Master of Science (MS) in Service Leadership and Innovation

Master of Science in Service Leadership and Innovation

Service leadership and innovation is a program designed to provide students with the capability to transform their service organizations. Service is no longer a subset of manufacturing but instead, it has a crucial role in a service-oriented society of 21st century. Innovation is no longer an option but a requirement for a sustainable and thriving business.

Program Overview

RIT's MS degree in Service Leadership and Innovation is a leading-edge program designed to provide graduates with the ability to transform their service organization. Service today is a whole new thinking system that examines and produces change across the totality of organizational environments and the economy.
The global service environment imposes huge responsibility on leadership: leaders at all levels of the organization must be capable of:

1. creating and innovating new service ideas, practices and policies,
2. building and utilizing sophisticated human capital assets wisely,
3. designing, aligning and implementing new strategic focus,
4. building experiences that produce value for the consumer, and
5. producing performance outcomes second to none through overall service leadership.

Trends which drive the need for changes include connectivity, information access, other technologies, globalism, new sources of revenue, customer experimentation, networking, customer activism and more. In all, customers expect to receive value in all their service experiences.

Master's degree candidates and alumni have noted the following advantages with the program:

• Innovative approaches to learning, including profound dialog, substantive inquiry, and maximized reflection time
• Blended learning formats – classroom, online and blended
• New service philosophy and ideals
• Highly qualified and experienced faculty
• A powerful global network of alumni

Sample Courses

Breakthrough Thinking: Creativity and Innovation

Learning to solve problems, create profound decisions, and continuously change our organizations has always been a function of leadership. Today's fast-paced global business environment requires that we utilize equally insightful, aggressive, and distinctly new processes to change. This course examines the global phenomenon and builds in the learner new methods to achieve leadership in an age of change—breakthrough thinking, creativity, and innovation. The learner will become adept at true value innovation in a knowledge/ service economy.

Elements of Service Management: Systems Approach

A general systems framework is used to explore the major components of service management using a variety of service sectors—healthcare, banking, insurance, real estate and hospitality-tourism. The course examines the interactions, interdependencies, and interactivity of service systems—to learn about the synergistic effects of the current changeable markets. In addition to this organizational focus above, the course begins the process of examining the learning organization from a professional and personal focus. Lastly, the course provides insights and practical applications to the evolving e-commerce environment and to lean service principles.

Advanced Project Management

The course covers the advanced project management topics necessary for the implementation of and excellence in project management. Deals with turning the principles and theory of project management into practice. Addresses the best practices for project management in the world; project portfolio management; the project office; project risk management; multinational cultures and cultural failures; integrated project teams; and virtual project teams. Incorporates aspects of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS programs, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Hold a bachelor degree (or equivalent 4-year degree) from an accredited institution,
• Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate coursework,
• Submit two professional recommendations,
• Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (i.e. 4.0 according to the Croatian grade scale) or above, or evidence of relevant professional performance,
• Complete a graduate application.