Learning Goals
Learning Goals for Undergraduates at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business
Program Mission Statement
The mission of the McDonough School of Business is to educate students to be ethically responsible and effective business leaders. Our goal is that students be able to improve the management of existing organizations and create new ones in order to responsibly help raise global standards of living. The learning goals focus on business knowledge, management, analytical, and communication skills, and unique Georgetown perspectives.
Business Knowledge and Analytical Skills
Learning Goal: Our graduates will have the knowledge and the analytical, management, and quantitative skills necessary to advance organizations and improve their performance.
Learning Outcomes:
• Our students will master the key frameworks, models, and skills that reflect the body of knowledge in their major, and will apply discipline-based habits of analytical thinking to problems and opportunities.
• Our students will be skilled in the analysis of both qualitative information and quantitative data. They will be able to frame problems, apply appropriate analytical techniques, and draw valid conclusions and recommendations.
Ethical and Social Justice Perspective
Learning Goal:
Our graduates will develop an understanding of business that reflects the moral responsibility of management to all relevant stakeholders and the natural environment.
Learning Outcomes:
• Our graduates will understand the cultural and ethical complexities of conducting business on a global scale and be able to suggest appropriate courses of action.
• Our students will understand how to integrate the Jesuit ideal of “service to others” in their leadership and business practices.
• Our students will understand the importance of and techniques for measuring the impact of firms on people and their natural environment.
Global Perspective
Learning Goal: Our graduates will have developed a global and multi-cultural perspective on the business enterprise and acquire the leadership skills necessary to be a successful leader in a global organization.
Learning Outcomes:
• Our students will learn about the ways national culture, law, and other social structures affect organizations and the ways that organizations affect their host countries.
• Our students will develop the skills and perspective needed for effective leadership in a multi-cultural environment.
• Our students will learn to apply the analytical content of their major in an international setting.
Communication Skills
Learning Goal: Our graduates will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of settings to advance organizational objectives and to meet challenges.
Learning Outcomes:
• Our students will be able to synthesize and summarize information and to professionally communicate their analyses, arguments, and recommendations to a variety of audiences.
• Our students will be skilled in written, oral, and visual communication and will be able to effectively choose communication methods that are appropriate to the topic, objective, and setting.
Learning Goals for the MBA (Full-Time and Evening Programs) at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business
Program Mission Statement
The MBA Full-Time Program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business delivers premier management education to develop globally minded, ethical business leaders who value service to others. Five critical learning goals instill core values of learning, community, global mindset, integrity, and professionalism that pervade the curriculum and co-curricular activities.
Core Business Knowledge
Learning Goal: Strong, integrated skills in the theory and practices of core business disciplines—accounting, decision sciences, economics, finance, international business, leadership, management, marketing, operations, and strategy.
Learning Outcomes:
• Demonstrate critical business thinking in at least one of the core business disciplines and sufficient analytical understand of other disciplines to support integrated and holistic decision making.
• Present a cogent and persuasive analysis of a core business situation in written and oral forms.
Ethical Leadership
Learning Goal: A habit and practice for eliciting the talents of others toward effective and ethical business practices. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Learning Outcomes:
• Understand the highest ethical standards and codes of conduct appropriate to business practices.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply ethical standards and codes of conduct in real business situations, especially where ethical practice may appear to conflict with financial and strategic objectives.
Financial Intelligence
Learning Goal: Ability to understand and manage an organization’s financial accounts and investments to realize strategic objectives.
Learning Outcomes:
• Understand the highest ethical standards and codes of conduct appropriate to business practices.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply ethical standards and codes of conduct in real business situations, especially where ethical practice may appear to conflict with financial and strategic objectives.
Strategic Thinking
Learning Goal: Ability to analyze industries, markets, and competitors toward the design and implementation of cogent and successful competitive strategies.
Learning Outcomes:
• Present a cogent and persuasive analysis of a core business situation in written and oral forms.
Global Perspective
Learning Goal: Insightful understanding of cultural differences toward effective and ethical business practices that benefit the employees, customers, and shareholders of the firm as well as community stakeholders throughout the world.
Learning Outcomes:
• Anticipate cultural differences in global business situations that will challenge fundamental assumptions about “normal” business practice.
• Demonstrate respect for alternative ways of doing things.
• Alter practices in an appropriate, ethical, and professional manner.
