Business Administration

Bachelor of Administration

The Bachelor of Administration Program at the Orillia Campus continues to serve those students interested in obtaining a broad-based business education with an emphasis on general administration and entrepreneurship. This program continues to provide a reasonable time frame for individuals employed full-time, seeking to complete a business degree on a part-time basis. Courses in this program are scheduled in the evenings, on a rotating basis, to permit students to take courses outside of regular work hours. For these reasons the program provides a vital service and linkage to the local business community.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Administration program at the Orillia campus includes learning experiences in:

General knowledge and skill areas that include communication abilities, ethical understanding and reasoning abilities, analytic skills, use of information technology, understanding of multicultural; and diversity issues and reflective thinking skills.
Management-specific knowledge and skill areas that include ethical and legal responsibilities in organizations and society, financial theories, analysis, reporting and markets; creation of value through the integrated production and marketing of goods, services, and information; group and individual dynamics in organizations; statistical data analysis and management science as they support decision-making processes throughout an organization; information technologies as they influence the structure and processes of organizations and economies, and as they influence the roles and techniques of management; domestic and global economic environments of organizations.

Eligibility and Admission Requirements

For more information, including eligibility and admission requirements, please visit the Business Programs Information section in the Lakehead University course calendar.

Apply Now

Honours Bachelor of Commerce

The Honours Bachelor of Commerce Program at the Orillia Campus is a AACSB-accredited, four-year undergraduate program intended for students that wish to have an education focused on business management, with an emphasis on a particular specialization.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Honours Bachelor of Commerce program at the Orillia campus includes learning experiences in:

General knowledge and skill areas that include communication abilities, ethical understanding and reasoning abilities, analytic skills, use of information technology, understanding of multicultural and diversity issues, and reflective thinking skills.
Management-specific knowledge and skill areas that include ethical and legal responsibilities in organizations and society; financial theories, analysis, reporting and markets; creation of value through the integrated production and marketing of goods, services, and information; group and individual dynamics in organizations; statistical data analysis and management science as they support decision-making processes throughout an organization; information technologies as they influence the structure and processes of organizations and economies, and as they influence the roles and techniques of management; domestic and global economic environments of organizations.
Developing capacities to lead in organizational situations; to apply knowledge in new and unfamiliar circumstances through a conceptual understanding of relevant disciplines; to adapt and innovate to solve problems, to cope with unforeseen events, and to manage in unpredictable environments.
Developing a commitment to an area of specialization and acquiring advanced knowledge in that area; developing advanced theoretical or practical skills for that area; devoting explicit attention to the role of the specialization area in managerial and organization contexts.

Areas of Specialization

Students can specialize their degree by choosing either a Major or a Minor.

Majors

There are two major programs along with two majors with co-op options in which you may enrol to earn the Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree. These are:

Business Administration
Business Administration (Co-op Option)

Minors

The major programs are designed to enable you to earn a minor designation in addition to your major designation. You may earn a minor designation in one of the following disciplines, by appropriately selecting your elective courses according to the program requirements:

Eligibility and Admission Requirements

For more information, including eligibility and admission requirements, please visit the Business Programs Information section in the Lakehead University Academic Calendar.

Apply Now

Bachelor of Administration

The Bachelor of Administration Program continues to serve those students interested in obtaining a broad-based business education with an emphasis on general administration and entrepreneurship. This program continues to provide a reasonable time frame for individuals employed full-time, seeking to complete a business degree on a part-time basis. Courses in this program are scheduled in the evenings, on a rotating basis, to permit students to take courses outside of regular work hours. For these reasons the program provides a vital service and linkage to the local business community.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Administration program includes learning experiences in:

General knowledge and skill areas that include communication abilities, ethical understanding and reasoning abilities, analytic skills, use of information technology, understanding of multicultural; and diversity issues and reflective thinking skills.
Management-specific knowledge and skill areas that include ethical and legal responsibilities in organizations and society, financial theories, analysis, reporting and markets; creation of value through the integrated production and marketing of goods, services, and information; group and individual dynamics in organizations; statistical data analysis and management science as they support decision-making processes throughout an organization; information technologies as they influence the structure and processes of organizations and economies, and as they influence the roles and techniques of management; domestic and global economic environments of organizations.

