The Second-year curriculum

During the second year, students will take elective courses that best match their individual interests and objectives. Students can also select one or two concentration areas and choose elective courses accordingly. Second-year students also pursue one such interest as a research project: a professional investigation of an original management problem. All the courses offered in E-Biz Program are open to MBA students during the second year. To further complement the MBA curriculum, a number of course offered by the Graduate School of International Relations are open for cross-registration as second-year electives.

Required Course

Platform Seminar / Advanced Seminar  

Students are required to choose either PLATFORM Seminar track or Advanced Seminar track by the registration deadline of the fall term in their second year.  Both PLATFORM Seminars and Advanced Seminars serve as vehicles for writing the graduation research report but they are different in many respects. 

PLATFORM Seminars are offered by each PLATFORM in IUJ-REP. Students will conduct research with other students in the PLATFROM under the supervision and guidance of its PLATFORM coordinator and participating faculty members.   The typical output will be a team graduation research report written with other students.

If a student has his/her own research interests which none of the above PLATFORMs covers, he/she is recommended to choose the Advanced Seminar track. The Advanced Seminar is conducted on a tutorial basis and the graduation research report is written alone.

For more details about these seminars and schedule for writing the graduation research report, please refer to http://www.iuj.ac.jp/im-info/

               

Elective Courses

Corporate Restructuring and M&A 

This course is designed to provide second-year finance major MBA students with a general understanding of financial and strategic aspects of financial restructuring and M&A transactions. The topics to be discussed include transaction(s) that restructure the firm in some particular way. The objectives of this course are: (1) to help the students build a framework to analyze corporate restructuring/reorganization transactions primarily through techniques of financial analysis; (2) to provide an overview of approaches in corporate restructuring and mergers and acquisitions, which can then be critically applied to solve the strategic problems of firms; and (3) to establish an economic perspective from which to access corporate and social consequences of alternative corporate restructuring and reorganization techniques. We deal with both international (mostly U.S.) and Japanese cases in corporate restructuring and M&A. 

Debt Securities Markets

This course is primarily designed to provide in-depth analyses of concepts and techniques used in designing, pricing, risk analysis, securitization, and portfolio management of fixed income securities (bonds). The course also covers recent developments in structured products such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. The knowledge and skills important both for investors and issuers will be obtained through hands-on exercises. This course requires basic knowledge of fixed income securities, although there is no specific prerequisite course.

Derivatives Markets

The main purposes of this course are: 1) to understand concepts, principles, and tools for the analysis and valuation of derivative securities such as Forwards, Futures, Swaps, and Options, which are being applied in modern corporate finance, investments, and the management of financial institutions and 2) to obtain basic skills to apply your understanding of derivative securities for Risk Management and Financial Engineering. The knowledge and skills about derivative securities allow you to pursue many goals, which cannot be achieved only with traditional securities, in investments, risk management, and management of corporations. In other words, you will extend your knowledge of corporate finance, investments, and portfolio management into the advanced stage. This course requires basic knowledge of traditional securities such as stocks and bonds, and corporate finance, although there is no specific prerequisite course.

Financial Risk Modeling

This course will introduce you to financial modeling using Excel/VBA spreadsheet models. Pricing will be performed using actual term sheets & case studies.
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
● build financial instruments in excel
● understand how to calculate VaR and the strengths/weaknesses of the various approaches
● understand the importance of stress-testing

Money and Banking in Japan

This course deals with characteristics of the Japanese financial system, through discussions of "hot issues". Problem loans are currently a hot issue. Consolidation of major banks if also a hot issue. Through the study and discussion of these issues, we can learn about the role of banks, the importance of the financial system, the relationship between banks and business corporations, and so on. In addition, this course provides a comparative analysis between Japan and the United States. Topics covered include the following: (1) The current situation of Japanese problem loans; (2) Comparative analysis of problem loans between the US and Japan; (3) The historical role of Japanese banks that promoted economic expansion in the old days and has resulted in serious problems today; (4) Unique aspects of Japanese business customs involving banks and their changes, including the so-called main-bank and cross-share-holding or "mochiai" and less effective securities markets; and (5) Reform of Japan's financial system.

