MBA in a Day: What You Would Learn at Top-Tier Business Schools (If You Only Had the Time!)

Based on Steven Stralser’s popular seminar series, MBA in a Day® offers concise, comprehensive coverage of the vital business topics, important concepts, and proven strategies taught at top business schools. For busy professionals, this straightforward guide offers a comprehensive business education without the time and money of graduate school.

Though suitable for anyone, this book is especially helpful for professional service providers–such as doctors and lawyers–who have extensive training in their profession, but want to learn the business skills necessary to manage a practice or small business. MBA in a Day fills the gap for those who need to understand fundamental business principles they were never taught during their professional education in specialized fields such as law, medicine, engineering, and architecture.

Small business owners and entrepreneurs will find here the same tactics and strategies that full-time MBA students use to get ahead. These classic business essentials are written in plain English, adaptable to any industry or profession, and applicable to today’s complex economic world. Packed with illustrative examples, helpful anecdotes, and real-world case studies, it’s useful as both a guide to learning the fundamentals of business and as a handy reference on your bookshelf.

Divided into four sections–covering management and policy; economics, finance, and accounting; marketing; and systems and processes–this handy resource is easy to navigate and simple to use.

Inside, you’ll find MBA-level advice on these topics and many more:

• Human resources and personal interaction
• Ethics and leadership skills
• Fair negotiation tactics
• Basic business accounting practices
• Fundamentals of economics
• Marketing strategies
• Advertising and promotion
• Effective communication and presentations
• Project management
• Information technology
• Using the Internet for business purposes
• Quality control measures

For professionals focused on the day-to-day challenges of running a successful practice, operating a small business, or launching a new venture, MBA in a Day presents the essential principles and concepts taught at today’s best business schools.

Aimed at professionals and entrepreneurs who need the business skills necessary to manage a practice or small business, this guide book offers fundamental business principles and strategies. Strasler (entrepreneurship, Garvin School of Management) claims that the concepts he provides are the same as those taught at the best business schools. He covers topics such as negotiation tactics, accounting practices, marketing, advertising, project management and Internet use.
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Praise for MBA IN A DAY®

"Dr. Stralser’s book, MBA in a Day is must reading for every physician who is in a management role, anticipates management responsibilities, or functions in a private, solo, or group practice setting. Insights into the fundamentals of management, marketing, personnel management, finance, and economics will add to one’s satisfaction and understanding of his or her contribution in the delivery of modern medicine."

–Anthony F. Vuturo, MD, MPH, FACPE

Senior Vice President, Canyon Ranch Health Resort

Professor Emeritus, University of Arizona College of Medicine

"After thirteen years in the National Hockey League, making the transition from professional athlete to entrepreneur has been eased by the practical knowledge that I have implemented from Professor Stralser’s MBA in a Day."

–Jim Johnson

Cofounder, FlexxCoach, e-learning for coaches and athletes

Former National Hockey League player

"Increased demands, limited time, and higher expectations challenge executives as never before. MBA in a Day is an excellent resource to cut through all the noise and focus on fundamental guiding business principles."

–David E. Ratcliffe

Director, The Merrill Lynch Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management

"Steve Stralser is a master teacher. An MBA from Wharton or Harvard will cost you an arm and a leg. Read this terrific book and invest the money you would have spent on tuition into your own business."

–Robert Kramer, PhD

Director, Executive Education Programs

School of Public Affairs, American University

"The ‘fundamental’ business principles that Professor Stralser teaches in MBA in a Day are integral to sustaining a fast-growing business by any entrepreneur not formally trained in these concepts."

–Kenny Kramm

Founder, FlavorX

An Inc. 500 Company

The same critical information top business schools teach

Based on Professor Stralser's popular seminar series, MBA in a Day? is specifically designed for the busy professional (physician, attorney, architect, nonprofit executive, etc.) or entrepreneur/small business owner, who needs to know about the "business-side" of their practice, organization or business. With comprehensive coverage of vital business topics, important concepts and proven strategies taught at top graduate schools, this handy book offers a complete business education without the hassle of enrolling in an MBA program. Divided into four sections covering management and policy; economics, finance, and accounting; marketing; and systems and processes; this straightforward guide is easy to navigate and simple to use. Packed with illustrative examples, helpful anecdotes, and real-world case studies, this commonsense guide covers everything busy professionals would learn at the very best business schools-if they only had the time.

Steven Stralser, PhD (Phoenix, AZ), is Clinical Professor and Managing Director, The Global Entrepreneurship Center at Thunderbird: The American Graduate School of International Management and founder and CEO of The Center for Professional Development, Inc., an organization dedicated to post-graduate training and education of today's professionals.

STEVEN STRALSER, PhD, is a clinical professor at Thunderbird: The Garvin School of International Management, where he teaches entrepreneurship. He is the founder and CEO of the Center for Professional Development, an organization dedicated to the further training and development of professionals. Dr. Stralser’s MBA in a Day® seminar series brings leading-edge concepts and principles taught in today’s best business schools to professionals everywhere.

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

SECTION I: PEOPLE, MANAGEMENT, AND POICY.

Chapter 1. Human Resources.

Chapter 2. Organizational Behavior.

Chapter 3. Leadership and Team Building.

Chapter 4. Ethics.

Chapter 5. Negotiation.

SECTION II: MONEY; ECONOMICS, FINANCE, AND ACCOUNTING.

Chapter 6. Accounting and Finance.

Chapter 7. International, National and Local Economics.

SECTION III: MARKETS AND STRATEGY.

Chapter 8. Marketing, Strategy and Competitive Analysis.

Chapter 9. Advertising and Promotion.

Chapter 10. Communications and Presentations.

SECTION IV: SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES.

Chapter 11. Project Management.

Chapter 12. Management Information Systems.

Chapter 13. E-Commerce and the Use of the World Wide Web.

Chapter 14. Quality Issues and Systems.

Index.