Eligibility and Admission Requirements

For more information, including eligibility and admission requirements, please visit the Business Programs Information section in the Lakehead University Academic Calendar.

Apply Now

Programs

Undergraduate Programs in Thunder Bay

Undergraduate Programs at Orillia Campus

Graduate Programs at the Thunder Bay Campus

History of the Faculty

Over the past 35 years, Lakehead University's Faculty of Business Administration has demonstrated ongoing flexibility and adaptability in providing innovative programming to meet the evolving needs of students, employers, and other business education stakeholders. The Faculty's precursor, the School of Business Administration, was established in 1965 to offer a three-year diploma in Business Administration. In 1967, a four-year Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree was added to the offerings. In response to local and national demand, a one-year Graduate Diploma Program in Business was launched to serve the needs of students with non-business undergraduate degrees.

By the mid-70s, diploma offerings from colleges had reduced the need for a three-year diploma. In 1976, the diploma was replaced with a three-year Bachelor of Administration degree (B. Admin.) and a College Transfer Program was established allowing qualified college graduates with three-year business diplomas to ladder-up to the B. Admin. degree. The Faculty of Business Administration was a pioneer in developing transfer programs in the province of Ontario.

By the mid-1980s, competitive offerings from other universities made it apparent that Lakehead’s one-year graduate Diploma Program in Business had to be either expanded to a two-year MBA or be discontinued. Due to a lack of available resources, the graduate Diploma Program was discontinued in 1990.

During the 1990s, the Honours Bachelor of Commerce program was expanded into six majors (Accounting, Finance, Human Resource Management/Industrial Relations, Management Systems, Marketing and General Management) – further specializations in Business Economics and International Business were added in 1998. During 1994 to 1998 a Cooperative Education Program was established for Finance, Human Resource Management/Industrial Relations, Management Systems, and Marketing majors. In 1998, Program Minors in Accounting, Finance, Human Resource Management/Industrial Relations, and Marketing were made available to students in the third and fourth years of the Honours Bachelor of Commerce Program. The Leadership Program, an executive development program developed for middle and senior level managers, was also introduced in 1998.

During the 2000s the Faculty continued to deliver the Leadership Program and the program has been offered through distance education to communities in Northwestern Ontario and across Canada. The Master of Science in Management (M.Sc.Mgmt.) and the Master of Management (M.Mgmt.) were approved by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) in June 2002 and the programs were launched in September 2003. The Master of Management was replaced with a Master of Business Administration in February 2009.

During the 2010s, the Faculty pursued accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). We received AACSB accreditation in 2015, and re-accreditation in 2021. This achievement puts our Faculty among the ranks of elite business schools that have achieved certification. This globally-recognized hallmark of excellence guarantees a challenging and relevant curriculum delivered by the most highly-qualified faculty. Fewer than 5% of business programs worldwide are AACSB-accredited, and our Faculty is one of them. We have also achieved accreditation from the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) for our Accounting offerings.

Philosophy

Lakehead University's Faculty of Business Administration has remained steadfast to one central belief, that there can only be achievement through effort. This belief guides our admissions, our program designs, our assignments and the very behaviour of our faculty itself. You might say the work ethic is alive and well in this school. This is not to say that brilliance and intuition are not rewarded, but hard work is still the key to success. Effort alone, of course, without a clear understanding of the events and circumstances surrounding us and the capacity to adapt to those circumstances, is not enough. Our programs therefore emphasize the importance of learning to selectively focus that effort.

