New Paradigms in Business Management Education
10 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2012
Date Written: December 5, 2009
Abstract
Globalization and rapid developments in information technology (IT) has led to dramatic changes in the business environment and business education needs to be responsive to these changes. There is a general consensus that business curricula need improvement given the considerable challenges that face businesses today including challenges of globalization, new economic challenges, rapid IT developments, and the requirements for human capital with multi-facet skills. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges facing business education in providing students with the knowledge and skills that raise their competency level to meet that required by the market.
Business schools that prepare future managers in different disciplines have a responsibility to close the gap between the skills acquired by business graduates and the skills required in global markets. Students in most undergraduate and post graduate business programs are taught business concepts through functional areas: accounting, management, marketing, and finance; hence, students may be inadequately preparation for cross-functional work. Management thinkers have been arguing for integration of traditional courses in the business curriculum to break down the silos in education in a way parallel to integrative efforts occurring in business.
Business education should develop a process of inquiry and a desire for learning in students. To achieve this, business education must change from knowledge-based education to process management. This essential change will enable business education to provide students with the communication, interpersonal, and intellectual skills that prepare them for a better understanding of the broad picture of business in today's global environment.
Keywords: business studies, globalization, management education, skills
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