MBA Agribusiness Concentration
Agriculture is one of the most important, fastest-moving, and high-tech industries in the world today. This concentration was developed to provide agricultural professionals with strategies for informed decision-making within an engaging and dynamic environment. Students will learn and apply a portfolio of skills that include individual and group leadership in an organization, risk-management strategies, and strategic, value-chain analysis. The interface between the technical and biological nature of agricultural sciences, economics, management, and marketing strategies sets this concentration apart.
Courses include:
AGRI 820: Agricultural Risk Management
An in-depth study of a variety of risk management strategies inherent to the agricultural firm. Topics include: diversification, insurance, forward contracting, hedging and options trading through applied problems with use of simulation. Managing risk associated with input prices, output prices, organizational structure, and financial instruments are emphasized.
AGRI 850: Strategic Planning in Agricultural Business
An applied study of agricultural business logistics combining case study analysis and the study of the principles and concepts behind the strategic planning process and their impact on the sustainability of the agricultural firm. Topics include: role and scope of logistics in agribusiness, connect economics development with strategic planning, explore the issues surrounding transaction costs and the principle agent problem associated with outsourcing, strategic alliances, emerging technologies, and tools for logistics.
AGRI 860: Organizational Behavior in Agricultural Business
An in-depth analysis of individual and group behavior in agricultural business, governmental, and other organizations with emphasis on current literature and applications within business management. Topics include: theories of individual learning and perception, attitude change, job motivation, group dynamics, conflict management, and leadership.