MBA 625: Change Management (Dr. Les Hirst)

There is no doubt in today’s fast-paced world of constant change that every organization must be thinking about change. But even change thinking is changing. Unfortunately, the success of implementing such change has a poor track record. According to the latest research, 70% of change initiatives fail to accomplish their goal. The majority of failure isn’t attributed to bad technology or poor product development. The roadblocks to change are primarily human centered: fear, politics, motivation, and clarity, among others.

This course focuses on how organizations change and how to “see” into the future in order focus on transformational change rather than incremental steps. Students will learn such skills as navigating organizational influences on their change project, mapping their stakeholders, vision-casting for clarity and buy-in, and identifying KPIs for determining success. During the course, students will actively implement the skills in this course via a Group Project and through a practical final project within their current organization.

Law, Ethics & Giving Voice to Values (Dr. Olajide Olagunju)

Most organizations comply with legal guidelines or suffer the consequences. But is that enough? The actions of leaders and their organizations can be legal but not necessarily ethical. The answer to what is ethical is not as black and white as we would like to believe. Is legislating the answer? Is having a compliance program sufficient? How do leaders wrestle with the right thing to do from the perspective of multiple stakeholders?

One of the most important leadership skills needed in today’s world is the ability to move beyond either/or to both/and. This class will examine how the law influences decision-making for both profit and nonprofit organizations and looks at the ethical issues that emerge. Ethical topics will include the environment, supply chain, consulting and services, marketing, employment law and other ethical quagmires. Key philosophies of ethics and social responsibility are examined through class exercises and case studies.

Students will have the opportunity to examine their personal ethical lens, reflect on their “line-in-the-sand,” and consider the influence of their cultural experiences. We will also provide training in developing the skills and culture in organizations that promote the desires and abilities for people to Speak Up! Giving Voice to Values is changing the world by changing people, organizations, and industries globally. The class involves reading, discussion, presentations, case studies, videos, and guest speakers.

LIA 600: Imagination, Creativity & Beauty (Dr. Maria Pompea)

Can beauty save the world? Indeed, it already has, but activating and applying this truth – by exploring and embracing new/imaginative ideas and resulting creativity - requires informed, impassioned intent. This course will address the generative force of redemptive imagination, creativity and beauty as empowered agents of good capable of overcoming evil within global cultural constructs. The study will examine the theology and sociology of imagination, creativity, beauty, culture care, creative place-making, the arts in ministry and the creative leader. Acknowledging the fact that cities are idea centers fueled by imagination, creativity and a love for beauty, the class coursework, interaction and projects will also focus on the critical role of engaging the creative and the beautiful as lifelong pursuits for the transformational leader.

Bus 624: Entrepreneurship for Wealth Creation (Dr. Dotun Reju)

The course seeks to widen the scope of the concept of entrepreneurship beyond economic activity into holistic wealth creation in work, life, relationships and social impact. It will be built on the Theology of Work concept thereby exposing students to the purpose of creative work, their own unique calling/giftedness as human dignity and investible capital.

This course explores the meaning of Entrepreneurship through:

1. Biblical lens – humans as expressions of the Creator God designed to engage in creative work for God’s glory and human flourishing.

2. Contextual lens – showing how worldviews shape entrepreneurial orientation with specific focus on African traditional & cultural views and practices of Wealth Creation are being impacted by globalization and their colonial heritage.

3. And it is theological – investigating wealth, poverty and work in the light of God’s timeless Word and the contemporary situation. Having a theology of work is critical for accurate understanding of poverty, wealth and entrepreneurship.

ASM 701: Organizational Assessment (Dr. Scholastica Wilson Olagunju)

This course will address systemic issues that affect organizations as they exist in both local and global contexts, including the following goals.

• To assess and prepare organizations and associations for the public good,

• To discover and use “best practices” to improve an organization’s effectiveness, efficiency, and contribution to a local context as well as the global society, while reducing negative impact,

• To reflect spiritually on organizational leadership and structures, considering concepts such as Theology of Work and Joy and Work.

Transformative organizations must be in a continual process of self-assessment as they meet challenges of an ever-changing world. This course will help students design an organizational assessment process specifically designed for their institutions, which might be a church, an NGO, other non-profit groups, for-profit endeavors, or governmental agencies. The organizational assessment is a continuous, iterative process of understanding, engaging, and evaluating organizations as they evolve and change in response to various internal and external stimuli. Students in this course will learn applied theory as scholar-practitioners. They will develop tools, techniques, and tactics for the purpose of transforming organizations to better achieve their redemptive purposes.

MBA 600: Work, Calling & Human Dignity (Dr. Dotun Reju)

In order to integrate life in work, life, relationships and social impact students need a core understanding of the purpose of work their own unique calling and the purpose of human dignity. Every BGU degree starts with this course in various forms. This course explores the meaning and ministry of work, which engages people for most of their waking hours.