Learning Goals for the Executive MBA and Georgetown-ESADE Global Executive MBA at McDonough School of Business
Program Mission Statement
The Executive MBA Programs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business represent a community of excellence that provides a premier educational experience that transforms executives into global leaders who make a positive impact on the world.
Core Business Knowledge
Learning Goal: Strong, integrated skills in the theory and practices of core business disciplines—accounting, decision sciences, economics, finance, international business, leadership, management, marketing, operations, and strategy.
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate sufficient analytical understanding of the disciplines to support integrated and holistic decision making.
- Present a cogent and persuasive analysis of a core business situation in written and oral forms.
Ethical Leadership
Learning Goal: A habit and practice for eliciting the talents of others toward effective and ethical business practices. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the highest ethical standards and codes of conduct appropriate to business practices.
- Demonstrate an ability to apply ethical standards and codes of conduct in real business situations, especially where ethical practice may appear to conflict with financial and strategic objectives.
Strategic Thinking
Learning Goal: Ability to analyze industries, markets, and competitors toward the design and implementation of cogent and successful competitive strategies.
Learning Outcomes:
- Ability to successfully understand how the organization works within the external environment
- Identifying the resources and capabilities available and the best way to utilize those resources and capabilities for maximum impact
- Positioning the organization to successfully implement the identified strategies effectively
Global Perspective
Learning Goal: Respectful understanding of cultural differences and their role in shaping effective and ethical business practices that benefit the employees, customers, and shareholders of the firm as well as community stakeholders throughout the world.
Learning Outcomes:
- Appreciate the extent to which the global business landscape affects both business and society.
- Demonstrate an understanding of other cultures and a respect for alternative ways of conducting business
Analytical Acumen
Learning Goal: Ability to understand complex business situations and to reason toward solutions based on available financial, market, and organizational information.
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate an ability to interpret financial data and apply insights toward sound business decisions.
- Demonstrate an ability to collect relevant market, industry, and operational information toward the development of effective market and competitive strategies.
Learning Goals for the Executive Master's in Leadership Program
Program Mission Statement:
The Executive Master's in Leadership Program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business represent a community of excellence that provides a premier educational experience that transforms executives into global leaders who make a positive impact on the world.
Leadership Theories and Perspectives:
Learning Goal: Develop a rich understanding of leadership theories and perspectives. Develop awareness of one’s personal leadership strengths and areas for further development.
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate ample understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of various leadership theories and determine which approach is most relevant in particular leadership situation.
- Demonstrate an understanding of and appreciation for Jesuit values, including self-examination, contemplative action, ethical leadership, and a view of individuals as holistic beings.
Anticipating the Future:
Learning Goal:
Sensitivity to the importance of organizational performance into the future and, in addition, heightened abilities to anticipate how the future is likely to affect one’s industry and organization.
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate understanding of the merits (and limitations) of forecasts.
- Heightened ability to note emerging trends (e.g., social, cultural, geopolitical, organizational) and to contemplate potential impacts of such trends.
Positioning the Organization for Success:
Learning Goal:
Utilize strategic thinking and analytical acumen to best position the organization for success.
Learning Outcomes:
- Ability to successfully understand how the organization works within the external environment.
- Identifying the resources and capabilities available and the best way to utilize those resources and capabilities for maximum impact.
- Positioning the organization to successfully implement the identified strategies effectively.
- Demonstrate an ability to collect relevant market, industry, and operational information toward the development of effective market and competitive strategies.
Positioning the Organization in an Unfolding Future:
Learning Goal:
Ability to identify steps to prepare the organization to achieve its desired position.
Learning Outcomes:
- Ability to implement the principles of organizational design, cultural change, and human social capital to move the organization towards its goals.
Eliciting Voluntary Cooperation:
Learning Goal:
Ability to elicit voluntary cooperation from others in all of the organizational leadership activities listed above.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understanding of and ability to apply principles of change management and team-building.
- Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to successfully negotiate for positive change.
Understanding Leadership in a Global Context:
Learning Goal:
Respectful understanding of cultural differences and their role in shaping effective and ethical business practices that benefit the employees, customers, and shareholders of the firm as well as community stakeholders throughout the world.
Learning Outcomes:
- Appreciate the extent to which the global business landscape affects both business and society.
- Demonstrate an understanding of other cultures and a respect for alternative ways of conducting business
