investment situations in the Philippines.

Law in Business Environment (SPLAWBUS)

    The course explores the conformity of business decisions with the pertinent provisions of the law, as well as decisions of the court on the matter. The course focuses on the basics of commercial law, rather than on intricate legal concepts and procedures. It explores issues and concerns related to human resources (Labor Code), material assets (Insurance Code), obligations and contracts (Civil Code), payment of obligations (Negotiable Instrument Law), and the Law of Damages arising from a Breach of Contact. It looks at the fundamentals of the Corporation Code, Partnership Law, Cooperative Law, and Trademarks, Trade Names and Patent Law.

Leading Organizational Change (SPLEADOC)

    The course explores the dynamics of organizational change as well as models of organizational development in the business management context. Various concepts will be learned including the forces and the conditions behind organizational change, the types and levels of change, the resistance to change and the constructive strategies necessary to manage the uncertainties of change in organizations. Emphasis is given on self-mastery and in developing traits of effective leadership.

Lean Six Sigma (SP6SIGMA)

    The course focuses on the lean six sigma projects, and the specific methodologies, tools, and techniques for their evaluation and implementation in companies and organizations. It makes use of a ten (10) step solution process in implementing projects in both service and manufacturing organization.

Management of Financial Institutions (SPMAFINS)

    The course provides an analytical study of the management of financial institutions from the perspective of the chief executive officer. The approach is financial statement-based with funds sourcing and utilization functions clearly delineated, although the use of off-balance sheet intermediation tools to hedge risks is also emphasized. The focus of the course is on universal banking..

Marketing Communication (SPMARCOM)

    The course provides a deeper analysis of the vital links of the message chain – the Marketers (who sell the products or services), the Providers (creative, service, and media firms), and the Sellers (field, retail, and office sales personnel). Students will be given opportunity to take a direct hand in creating various communication tasks that contribute toward the successful implementation of the Promotion Program.

Personal Finance (SPPERFIN)

    The course introduces the concepts, tools and applications of personal finance and investments and focuses on the process of financial planning and the logic that drives it. It presents the principles that underlie the various techniques used to deal with issues on budgeting consumption expenditure patterns, the use of saving allocations to achieve personal goals, and on real property, insurance, financial investment, retirement, estate and tax planning.

Personnel Management (SPPERMAN)

   The course emphasizes the contribution of the Human Resources function in business strategic goals and in the improvement of product and service quality and effectiveness. 

Project Management (SPPROJMA)

    The course provides the framework for managerial and leadership effectiveness leading to the acquisition of skills to handle complex problems frequently encountered in project management. It involves the study and understanding of the core processes for initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing projects under various circumstances. The course includes the human side of project leadership and its strategic perspectives as applied in various types of organizations.

Quality Management Systems (SPQUAMAN)

    The course enables learners to analyze and apply various quality management  tools using the systems approach. The course focuses on different quality management systems, from basic Total Quality Management to the more advanced Environmental Quality Management System, with emphasis on structure, requirements, critical success factors, and its implementation procedures. Case studies highlight applications in different organizations involving quality and productivity movements, their evolution, and implementation strategies.

Services Marketing (SPSERVMA)

    The course focuses on the concept of services marketing as applied to banks and financial institutions. It addresses the specialized issues and concerns faced by this unique market.

Strategic Marketing (SPMASTRA)

    The course provides further knowledge on developing marketing strategies taking into consideration the company’s resources, market position, and competition. It demonstrates a parallelism between marketing and warfare, and applies the principles of military strategies to marketing situations. It focuses on the discussion and evaluation of the four competitive strategies extracted from military maneuver – offensive strategy, defensive strategy, flanking strategy, guerilla strategy – as applied to Marketing.

Supply Chain Management (SPSUPMAN)

   The course covers the study of management philosophies, concepts, trends, tools, and techniques involved in the integration of activities from the procurement of materials and services to their transformation into intermediate goods or final products, and ultimately to their distribution and delivery to customers. It deals with managerial processes that span functional areas within individual firms and links suppliers, trading partners, distributors, and customer across organizational boundaries. It considers logistics, technology, network design, and administration of supply chain from the standpoint of business strategy and global competition.

Total Quality Management (SPTOQMAN)

    The course covers the basic concepts and principles of Quality Excellence and how these may be applied in a company to improve operations. It focuses on strategic and tactical issues including the implementation of Quality Initiatives, such as TQM and SIX SIGMA. It discusses the role of management in starting and sustaining Quality Excellence initiatives in the organization.

4. Integrating Courses 

Economics for Managers (SPECOMAN)

    The course provides a working knowledge of Economics, the social science that deals with the optimal use of scarce material resources to maximize the satisfaction of human material needs and wants. It consists of two parts: Microeconomics, focusing on the use of the analytical tools and techniques to enable managers of an enterprise to make sound decisions that maximize the productivity of scarce organizational resources and the attainment of organization goals; and Macroeconomics with a business perspective, focusing on basic concepts and models concerning the nature and workings of a modern free-enterprise, market-based economy, particularly the key variables that affect the business environment, both national and global.

Strategic Management (SPSTRAMA)

    The course is the capstone course for the MBA Program. It involves the utilization of knowledge and skills acquired from other MBA courses as well as their integration and application in the real world setting, following the strategic management framework. The main areas covered include strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation and control. The framework is applicable to profit-oriented businesses, non-profit organizations, private enterprises, and government entities.

Contact Details

Registrar: Dr. Cesar Mansibang

Contact Persons:
Joan Villas (8997691 loc. 2214)
Baby Tranquilino (8997691 loc. 2216)
Lani Barroga (8985548)
Danny Cruz (8997691 loc. 2215)
Patrick Ignacio (8997691 loc. 2217)