By the end of the course, trainees will be able to apply the learnings to their professional and business organizations whether in starting or planning for a business; managing their business functions effectively; solving business issues; or crafting company strategies.

The course spans three modules, which are intended to orient the trainees with the essential frameworks and tools from an analytical and process-oriented approach. These modules are:

Module 1: Understanding a business concept and model

This module teaches students to understand the fundamental identity of a business enterprise as seen from its business concept and model. It discusses the importance of defining customer needs and wants that serve as the blueprint for the business concept. From the business concept, comes the examination of the business model – how a business sustains itself.

Module 2: Managing business functions and problems

This module equips students on the essential business functions of marketing, operations, human resources, and finance. Consequently, various business problem-solving tools and techniques will also be shared.

Module 3: Business strategy and decision-making

This module teaches the importance of sound business decision-making and formulating business strategies. Subsequently, the different levels of strategy will be presented, as well as a framework to determine the most suitable business decisions.

Mr. Michael Benedict A. Lopez’s career has focused on business and economic research, strategic planning, management training, and entrepreneurial education.  He has written numerous case studies, industry and market studies, feasibility studies, and business plans for the academe and the business sector. He is also an author of three published books entitled:

• FERN Millionaires: Real People, True Stories;
• Enterprise Development, Growth, and Evolution: Text and Cases on Micro and Small Entrepreneurs published by ABS-CBN Bayan Academy;
• and Innovations in Enterprise Development published by the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

As a business strategist, Michael has applied his knowledge and experience to help private and public sector institutions craft their vision, mission, objectives, and operational strategies. In line with his expertise, he has facilitated numerous strategic planning workshops and management training activities for manufacturing, trading, and service-oriented enterprises. Some of the prominent companies Michael has strategized and trained through his institutional affiliations include the Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC); the Ramcar Group of Companies; MERALCO, First Gen Corporation, DMCI Group of Companies; D&L Industries; Globe Telecom; Insular Life; Robinsons Retail Holding Inc.; Makati Medical Center; and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems. In the public sector, he has conducted strategic planning and training for the Social Security System (SSS) and the School Division Superintendents under the Department of Education (DepEd).

Michael is also a faculty member of the Masters of Science in Entrepreneurship at the Jose Rizal University (JRU), and Bayan Academy.

Michael earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Ateneo de Manila University and a Masters in Business Management Degree from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).