Management, M.Sc.
I.H. Asper School of Business
Dean: Dr. Bruno Silvestre
Associate Dean(s): Dr. B. Biscontri, Dr. S. Gagnon, Dr. S. Sivaramakrishnan
Head: Dr. Suzanne Gagnon
Campus Address/General Office: 501 Drake Centre
Telephone: 431-336-0650
Email Address: phdmscasper@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/asper
Academic Staff: Please refer to the Asper website for academic staff information.
M.Sc. in Management Program Information
Students admitted to the Master of Science in Management degree program will pursue a research-focused degree in one of the departments of Marketing, Finance, Actuarial Mathematics, Business Administration or Supply Chain Management. The M.Sc. program in Management is designed to produce graduates who have an academically more in-depth, rigorous training in their chosen management field than is the case for either B.Comm (Hons.) graduates or MBA graduates. In addition, the program seeks to develop strong research skills to meet the needs of employers as well as to more effectively prepare M.Sc. students for entrance into Ph.D. programs at the University of Manitoba.
Admission Information
Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.
Admission requirements for Master’s students are found in the Master’s Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.
M.Sc. in Management Admission Requirements
Applicants must possess at least a four-year honours (or equivalent) degree from a recognized university in either a) management/business with a major in the same area or a similar area to be pursued in the M.Sc. or b) a degree from another Faculty with a closely related major. Applicants must provide the following prior to admission:
- A statement of goals and interests;
- An official transcript of academic record with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.5 scale (approximately 70% or a "B") in the last 60 credit hours;
- A score on a graduate aptitude test, preferably the GMAT, with a minimum score of 550 (GRE will be accepted with a mean percentile score across the three areas similar to the current acceptable percentile level of the GMAT);
- Three letters of recommendation two of which are from persons who know the candidate’s academic ability.
Application Information
Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the Management M.Sc. program of study page.
Applicants who are Canadian citizens/Permanent Residents of Canada with transcripts from universities or colleges in countries other than Canada and the United States are strongly advised to apply at least two months prior to the standard deadlines.
Degree Requirements
The basic program design assumes that students have completed an honours degree or its equivalent. Additional courses may be required subject to the discretion of the advisory committee if it is deemed that the candidate’s preparation is not sufficient in his/her area of specialization. The student’s advisory committee will make recommendations regarding deficient background, and the final program will be approved by the Graduate Research Program Committee.
All students must complete the following course requirements:
A minimum of 18 credit hours, at 7000 level or above, plus a thesis/practicum. This minimum will include:
- at least 6 credit hours of required graduate level courses in the student’s area of specialization and up to 12 credit hours of optional courses (subject to the approval of the advisory committee) - see area specific requirements below;
- a thesis or a practicum.
Business Administration (Industrial Relations/Human Resource Management/Management of Organizations/Organizational Behaviour) Option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GMGT 7440 | Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Theory (Ph.D.) | 3 |
| or GMGT 7410 | Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Behaviour (Ph.D.) | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Doctoral Seminar in Research Methods (Ph.D.) | ||
| Research Methods | ||
An equivalent 3-credit hour graduate level course in quantitative methods from another Faculty | ||
| Select four additional optional courses 1 | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
Among them, students are encouraged to take:
- an additional research methods course (quantitative or qualitative) and either a statistics or econometrics course and
- a philosophy of science course.