Investments

This course will introduce you to major issues currently of concern to all investors in global financial markets. First, you will understand the basic mechanism of financial markets over viewing major players, assets, and conventions. Second, you will understand basic theories of investment analysis. Finally, you will obtain basic skills necessary to implement theories in real financial markets. Throughout this course, students will be equipped with knowledge and skills essential to start investments as an investment professional or a sophisticated individual investor. In addition, if you plan to take elective finance courses at IUJ such as Portfolio Management, Derivatives Markets, and Debt Securities Markets, this course will be an important foundation.

Portfolio Management

The primary purpose of this course is to explore concepts in and approaches to portfolio management in financial markets. The theories of portfolio optimization and management are discussed with an emphasis on using real-world data to further understand how the theories relate to practice. Some applied topics such as the application of the modern portfolio theory in real estate markets may be also covered. Upon completion of the course, you should have a good understanding of portfolio optimization, objectives and constrains in portfolio management, and portfolio performance evaluation. Also, you will obtain skills to implement theories in real financial markets.

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Anywhere in the world, mobility of people, technology, and money are behind the creation of new entrepreneurial firms. Venture capitalists and private equity funds are willing to pick-up these opportunities, with strategic decisions on industry sectors and geographic focus that may shape the venture business of the next five-ten years. That was true ahead of the current economical crisis. All the more is true today, when private equity is returning to its roots and concentrating on generating the sorts of structural and strategic enhancements that led to its emergence in the first place. It needs to set it sights on, for example, the improvement in productivity per worker that can be inspired. This capacity to restructure is crucial in a recession. The industry’s transformation can already be witnessed but the pace of change has to hasten further.

“Private Equity & Venture Capital” course aims at addressing the fundamentals underlying this phenomenon, analysing the industry from the Japanese perspective, with particular emphasis on Japanese venture capital funding in ICT industry. The course aims also at getting students understand - through the insights of the decision-taking process that (in Japan) leads to an investment decision - the mechanism of venture funding from the point-view of an investor.

Value-Based Management for Japan

This course discusses characteristics of Japanese corporate management in the context of corporate finance. After reviewing the overall climate for Japanese companies in terms of corporate performance as well as capital market recognition, the course will focus on discussion of actual efforts taken by leading Japanese companies aiming at value creation. The course will introduce an economic performance model named EVAR (Economic Value Added) to capture the real value for a business and participants are expected to be familiar to value-based management using economic framework of EVA with adequate examples for Japanese companies. Discussion includes performance measure, historical performance evaluation, capital budgeting, company valuation, financial policy, corporate governance, and incentive compensation.

Corporate Governance in Asia

This course hopes to explore commercial, financial, political and regulatory issues which define how corporations are directed and controlled throughout both the developed and developing countries in Asia, with special attention to the case of Japanese corporations and regulations. Successful students will come away from the course with a solid understanding of the regulatory structures, local corporate cultures, global standards, and outside (shareholder, employee, societal, environmental) pressures that define the corporate governance for a representative number of the major Asian markets.

 

Corporate Financial Reporting

As global capital markets expand, the importance of corporate financial reporting continues to grow. This course builds on the first-year Financial Accounting course and explores more advanced topics: pension, lease and off-balance-sheet financing, stock compensations, income tax, and merger and acquisition. The course also introduces institutional setting of financial reporting. Based on this setting, we critically examine accounting standards, the relationship between stock market and financial reporting, earnings quality, and earnings management. Real world cases will be used to illustrate the issues.

Financial Statement Analysis

Financial statement analysis plays a very prominent role for credit and capital markets. This course helps students learn basic tools for analyzing financial statements and evaluating the financial condition of firms. Main topics include financial ratio analysis, credit analysis, assessment of earnings quality, evaluation of the impact of alternative accounting methods, and various equity valuation methods. Various real world case exercises will provide students with practical experience to work on financial statements.

International Taxation

This course is designed to provide an overview of various international tax risks and opportunities that affect corporations and individuals in today's global business environment.

Topics include:

1. International double taxation
2. Elimination of double taxation
3. Cross-boarder withholding tax
4. Tax consequences of form of operating entities (representative office, branch, subsidiary, and a pass-through entity ?partnership & limited liability company),
5. Anti-tax avoidance rules (tax haven taxation rules)
6. Tax treaty
7. Transfer pricing
8. Tax arbitrage: dual residence, hybrid entities, hybrid instruments, double dip leasing, etc.
9. International tax strategy and planning

The course’s main objective is to raise the awareness of MBA students concerning current international tax planning opportunities and tax issues & risks which non-tax /accounting management member should be aware of when they are involved in making decision concerning cross-boarder business and transactions.

