EMBA and industries: Focus on engineering

Are you an executive working in the field of engineering? Learn about the benefits of engineering MBAs for Executives.

 

In a growing global business environment leadership skills and technological abilities are in demand in equal parts – and increasingly so. As technologies and engineered structures continue to dominate our lives, this blend of skills is needed more than ever and professionals who can demonstrate knowledge and aptitude in both could find themselves having their pick of employment opportunities and career advancement.

The engineering industry has progressed in leaps and bounds over recent decades and is now one of the most popular fields of university study. The variety of the engineering industry – from civil and chemical engineering to design and electronic engineering - means it attracts a range of individuals with differing backgrounds.

 

Increasingly there is an element of business knowledge required among engineering professionals but those who seek to make the transition soon realize it is not all that easy to make.

 

The professional requirements of engineering are quite different from the requirements needed to successfully lead a business. Where engineering relies on perfection and utter precision, good business leadership necessitates the ability to achieve a vision with creativity and flexibility. Therefore, the engineer who is seeking to build a career beyond technical roles will have to find a way into the dynamic world of business skills. An Executive MBA program offers a perfect ‘in’ to this world by limiting opportunity costs and offering in-depth and intensive business training. 

The EMBA degree, which offers thorough business fundamentals such as strategic and operations management, marketing, finance and accounting, and business planning, will provide engineers with a better understanding of how a business functions and can best be progressed. However, more importantly, particularly for engineers, are the soft skills an EMBA conveys. Inter-personal skills, team leadership, people management, communication skills and cultural sensitivity are crucial aspects in business and not easily acquired in the world of technology and engineering.

 

In principle, most EMBA courses will enable engineers to gain deep business knowledge and leadership skills. However, there are a growing number of programs that cater specifically to engineering professionals.

 

Manchester Business School offers a part-time Executive MBA pathway tailored to engineers. The pathway takes three years to complete but students have the option to complete in up to five years if their circumstances require so. The program is designed for professionals in the engineering and technical sector to equip them with state of the art business skills and knowledge that is relevant for a highly dynamic 21st century global business context. It is a truly international program with workshops and courses held in Manchester, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Miami and Sao Paulo. The program covers business basics such as marketing, operations and strategic management, as well as a range of electives – from Technology Management to New Media Marketing – and a live project component in the final semester. The program was developed in close collaboration with the engineering industry to be able to draw on knowledge capital of top talent in the field.

 

A brand new program for business oriented engineers is the joint Kenan-Flagler - Tsinghua University EMBA for engineers. The collaborative program connects business and engineering disciplines to meet the ever-increasing demand for managers who are versed in technical issues and have leadership skills. The degree is a dual degree where students graduate with an MBA from Kenan-Flagler (University of North Carolina) and a Master of Engineering (MEM) from the Chinese institution. The program takes places in Beijing and North Carolina with classes meeting on a monthly basis.

 

Similarly, the Miami School of Business Administration offers a joint MBA / MS Engineering degree. The University of Miami’s Leadership Institution and School of Business have teamed up with the School of Engineering to offer an EMBA program with a distinct focus on Industrial Engineering. The program is aimed at students who have a first degree in engineering – from industrial engineering to bio-mechanical engineering - and wish to obtain a dual MBA / MS Engineering degree. The EMBA / Engineering program takes 29 months to complete with classes meeting once a week and covers a rich blend of business modules and technical subjects.

The disciplined and precise approach of engineering, paired with a good foundation in hard and soft business skills is a combination much sought after in today’s technologically oriented environment. Engineering professionals wishing to transition into business should try and find an Executive MBA program that demonstrates an understanding of the technological and engineering complexities of a modern world. For those who do so and subsequently make the investment will find engineering opportunities in business abound.

 

See the fifth article in the EMBA and industries series: Focus on HR