Marketing Option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 credit units from the following: | 6 | |
| Readings in Marketing (Ph.D.) | ||
| Doctoral Seminar in Marketing (Ph.D.) | ||
| Ph.D. Seminar in Buyer Behavior (Ph.D.) | ||
| Selected Topics in Marketing | ||
| Select 6 credit hours of approved research methods coursework at the graduate level | 6 | |
| Select 6 credit hours of approved coursework relevant to the chosen area of study | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Supply Chain Management Option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SCM 7020 | Seminar in Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| OPM 7120 | Operations and Supply Chain Management (recommended) (or other graduate level course in Supply Chain Management) | 3 |
| MKT 7080 | Selected Topics in Marketing (recommended) (or equivalent graduate level course) | 3 |
| Select at least three optional courses 1 | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
At least three courses relevant to the student's area of specialization at the 7000 level, from inside or outside the Asper School of Business, subject to the approval of the Curriculum Advisory Committee. Graduate level courses are recommended
Actuarial Mathematics Option
A total of 18 credit hours plus a thesis/practicum are required.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Advanced Topics in Actuarial Mathematics | ||
| Seminars in Actuarial Science | ||
| Longevity Risk Modeling and Management | ||
| Applied Statistical Methods in Actuarial Science | ||
| Options | ||
| Select 12 credit hours from the following: | 12 | |
| Readings in Quantitative Methods | ||
| Advanced Topics in Actuarial Mathematics | ||
| Seminars in Actuarial Science | ||
| Longevity Risk Modeling and Management | ||
| Applied Statistical Methods in Actuarial Science | ||
| Research Tools for Statistics | ||
| Agricultural Finance | ||
| Corporate Finance | ||
| Financial Economics | ||
Other 7000 level courses relevant to the Actuarial Mathematics specialization (e.g. Finance, Investments, etc.) as approved by the Curriculum Advisory Committee | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Finance Option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | ||
| Financial Economics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Empirical Asset Pricing | ||
| Seminar in Corporate Finance | ||
| Options 1 | ||
| Select one course in Research Methods from Econometrics courses offered at the Graduate level | 3 | |
| Select at least one of Microeconomics or Macroeconomics offered at the graduate level | 3 | |
| Select two optional electives chosen from graduate level courses offered in Finance, Econometrics, Microeconomics or Macroeconomics | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- 1
The recommended structure shown below is adjustable depending on the student's background and approval of the student's Curriculum Advisory Committee.
Expected Time to Graduate: 1-3 years
Progression Chart
| Year 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 courses (all at 7000 level or higher) 1 | 18 | |
| GRAD 7300 | Research Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 7500 | Academic Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| GRAD 7000 | Master's Thesis | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
See specific program requirements, by area, in the calendar.
Registration Information
Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.
Regulations
Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.
Supplementary Regulations
Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.
All students must successfully complete:
- GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
- GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;
unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.
Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.
General Regulations
All students must:
- maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).
Courses
Actuarial Studies
Supervised readings in one of the areas of quantitative methods.
The course consists of several topic presentations on current trends and issues in actuarial practice. Such issues may include but are not limited to: pension; universal life; critical illness; group benefits; individual retirement savings; capital guarantees under variable products; Canadian life & health insurers; micro-insurance;agricultural insurance; reinsurance; property insurance; catastrophe risk; and code of professional conduct.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ACT 3230 or consent of instructor.
This course introduces recent developments on longevity risk modelling and management. The students will be exposed to various research topics on longevity risk, mortality models for both single population and multiple populations, pricing longevity securities, measuring basis risk, and selecting hedging strategy.
A variety of mathematical methods and statistical models from quantitative risk management, including financial time series, multivariate models, aggregate risk, credit risk and operational risk.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: STAT 3600 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.
This course introduces applied statistical methods in actuarial science. The students will learn various research topics on regression and time series modeling in actuarial practices.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of instructor.
General Management
Supervised readings in one of the areas of business administration including human resource management, industrial relations, organizational behaviour, policy and environment.
Research in any one of the areas of administrative studies.
Principles of research design and data collection with examples drawn across the areas of marketing management, industrial relations, policy analysis, etc. Both cases and computer-based exercises are used.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: MSCI 5100.
A study of the goal-setting and decision-making processes in organizations and the implications for the growth and survival of such organizations.
An examination of theories of interpersonal behaviour and processes as they apply to managerial situations. Emphasis upon individual behaviour and change, group dynamics, leadership behaviour, and communications.
Analysis of the environmental factors within which a business operates.
