Simon School to offer new concentration

Electronic-commerce specialization begins this fall

T he Simon School will offer a new M.B.A. concentration in electronic commerce starting in the fall. This new initiative addresses the growing demand for managers who understand the myriad ways in which electronic commerce is changing the face of global business.

The school joins a select few top business schools that offer a formal graduate research and teaching program in this area. The concentration--which will prepare managers and consultants to excel in the rapidly growing field of e-commerce--leverages on the recent research of Simon School faculty.

"We are seeing only the beginning of the major benefits of electronic commerce," said Abraham Seidmann, Xerox Professor of Computers and Information Systems and Operations Management at the school. "The Internet is changing every dimension of the way in which the world conducts business. This tremendous explosion in information-intensive industries is driving a much stronger demand for M.B.A. students who have extensive training and education in all facets of using high technology to manage a business."

The unique feature of the Simon School's new concentration is the delivery of an integrated foundation in the three major components of e-commerce: marketing, information technology, and economics. The concentration combines both the theoretical foundation of digital business with a strong practical component that provides students with cutting-edge knowledge and a close-up look at the rapidly changing technology impacting Internet business. Some classes will focus primarily on the business model of e-commerce, while others will provide in-depth training in the specifics of managing a business on the Internet.

Courses and hands-on projects in the new concentration will include Marketing on the Internet, Managing Electronic Commerce, Distribution Channels and Salesforce Management, Advanced Information Technology, Business Data Communications, Business Process Analysis and Design, and Financial Information Systems.

Based on industry trends and past experience, the Simon School anticipates very strong acceptance of its electronic-commerce concentration both by prospective students and recruiters. In addition, placement opportunities and compensation packages are expected to be extremely lucrative for students earning an M.B.A. degree with a concentration in this emerging field.