 

Brand Management

Professor Philip Sugai, who had managed marketing at American Express, NY, prior to joining IUJ, teaching a Marketing course.

One of the most effective tools to hedge against market risk and distance similar products or services from competitors is an organization's underlying brand identity. This course provides MBA candidates with the skills needed to successfully develop, manage and promote the core values of an organization's brand internally and in competitive markets. We accomplish this through two specific components. First, we provide a framework within which MBA candidates will be able to study those factors that most often determine the overall success of particular brands in competitive markets. Second, we then provide practical tools to develop and implement winning brands, including the ability to develop a clear market vision, implement a successful marketing strategy, identify and communicate with a specific target audience and position a product for optimal success. This course will especially focus on best-in-class branding strategies and practices across a number of industries.

Marketing Communications

This course provides an overview of the elements of marketing communications and how it is employed to further the goals of a company’s business through the building of brand. Particular emphasis will be place on the strategic thought behind the creation and implementation of a marcom plan and how individual tactics are combined for maximum efficacy. Consideration of budget and evaluation of the results of advertising and public relations will also be covered.Marketing in Japan

Japan is the world's second biggest economy, and as such, most of marketing concepts practiced in Japan are globalized, nevertheless they are in many points very unique. This course specifically focuses on those points such as consumer behavior, market structure, and implementation of marketing strategy in pricing, sales promotion, advertising, distribution, etc. It also covers various factors that are pressing for important changes in Japanese marketing practices.

Marketing Research

Informed decisions require the analysis of data regarding the environment and its interaction with company decisions. Marketing Research is designed to give students knowledge of the variety of research techniques available, along with their strengths, weaknesses and primary applications. Techniques include gathering secondary data, qualitative research techniques, sampling procedures, survey design, experimental design, basic descriptive statistics, regression, factor analysis, conjoint analysis and other advanced data analysis techniques. For many of these techniques, students gather and analyze data, thus moving beyond simple knowledge of marketing research to a true appreciation of its capabilities and limitations.

Marketing Strategy

This course examines the concepts and logics of marketing strategy and applies these in business cases involving some of the world’s leading companies. We will examine strategic contexts in a variety of industries where businesses are under ever-intensifying pressure to cut costs while increasing product quality and services. This course aims to provide the following skills for the participants:

An end-to-end sense of (i) how to relate marketing strategies to corporate and business strategies by understanding and measuring market opportunities, (ii) how to segment, target, and position value offerings for differentiation, and (iii) how to implement such strategies and monitor performance via appropriate metrics.

In-depth analysis and understanding of the conditions, characteristics, and consequences of strategic alternatives available to firms for new market entries, growth markets, mature and declining markets, and the new economy.

The ability to formulate, analyze, and synthesize marketing strategies for real-world companies facing real-time challenges, through individual and group projects.

New Product Development

The ability to successfully develop and launch a new product into the market is one of the fundamental skills that today's business executives must understand. This course examines the most successful strategies, processes and methods used to bring a product from idea generation to market launch. Students will examine the institutional implications of new product development, barriers to success, and effective methods to drive a new product concept through the entire development cycle. Emphasis will be placed on the ability of marketing managers to integrate R&D, consumer and corporate views while guiding a product along the development path. This course will look at a number of industries including high technology, Internet, financial services and manufacturing.

Corporate Social Responsibility

While the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was limited to corporate philanthropy or regulatory compliance in the past, it is now linked to intangible value of firms. For example, investors have begun to recognize that the tangible values of the firms stated in the financial statement are only the tip of the iceberg of the true corporate value. CSR is becoming the main component of the intangible value of firms that exist below the sea level. This course introduces concepts and practices of CSR. We will review different theoretical approaches in CSR to build our conception foundation on this subject. We will also use case studies through the course to understand how firms cope with different stakeholders surrounding them including customers, shareholders and employees as well as suppliers, financial institutions, governments and local communities. We attempt to understand both theories and practices of CSR in this course.

Cross Cultural Management

The main objectives of this course are to help students to understand how cultures have an influence upon doing international business across borders and to help them prepare personally and professionally to succeed in a global business context. This course focuses on management and organizational behavior from three perspectives: that is, the values, attitudes, and behaviors that are common to a cluster of countries, specific to one country, or specific to major cultural subgroups within one country. Topics also include management customs and practices in different regions of the world, cross-cultural learning and communications, the development of culturally and internationally experienced employees, teams and managers who will assist in achieving success for an individual, a team, or a firm in cross-cultural business environment.

