The
Case for Soft-Skills Development in MBA Programs
Business
Leaders-Practitioner
The business profession requires a vast amount of
skills ranging from communication, leadership, technical competence, and
problem solving skills just to name a few.
Without such vital skills a new graduate will find it hard to survive in
the globally changing business world.
Therefore, it is important for students to apply what was learned in the
classroom to real world scenarios to stay ahead of the pack, or they will find
themselves far behind and anything but business leaders.
In the article, The Case for Soft-Skills Development in MBA Programs, author Nadia Shuayto
stresses the view that many business professionals hold, that business
graduates today do not hold the required necessary soft skills needed to lead
an organization. As future graduates
this should be something we take serious and work towards to correct.
According to research by Shuayto, skills such as
taking initiative, communication and interpersonal are top desired skills when
managers are hiring MBA graduates (Caudron 1999). It is found that hiring managers are seeking
candidates who are willing and able to adapt to the global competiveness of the
business world. They are looking for
graduates who can lead and are ready to take what challenges they may be
presented with. Business leaders are
saying that a lack in curriculum is to blame for the skills graduates’ lack. In a survey taken by both business executives
and Deans of Universities, both ranked soft skills as more important than hard
skills showing that they are both on the same page as to what is needed and
critical in the business profession.
What can be taken away from this article is that
when put in a business profession role, soft skills such as communication, team
work, and accountability should be placed at the top of one’s priority
list. From Shuayto’s research business
professionals hold those skills as more important than the hard skills such as
presentation skills and computer skills.
Also when hiring, managers should seek candidates who contain such
skills so ensure that they can compete in global market, which in the long run
will be beneficial to an organization.
References:
Shuayto, Nadia.
The Case for Soft-Skills Development in MBA Programs. 2012. Global Conference on Business and Finance
Proceedings. Vol.7, No.2. 2012.
P58-67
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the softs skills are highly recommended along with the hard skills to compete effectively in this world of rapidly changing business environment. Being, an MBA student this article captures my attraction because it enlightens the importance of different soft skills required to be successful in the pace of strong competition. I am sure, this article will help me to understand and analyze my skills, and will further, help me to improve the levels of my soft skills to be more adaptive and successful in the time of fast adapting business environment.
ReplyDelete