The rapidly evolving business landscape, shaped by globalisation and the digital age, has triggered MBA and EMBA providers to rethink the focus of their curriculum in a bid to meet the needs of the modern executive.
'Core business knowledge such as accounting, corporate finance and marketing remains a given, but the content also focuses on some less tangible elements. For example, things like thriving on change, dealing with ambiguity and paradox, managing across countries and networking, collaboration and presentation,' said Lyn Hoffman, associate dean of executive MBA and global partners at the London Business School.
Top of many business schools' agendas are subjects such as corporate social responsibility and corporate governance; issues that business professors say have become particularly pertinent following the deepening financial crisis.
People development has also taken off, with schools deploying a portfolio of tools to help MBA and EMBA students assess their career goals and develop on a personal and professional level.
At the London Business School, students undergo a 360-degree assessment to better understand their strengths in teamwork and interpersonal skills before taking specific courses to build up on areas that need improvement.
'The focus on personal development and leadership approaches the manager almost as a project himself and tracks how that individual progresses as a person through the MBA qualification,' said Neil Logan, director of international business at Henley Business School. He noted that endeavours included the constant updating of the person's career plan, and examining the person's circumstances to ensure he or she was getting the most out of both life and career.