Developing Leadership

In this course, the students will learn basic theory and practices in leadership and Management. First, the students will review roles of leaders and managers and learn differences and similarities between leaders and managers .Second, the students will learn effective behaviors of leaders and managers, including setting vision and objectives, improving productivity of people and empowering people, third, the students will review characteristics of effective leaders in their own country and in Japan. Upon completion of the course, the students will be equipped with Knowledge and behavior required to become an effective leader/manager. 

Doing Business in Emerging Countries

The purpose of this course is to introduce students of what should be considered fordoing business in emerging countries. For business executives, markets in emerging countries seem to be attractive. However, it is also difficult especially for multinationals from developed countries to enter emerging markets. The course highlights the difference between developed market and emerging market by focusing on government-business relationships and institutional environment.

Global Strategy and Organization

This course addresses issues of corporate strategy in the context of ever-increasing global competition. The course is designed to help students understand the nature and functioning of multinational (and typically multi-business) corporations, and fundamental managerial challenges they are facing. The course also aims to help students acquire frameworks and skills to analyze those challenges, and develop broad capabilities for international business management. The course is case-driven, and the cases give students an opportunity to apply concepts and frameworks in identifying and framing strategic challenges in international managerial settings and crafting effective responses to those challenges.

Human Resource Management

The primary purpose of this course is to provide students with basic theoretical framework and knowledge of Human Resources Management (HRM) necessary for managers in international business field. In learning process, this course analyses traditional Japanese HRM model for comparison in international business field. This HRM course also provides practical knowledge and essential skills to manage people in organizations effectively that goes beyond the basic theories. The students will also understand problems caused by cultural difference in management field are also rational and are possible to solve through HRM theories and practical wisdom. The students will learn how they should treat and organize people’s problems in an organization in international business field by the end of this course To achieve these objectives, this course may provide knowledge in organizational behaviors and leadership areas when it is necessary.

Innovation and New Business Creation

The course examines how firms develop new businesses based on product and process innovation. In particular, we will look at how firms cope with disruptive changes, identify new markets to enter, acquire new technologies, manage internal corporate ventures, and vitalize organizational dynamics for innovation and new business creation. The course gives an overview of major theoretical perspectives and introduces several cases for class discussion.
 

International Business 

The purpose of this course is to introduce students of what should be considered for international business. For business executives, expanding their business to overseas seem to be attractive and challenging. The course highlights the difficulties and trend of international business by focusing both on the case of developed market based MNCs go emerging markets and emerging market based MNCs to go other emerging markets or developed markets.

International Career Development

The primary objective of this course is to help students manage and develop their own career in an international business context. In this course, while students are introduced to conceptual framework of career development by learning skills and knowledge necessary for success of their career choice in international environments, the uniqueness of this course lies in the sense that its main focus is on students who participate in this course. They are required to make their career visions, missions, and goals that they want to achieve in the future. In this process, this course will help students deepen to know about themselves regarding their own values, philosophy, career anchors, a preferred way of learning, and strengthens and weaknesses of competencies for an individual success in organizations.

Intenational Finance Law

This course will introduce you to the basics of international finance law. Before making plans to provide financing to developing countries or to participate in projects there, you should know how bankers (and sometimes lawyers as well) evaluate risks, structure transactions, and develop contracts. In the international negotiation process to promote investments or debt reschedulings, etc., it would be advantageous to you to understand the basics of international finance law and practice.

Negotiation Stragegy

Due to the rapid change within today global business environment, business leaders at every level and in every industry must balance various working styles, build efficient management teams, and develop sharp negotiation skills to remain competitive. This course will help students to understand best practices in business negotiations as well as how to effectively resolve conflicts in everyday business situations. A business negotiation may be sometimes the formal affair that takes place across the proverbial bargaining table, in which a business people argue and discuss a wide variety of issues for either individual or mutual gain. Alternatively, such negotiations may be much less formal, such as a meeting between a business person and several fellow employees whose collaboration is need to get a job done. Through this Negotiation class, students will gain the fundamental management skills required to succeed in their future work environment as a business leader. Students will gain such skills through case studies, short cases and role playing.

e-Business courses

MBA students can take E-Business Management Program's courses as second-year electives.