Over the past five decades, the Faculty of Business Administration has demonstrated ongoing flexibility and adaptability in providing innovative programming to meet the evolving needs of students and employers. The school has based much of its development on meeting the changing needs of local, regional, and national stakeholders in business education. There is an ongoing tradition of developing and maintaining close links between faculty and local businesses - many faculty also maintain links with regional and national businesses, professional bodies, and government agencies. However, these relationships could not be sustained without our commitment to academic excellence.

The Faculty of Business Administration remains committed to the pursuit of excellence and welcomes all who would travel with us to share the journey.

Overview

Community Liaison

Faculty of Business Administration & Work-Integrated Learning

Part time position (approx. 20 hours per week)

4-month contract

The Role of the Community Liaison for the Faculty of Business Administration and the Work Integrated Learning at Lakehead Program (WIL) will work to develop relationships and build connections with the community partners in Orillia, Simcoe County, and the surrounding area. These linkages with community organizations and businesses will be used to support student experiential learning opportunities, research initiatives, and other connections between the Faculty of Business Administration and the community.

The successful candidate will engage in outreach activities to government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations to make connections and build relationships. This 4-month contract is a part-time position (approximately 20 hours a week).

1. Duties and Responsibilities

Community Outreach. The Community Liaison will:
- Develop relationships with community organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs.
- Arrange meetings to explore potential partnerships related to student programs, experiential learning (in-class or through WIL or Co-op), or research activities.
Liaise with Internal Stakeholders. The Community Liaison will collaborate with faculty and staff within Lakehead University to:

- Identify capacity for community partnerships.

- Share opportunities identified by community partners.

Work-Integrated Learning at Lakehead Program. To support the WIL program, the Community Liaison will:

- Build connections with community organizations.

- Provide a point of contact for students and community organizations interested placements.

- Support the Experiential Learning Navigator and the implementation of the WIL Program in Orillia.

2. Qualifications

• Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in business.

• Knowledge of Lakehead University’s Orillia campus, and familiarity with the relevant communities and organizations within them.

• Demonstrated track-record of achievement, leadership, and self-motivation.

• Passion for student development and higher education.

• Ability to work in a team and independently.

• Experience working with multiple stakeholders, clients, colleagues in a fast-paced business environment.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

• Comfort in working in a virtual work environment (phone and videoconference).

Interested applicants are invited to submit a single PDF document, including a cover letter and resume, to:

Lakehead University
500 University Ave. Orillia, Ontario
Email: position.business@lakeheadu.ca

Please include Orillia Community Liaison in the email subject line

Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons and persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Lakehead University is committed to an environment of open access to employment opportunities. Accommodations are available for all applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at (807) 343-8334. We appreciate your interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be notified.

Lakehead graduate managing Hamilton’s COVID-19 hotline

By Brandon Walker

Michael Bush (HBCom’08, MSMgt’09) is currently managing the Public Health COVID-19 hotline for the City of Hamilton.

Prior to COVID-19 arriving in Canada, Michael was in charge of inventory management, storage and handling practices, and data management for the City of Hamilton vaccine program.

Then COVID-19 reached Canada and his superiors asked Michael to manage the Covid19 hotline. For Michael, this change was an adjustment, but he felt prepared. His confidence came from managing the city’s vaccine program and from working as a project manager.

“For myself, the biggest challenge moving into a management role was that I’m not the type of person who walks away from things,” Michael says.

When he was promoted to vaccine program supervisor, Michael was working on several projects that he needed to leave behind.

“I had to overcome the idea of not completing those projects and being given new responsibilities overnight,” he says.

“The challenge in coming from frontline to leadership was stepping back,” he says. “In a supervisor role, not only did I have to think about my own work, but also the work of the team. Learning how to better delegate tasks became important because, when done successfully, it can encouraged and empower your team.”

When the city promoted him to vaccine program supervisor, Michael immediately began learning more about the vaccine world and his confidence grew.

