Dr Rondy de Silva talks about how to make a successful career in global business management
Countries such as India and China have redefined the global economic map in terms of financial power structures. These countries and other major developing economies increasingly invest in new infrastructure and services. However, it is much rarer to find the same level of investment in the workforce. Internationally, there is a lack of focus on developing individual skills and business practices that truly meet the requirements of successful global business management.
Research shows that businesses and organisations in developing countries could benefit significantly by facilitating a more holistic development of managers. Business and management training in many countries is focused on localised business practices. Concepts such as emotional intelligence, personal and professional development planning and mentorships are all key areas that have been shown to complement traditional management practices. It seems that these areas for improving management practice are often overlooked due to the high value placed on gaining theoretical and technical skills.
In the race to compete for qualifications, the ‘soft skills’ that are a highly valued commodity in the global workplace rarely form an important part of a university curriculum. Yet their value is transformational in the workplace. This lack of soft skills can disadvantage individuals who are seeking to penetrate the global employment marketplace. It is also a training challenge for multinational enterprises as it increases their difficulty in creating the truly global managers which they need to grow their business.
When choosing a postgraduate qualification, it is important to research the course well to be sure that the qualification supports your own personal and professional development ambitions. Confident individuals, who are able to communicate well cross-culturally and have high emotional intelligence, graduate from the university and ready to lead as managers.
In terms of assessment in management studies, there is debate around whether examinations are the best method for developing and evaluating such a broad range of skills. Arguments that assessment should include industry and project based assignments and individuals should be test on based on their ability to successfully complete industry relevant and work-based tasks. These require students to demonstrate not only academic rigour but their ability to complete tasks expected of them in the workplace to a high standard. Increased emphasis on developing management graduates as well-rounded, adaptable individuals will better prepare them to handle the demands of the fast-paced business environment.
Another area that is gaining importance in global business management is corporate ethics and sustainability. Increasingly, global business schools are embedding modules on corporate ethics and sustainability into the curriculum, recognising the need to focus on such topics to promote ethical business management. This is certainly one of the most positive moves that can be witnessed in business management curricula which has been driven by the lessons learned internationally. As a result, global business management now demands the need to understand how to develop, implement and monitor ethical policies and practices.
For India, this bears particular relevance where there is continued dialogue and debate on the challenge of balancing economic growth and sustainability. While high impact sustainability policies are largely driven by Government policy, management studies recognise the roles that individuals and companies have to play in driving such change. Individuals are not divorced from the environment in which they work, and management studies should champion values of corporate social responsibility as ‘built-in’ rather than ‘bolt-on’ activities.
(The writer is senior lecturer, Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University UK)