An examination of personal, interpersonal and organizational power in the context of organizational politics. Topics covered include rational versus political models of organizations, the accumulation and management of personal power, the politics of decision-making, the politics of managerial succession, the politics of budgets, authority, intergroup conflict, and bargaining and negotiation processes.
This course introduces students to different ways of thinking about cognitive dimensions of organizational leadership. Approaches include the creative (divergent perspective), the critical (convergent perspective) and the holistic (systems-perspective) with special emphasis on understanding the nature and appropriateness of different forms of cognition in organizational leadership.
Students will integrate and apply concepts from various functional areas in analyzing organizational resources and capabilities, and environmental opportunities and threats. Students will study evolving strategic management problems and practices, and examine issues of formulation and implementation.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ACC 7010 (or ACC 6050), FIN 7020 (or FIN 6072), GMGT 7200, GMGT 7220 (or one of HRIR 7450 and GMGT 6030), MKT 7010 (or MKT 6080), and OPM 7120 (or OPM 6090). Pre- or Co-requisites: FIN 7000 (FIN 7120 or IDM 7720), ACC 7020 (or ACC 6060), MIS 7120 (or MIS 6150), IDM 7120 (or IDM 7060), IDM 7130, and IDM 7510.
This course examines strategies and methods for the management of people in organizations, their implications for organizational effectiveness, and both the challenges and opportunities they present to managers within the Canadian context and beyond.
This course helps familiarize students with the principles of integrative and distributive bargaining as a tool for decision-making and conflict resolution. It draws on theory and research from psychology, economics, and conflict management, and allows students to apply these principles in simulated negotiation contexts.
Topics in one of the areas of business administration including human resource management, industrial relations, organizational theory and behaviour, and business policy and strategic management.
This course will operate in a seminar format with two goals. The first goal is to provide an environment in which the student can develop and manage to successful conclusion a project in which they have significant intrinsic interest. The second goal is to improve the student's understanding of the inner life of an organization by increasing his/her ability to discriminate between the organizational "ropes to skip and the ropes to know."
An examination of organizational design characteristics in the context of a competitive international perspective. Emphasis is on an organizational and technological innovation to facilitate the development of new products or processes or to implement change in existing products or processes. Topics covered include Canadian experience and policy, facilitators and inhibitors in the creative process, diffusion of innovations, and the aims of the patent process.
An examination of theory and research from the social and administrative sciences that focuses on the interaction between organizations and their environments. The evaluation and synthesis of theoretical and empirical work in this area will be emphasized.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in Management (Organizational Behaviour) or approval by instructor.
An examination of theory and research from the social and administrative sciences that is relevant to the behaviour of individuals and groups within organizations. Emphasis will be placed on evaluation and synthesis of theoretical and empirical work in this area.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in Management (Organizational Behaviour) or approval by instructor.
The major goal of this course is to familiarize students with central schools of thought within organization theory. As with other theories in the social sciences, these schools of thought tend to be based on differing assumptions about the nature of the organizational world, the operation of causality, epistemology, and the role of human actors.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in Management (Organizational Behaviour) or approval by instructor.
An examination of the role of the manager as a change agent and processes associated with strategic vision and change. Analysis of factors affecting strategic decisions and how organizations adapt to their environment. Emphasis is upon the role of leaders: transformational leadership, charisma, organizational design and managing organizational culture change.
An examination of strategies and development of skills for effective oral, written, non-verbal, interpersonal, group, cross-cultural, and ethical communication in management.
An examination of current issues in areas which could, for example, include: organizational behaviour, organizational theory, strategy, human resource management, and industrial relations.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Principles of research design and data collection appropriate for the areas of marketing, management, industrial relations, policy analysis, finance, management science, etc. Research problems and issues will be discussed from a number of perspectives. Conceptual material, statistical analyses, theoretical material and the utilization of statistical application software are used as the bases for seminar discussion.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in Management or approval by instructor.