“This was all new to me,” he says. “I quickly had to bring myself up to speed with the knowledge and competencies involved in being the vaccine program supervisor and being in a leadership role.”

That was October 2016. Fast forward to April 2020 when Michael was once again asked to switch gears by managing the COVID-19 hotline.

“I came in around week three or four. I had more than 40 new teammates who I was able to orchestrate and organize in a fashion that made sense. In this management role, it has been extremely fast-paced with many challenges and issues.

“But with a lot of hard work and dedication from both myself, my colleagues and our teammates, I think we’ve been really successful in bringing forward solutions and creating a positive work environment while providing sensational service to the citizens of Hamilton.”

Hamilton’s COVID-19 hotline takes calls from citizens who have concerns about people who are not self-isolating or about non-essential businesses that are operating, and about other concerns.

Michael credits his success to his Lakehead University education.

“Lakehead prepared me to think critically, to be a problem solver and emotionally intelligent, which is a key aspect of being a leader,” he says.

“My undergrad helped instill the values of teamwork, innovation and passion, of being a high level achiever and doing that with fairness. My Master of Science degree certainly got me to the place I am today.

“I was able to hit the ground running as a confident, motivated and driven employee. Without my Master’s degree I probably wouldn’t be in the position I am now.”

Research in Action: Uncovering the importance of human capital

Before he became a university professor and author, Dr. Kunle Akingbola had a successful career as a Human Resources (HR) professional. He was the HR manager for the Canadian Red Cross in Toronto while working on the second of his three Master’s degrees. As he grappled with choosing a thesis topic, his research advisor made a suggestion that would change the course of Akingbola’s work and his life.

At the time, the Red Cross had just taken over managing a homeless shelter over the winter for the City of Toronto, which was downsizing services to the non-profit sector. On top of their regular programs, Red Cross employees had to create and staff a completely new program that they would give up in six months time, only to bring back another six months after that.

Akingbola took his advisor’s advice and used the Red Cross case study as the basis for his Master’s thesis on non-profit HR management. That line of study eventually led to his Ph.D. dissertation, which examined the entire strategy of non-profit organizations across Canada and the impact of government funding and the environment.

Akingbola’s growing expertise led to part-time university teaching. He eventually left his HR career to become a full-time professor. Today he is Associate Professor of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour in the Faculty of Business Administration at Lakehead University’s Orillia campus.

With numerous publications including books, chapters in edited books, and articles in leading journals, research continues to be a large part of Akingbola’s work, which looks at ways to optimize the effectiveness of non-profit organizations while increasing employee satisfaction and improving outcomes for the communities they serve. He encourages his students to get research experience by helping him do surveys and data sorting.

“Prior to my study, no one had ever looked at HR management in non-profit organizations, says Akingbola. “There had been research on volunteers, but not employees of non-profit organizations that make up a major part of the Canadian social sector and account for about nine per cent of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

His vast personal experience in HR in non-profit and healthcare sectors combined with his extensive ground-breaking research give Akingbola rare insight and expertise into social purpose enterprises. He understands the fine line organizations are forced to walk to secure the funding that is essential to support their services. It’s especially frustrating in the face of what Akingbola calls “mission drift.”

“How do you manage people who joined your organization because they believe in your mission, but now you have to go in a different direction because that’s where the funding is dictating you go?” says Akingbola.

One thing he is certain of is the importance of the human component in non-profit activities.

“The nature of service is emotional and it is human based,” says Akingbola. “You can install an ATM on Jarvis Street in Toronto that gives out blankets and coffee to the homeless on a cold winter’s night. But it can’t dispense compassion. In that regard you can’t replace human capital.”

Dr. Kunle Akingbola is the lead author of the book "Change Management in Nonprofit Organizations: Theory and Practice" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019) and the author of "Managing Human Resources for Nonprofits" (Routledge, 2015).

Keywords:

Lakehead Orillia

Research

research and innovation

Innovation

research services