How Can An MBA Help Bridge The Digital Skills Gap?

Sponsored by EU Business School

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, anxieties concerning the widening digital skills gap had been growing for some time. But in the last seven months, industries and sectors have had to adapt quicker than ever to a new way of operating and meeting consumer demand.

When online retail sales increased twofold at the peak of the pandemic, managing consumer standards and demand became a significant challenge. Meanwhile the sports and entertainment industries were frantically seeking innovative ways to engage with fans and audiences, with many turning to digital solutions. Ticketed digital events and live streams have been just some of the ways these industries have strived to keep stadiums and stages alive despite the deafening silence of absent fans and spectators. 

Alas, the show must go on…

Around the world, businesses have been aggressively hiring those who have the business acumen and digital competency to help them adapt and implement new digital strategies. Industries have had to undergo rapid digital transformations. If they didn’t, there would be drastic knock-on effects later down the line. With an already increasing deficit of digitally skilled managers and leaders, companies are looking to business schools to leverage this knowledge gap.

Looking ahead every industry will need to be well-versed in all things digital. So, whether you want to start your own business or push the boundaries at a large multinational company, MBAs such as the MBA in Digital Business can prepare you for success in a world where business and digital have never been closer. 

Here, we take a closer look at how the MBA in Digital Business at EU Business School is designed to equip students with an in-depth knowledge of digital strategies, models and tools employed in business. 

It recognizes what businesses want and need 

Familiarity with digital strategies is just as important as understanding the fundamentals of business. New survey data of nearly 700 global corporate recruiters revealed that managing strategy and innovation, and managing tools and technology are the top skills which will be in high demand as businesses navigate their way through the global health crisis. 

Fortunately, training today’s MBA cohort to be tomorrow’s digital leaders is a responsibility business schools are well positioned to deliver. High quality and up-to-date training in areas like digital marketing strategies, digital business development and digital business design (all of which are part of the MBA in Digital Business curriculum) is essential for businesses that want to remain current and adapt to survive in the growing digital business economy.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and machine learning were once exclusive to science fiction. However, they now seem to have become an integral element of everyday business and consumer life. Knowing how to tap into these digital technologies will provide ample opportunities for businesses not just to survive, but to thrive.

Which leads us nicely to the next point…

It builds a solid foundation of core skills

Concerns surrounding the speed at which technologies change and how degree curricula keep up with relevant trends are valid. Having a strong foundation upon which you can build core skills can make understanding digital technologies more instinctive.  

This is why the MBA in Digital Business includes core modules in managerial accounting, management skills, marketing and human resources management. These complement specialized modules dedicated to novel digital technologies, including digital marketing strategies, digital business development and digital business design.

It incorporates a deeper level of thinking and understanding of how business and digital technologies work together

Connecting the dots in order to understand how business and digital technologies benefit one another is something the MBA in Digital Business explores in great detail.

Learning how to incorporate marketing and branding essentials like banner and search engine optimization (SEO) into building and maintaining an effective digital business enhances students’ understanding of how digital transformation drives the consumer experience.

Students develop a better understanding of what it means to be agile and resilient when faced with new challenges. There’s a need for out-of-the-box, creative thinkers who are capable of using logical and methodical strategies to come up with relevant digital solutions.

This is something the Business Strategy Simulation in the second term prepares you for. You will experience what it feels like to be in the driving seat and have the chance to test solutions in a controlled simulation where you can see potential outcomes. Hands-on learning opportunities like this offer an ideal space for students to build core skills and confidence.