Focus is on the interpersonal, intergroup, and intra-organizational communication skills required for effective leadership, and the objectives are to assist the participants in the following: increasing the clarity, correctness, and effectiveness of written and oral communication; recognizing and analysing communication dynamics at work in personal, group, and organizational interactions; increasing combination flexibility and proficiency in times of corporate challenge, change, and crisis.
To provide an awareness of key components of the economic/business environment. Identifies critical indicators that affect decision-making and suggests strategies for forecasting future conditions. Topics covered include critical demographic trends, the change technological frontier, international trade, finance, and investment trends, and trends in interest rates and exchange rates. A theoretical overview will precede the discussion of business conditions indicators.
Focuses on the logic of political-economic-business relations. The point of view is that of the manager. Specific tools of analysis are discussed that assist managers in understanding and working with aspects of public policy which interface with their private sector decisions.
Marketing
Discussion of the marketing function and its importance to the organization. The course will focus on strategic and tactical issues related to market segmentation, positioning, targeting, product management, pricing, promotion, and distribution, both from a for-profit and not-for-profit perspective.
A study of selected areas of recent development in the field of marketing. Topics may include the marketing of services, market research, business to business marketing, marketing channel systems, personal selling or sales management, and physical distribution.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: MKT 7010 or MKT 6080.
A survey of current literature in the major areas of marketing and marketing research. Emphasis upon empirical developments as they affect the application of marketing concepts.
Advanced study of marketing thought integrating the functional areas of marketing. Seminars on selected research topics and recent developments in the field.
Concepts and literature relating psychological and sociological perspectives to buyer behaviour in Marketing.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Application of the principles of marketing from a managerial viewpoint; emphasis on marketing planning, strategy, and control; and appraisal of the effectiveness of marketing activities.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: MKT 7010 (formerly MKT 6080).
Designed to give the student a deeper understanding of the dynamics of marketing behavior. Oriented towards theoretical conceptualizations of the problems and practices in marketing areas.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: MKT 7010 (formerly MKT 6080).
Study of selected topics in marketing with emphasis on recent theoretical developments and their application.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: MKT 7010 (formerly MKT 6080).
The intensive study of customer psychology associated with the development of effective marketing techniques. An in-depth knowledge of what motivates customers and the manner in which they make purchase decisions helps managers in predicting customer reactions to changes in the marketing mix and to the introduction of new products and services. Course topics first examine customers at the individual-level, and then address the interdependent aspects of consumption behavior by examining its social and cultural context.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Pre- or co-requisite: MKT 7010 (formerly MKT 6080).
A study of problems and opportunities of marketing in foreign environments. It will focus on the cultural, economic and geographical problems encountered in managing the marketing function from a Canadian manager’s perspective.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: MKT 7010 (formerly MKT 6080).
Supervised readings in one of the areas of Marketing.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: MKT 7010 (formerly MKT 6080) and at least one other graduate level marketing course.
Supply Chain Management
Provides students at the graduate level with an in-depth examination of the major issues associated with the management of supply chains. The course content includes both managerial and technical matters, and addresses issues such as the importance of supply chain management in meeting global competition, internet and e-business application, supply chain integration and relationships, sharing risks and rewards, and the reduction of variance in supply chain performance.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: A degree in business or discipline related to supply chain management or approval by instructor.
To critically review, gain a deeper understanding and academic appreciation of the core POM literature; to develop mature researchable ideas that fill research gaps in the area of POM as identified in the articles and in-class discussions; to pursue research topics in POM and conceptualize, craft, and shape intriguing research questions that may lead to long-term researchable programs; to present their research ideas/articles and critique the merits/shortcomings of others' research work in the area of POM
Simulation is a powerful tool to analyze complex systems. Simulation is a method to mimic the behavior of real systems. This course introduces computer-based simulation and modeling with applications to supply chain and operations management where decision making can be enhanced through the modeling and analysis of complex systems. The course assumes a previous knowledge of probability and statistics.
