Business Acumen Competencies

Leadership

Management and effective leadership skills are a combination of many abilities that allow you to lead, motivate, inspire, create and build respect. Students gain an understanding of the core leadership skills that should be a part of every employee’s competency. 

Leadership skills include:

  • Organizing
  • Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
  • Time Management
  • Self-Motivation and Motivation of Others
  • Delegating
  • Positive Attitude
  • Trustworthiness
  • Commitment
  • High Integrity and Honesty
  • Results Driven
  • Innovative
  • Development of Others

Market Orientation

Students gain an understanding of how to analyze and synthesize market and competitive data; a deep understanding of the customer’s business objectives and purchasing criteria; and gain an appreciation of the value of each customer to the company.

Market Orientation skills include:

  • Verbal and non-verbal communication skills.  
  • Knowledge of research methods and analysis to determine what the audience wants and needs.  
  • The ability to evaluate data and create solutions based on the research. 
  • Creativity - the ability to think of new and exciting ideas
  • Negotiating - the ability to manage clients' expectations and timelines. 
  • Multi-media skills.
  • Digital marketing skills

Financial Acumen

Students gain an understanding of the drivers of growth, profitability, and cash flow; a firm’s financial statements; key performance measures; and understand the implications of decisions on value creation. 

Financial skills include:

  • Understanding of financial statements.
  • Using financial statement analysis tools.
  • Understanding core financial performance metrics.
  • Budget preparation and analysis.
  • Understanding what drives the creation of shareholder value. 

Strategic Thinking

Students understand the critical interdependencies across business functions, how to review and set goals and priorities, identify potential risks and opportunities and analyze the long-term and short-term consequences of decisions.

Strategic Thinking skills include:

  • Clear vision about what you want to achieve. 
  • Understanding and analyzing your current position and resources.
  • Prioritizing.
  • Ability to develop a strategic action plan. 
  • Flexibility and adaptability.  

Analytical and Logical Thinking

Analytical skills are the ability to collect, gather, visualize and analyze information in details. They also include the ability to see a problem or situation from different points of view. Analytical skills allow you to solve complex problems by making decisions in the most effective way.

Analytical and Logical Thinking skills include:

  • Numeracy and problem solving. 
  • Ability to collect relevant information, detect patterns, observe and interpret data.
  • Making decisions based on multiple factors and options available, understanding optimization principles, conducting comparative analysis. 
  • Theorizing, testing new theories and integrating new information.
  • Benchmarking, monitoring, and evaluating business processes. 
  • Technical writing and business reporting

Computing and Technology

Students understand the use of technology to support management and the organization.  They have the ability to use digital information and common business applications effectively. 

Computing and Technology skills include: 

  • Understanding technology and the innovation lifecycle.
  • Sourcing and acquiring new technologies.
  • Data management and organization.
  • Coding and programming for business applications.
  • Use of software and data analysis tools for business decision support.