The course emphasises empirical/conceptual research and aims to provide an opportunity for graduate students to gain a deeper understanding and an academic appreciation of the Production and Operations Management's literature. This course is a research-based seminar that is designed to be the driver for the graduate students’ foundational research knowledge in Production and Operations Management.
This seminar course is designed to expose graduate students to cutting-edge research in supply chain management. It aims to develop an academic appreciation of the area literature by emphasizing empirical and conceptual papers and by assisting students in conducting independent research, critiquing articles, developing novel research ideas, and writing research papers that are both relevant and academically rigorous.
This course adopts a broad view of supply chain sustainability. From a functional perspective, SCM includes logistics, purchasing, and a few aspects of marketing. Sustainability is also a multi-dimensional concept, spanning environmental, cultural, social and economic elements. The course has a special focus on sustainable transportation. Various research methods, from content analysis to analytical modeling to survey research are discussed. Delivery happens via a variety of interactive lectures, individual and small group exercises, discussions, and writing/presenting a supply chain sustainability term paper.
Logistics Management is the part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services, and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers' requirements. This course provides a practical, management perspective of the following areas of logistics: distribution, transportation, international logistics, inventory control, sustainable logistics practices, key performance indicators, supply chain finance, leadership in a supply chain role, and an introduction to logistics technology including RFID and ERP systems.
Purchasing and procurement functions are about much more than bringing goods and services into an organization. They are the foundation of strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers. Since many companies source products from around the globe more frequently than ever, a procurement manager needs strong capabilities. These skills cannot just be learned on the job: they need to be taught. As well, the value of procurement is now recognized as an integral part of cost control within the organization. In this course, you'll learn the basics of procurement, including what a supply chain looks like, the purchasing cycle, essential tools and strategies for making the best purchasing relationships work, managing bids, and more.
Successful Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) needs effective contract and performance management in place for the selected suppliers. Also, a successful SRM programme needs full engagement from the key stakeholders across the business. However, engaging internal stakeholders in SRM activities is challenging and the ability to sell internally and externally is essential. Since maximising the value that is captured from major suppliers delivers significant business benefits, this course covers the approaches needed internally and externally to secure value delivery from suppliers.
Sustainability efforts can open many opportunities for businesses— product innovation can lead to first-mover advantage, environmental product differentiation can open new markets, green sourcing and waste reduction can reduce operating cost, etc. At the same time, they can present significant challenges—governments and communities are imposing higher standards on pollution, resource exploitation, etc. This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the sustainability challenges and opportunities facing supply chains today. We will took at some of the factors that are contributing to the adoption of sustainability strategies, such as legislations that are penalizing negative environmental and social impacts, and society’s expectations of business in terms of health, human rights, and the environment. The supply chains today cannot be concerned only with creating shareholder value; their performance is also measured in terms of social, environmental and economic impact.
Advanced Supply Chain Management (ASCM) provides a theoretical basis for multi-disciplinary analysis and improvement of supply chains and networks, focusing especially on supply chain modelling methods to support managerial decision making. Supply chains are often globally interconnected systems with a large variety of complex relationships. This is also affecting the ways in which goods and services are developed, produced, processed and delivered to the market.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: MSCI 7140.
This course aims to provide students with a hands-on experience in Supply Chain Management and Logistics. Students will be placed in positions within organizations operating in the Province of Manitoba and Canada to experience supply chain management and logistics management in practice. A pre-employment training to students without significant work experience in North America may be required. The pre-employment training and placement of students will be performed in coordination with the Asper School of Business Graduate Co-operative Education Program, always striving lo match the interests of the student with the interests of the hosting organization. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.
This course aims to provide students with a hands-on experience in Supply Chain Management and Logistics. Students will explore and address real issues in the supply chain and logistics sector in the context of the Province of Manitoba and/or Canada under the supervision of a Faculty Member of the Department of Supply Chain Management, Asper School of Business, and in close connection with the target organization. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.