Subjects and Skills Required for a Business Management Career

This paper provides a detailed analysis of the subjects and skills crucial for a career in business management. It outlines the importance of studying subjects such as introductory business finance, international financial management, law, business and society, marketing principles, consumer behavior, international marketing, management information systems, and business ethics and governance. The paper also emphasizes the significance of key skills, including interpersonal skills, oral skills, business writing skills, team working skills, and the analysis and presentation of basic research information, as well as resume writing and job interview skills. The author highlights the necessity of these subjects and skills for effective communication, customer service, sales, brand reputation, productivity, innovation, and building strong relationships within an organization, ultimately contributing to a successful and fulfilling business management career. The paper uses multiple sources to back up its claims and offers a thorough overview of the topic.

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Name
Institution

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Introduction
Career choices are an important decision in an individual’s life. Therefore, choosing the
right course of study is critical to the type of career a person wishes to pursue. The paper
analyzes the various subjects and skills relevant in the business management career.
A Detailed Description of the Subjects to Study for a Business Management Career
For a career in business management, I will need to study various subjects including
Quantitative methods, marketing principles, business law, financial accounting, organizational
behavior, consumer behavior, marketing strategy, management information systems, computer
applications and other various subjects since business management is a wide area.
Introductory Business Finance
Introductory business finance provides an introduction to business finance. The subject
entails major theories of finance, practical tools and analyses used in major decision-making in
finance, including dividend decision, financing decision and investment decision in an
organization. Main topics in introductory business finance include dividend policy, capital
structure, cost of capital, share and bond valuations, debt and stock markets, the relationship
between return and risk, capital budgeting techniques and financial mathematics.
International Financial Management
The subject introduces students to financial tools use internationally. The subject covers
basic finance techniques which are later related to international financial markets, practice and
institutions. Students learn the evaluation of the relation between expected return and risk from

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investments internationally and develop understandings of equity capital markets and long and
short-term international debt.
Law, Business and Society
A clear understanding of the legal processes and the law enables one to participate in the
business world and society effectively. The subject of law, business and society introduce
students to areas of law that are most relevant to the business sector involvement in the sector of
business. The law is focused on the practical implications for the achievement of the objectives
of a business and the prevention of the arising of legal problems. As the major case study, it is
expected of students to acquire knowledge that contract law is the basis of commercial law and,
therefore, is important for people wishing to engage in business. In addition, the subject is aimed
at providing students with skills and knowledge to pursue legal courses.
Marketing Principles
According to Henley, Raffin and Caemmerer (2011 p.700) marketing is a set of processes
and activities for the creation, communication and delivery of offerings and the satisfaction of
the relationships of exchange in a manner that brings value to the society and consumers.
Organizations should understand the definition and segmentation of market problems and
opportunities and ways of positioning themselves strongly through the identification of
marketing problems or opportunities and the development of ideas, experiences, services and
products for the chosen target markets in a manner that is more effective than competitors.
Marketing is a core area in all businesses including professional services like architects,
accountants and lawyers, not-for-profit organizations like museums and charities and other
businesses like retailers and wholesalers. Marketing principles subject examines the fundamental

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concepts related to the theories and process of marketing relevant to the practice and study of
marketing. The subject serves as a foundation for students to further their studies in the business
area through the development of an overview of the fit of marketing in companies and the
framework provided by marketing for the enhancement and enablement of the conduct of
businesses.
Consumer Behavior
Consumer behavior is involved with acquiring more understanding of consumers as
individuals through the study of attitudes and attitude change, lifestyles, personality, motivation
and values, learning, memory and perception (Marin, Ruiz & Rubio, 2009 p.65). In addition, the
content of the consumer behavior subject is focused on consumers as makers of decisions, which
involves examining the entire process of purchasing. Other interesting areas include the
influence of culture on consumption, and organizational and household decision making.
International Marketing
The international marketing subject aims at analyzing the marketing environment
globally and the development of appropriate strategies for marketing in the international market
environment (Berthon, Pitt, Plangger and Shapiro, 2012 p.267). The content of the subject
includes cultural, financial, political, legal and socio-economic factors affecting operations of
international marketing; and the analysis of the profiles of select regional markets and
development of strategies for entry and expansion into the foreign markets. In addition, the topic
covers research methods for international marketing and techniques for the analysis of data,
global marketing mix decisions and various issues of marketing internationally.

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Management Information Systems
The subject offers students an overview of the main information systems found in a
typical business covering systems such as ERP, SCM, CRM, sales, inventory, payroll, HR and
finance. Students will be introduced to the processes involved in the management of information
systems in a typical business environment. Students get to appreciate the issues that surround the
planning and strategizing information systems; the operational, tactic and strategic roles of the
Chief Information Officer (CIO); the relationship between business and information systems;
ways of accessing the information systems value, major trends impacting the management of
information systems; operational management; technology diffusion and practice and policy.
Business Ethics and Governance
The subject examines the main issues relating to business ethics, covering topics such as
the social responsibility concept, corporate and individual values, the multinational and
government context, the community, the environment, the customer, employee ethics and models
for making ethical decisions.
There is a slight difference in the names of the subjects I will need to study and the
subjects offered in the business management course. However, the slight change in the names of
the subjects does not bring a big difference since most of the content is similar.
Key Skills Needed For Business Management Career
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills are the ability to communicate effectively and fluently with other
people. Interpersonal skills exist through verbal and oral communication. .According to Gilley,

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Dixon, and Gilley 2008 p.153) without highly developed interpersonal skills, it is difficult for an
individual to succeed in business. Interpersonal skills include independence, flexibility,
perseverance, negotiation skills, motivation, and enhanced clear listening, oral and written
communication abilities. If an individual lacks one of the interpersonal skills, it means that a
person has not yet developed interpersonal skills although they are developed with time.
Interpersonal skills are essential in a business career as it equips an individual with a
better understanding of people they interact and communicate with when compared to
individuals with interpersonal skills which are limited or developed. The understanding solves
common conflicts that occur in an organization. According to Trenholm and Jensen (2008 p.10)
Verbal communication skills helps in promoting the understanding of customers and facilitate
customer satisfaction. Through verbal communication, the feedbacks are provided appropriately
and customers treated with loyalty. In addition, verbal communication is important to a business
management career as it eliminates misunderstandings. Non-verbal communication such like
emails and text might be misunderstood by the receiver and lead to denial of opportunity or loss
of a customer. Therefore, the business management career requires individual with effective
verbal communication skills that can rectify misunderstandings.
Interpersonal skills are also essential in a business career as they enhance the quality of
message reception between staff and client. According to Wilkinson, Perry, Blanchard and
Linsell (2008 p.365) better interpersonal skills benefits any individual in an organization as it
fosters effective verbal communication. Through interpersonal skills, the relationship in the
organization is established which contributes to the mutual exchange of information, ideas and
skills. When employees have effective verbal communication, they can speak out their minds

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openly. In addition, effective interpersonal skills establish mutual respect for one’s opinion and
input and enable the completion of tasks, the performance of duties and management of tasks in
the business. Therefore, verbal communication is a necessary element of effective operations of
an organization.
Oral skills
Chen (2011 p.59) defined oral skills like an ability to express ideas or information by
word of mouth. Oral communication skills are important for both organization and individual.
Oral communication skills are essential in a business career as it enhances customer service.
According to Morreale and Pearson (2008 p.224) customers who have interacted with customer
care representative without effective oral communication encounters frustrations. Furthermore, if
employees lack insufficient oral communication and cannot speak the right information to the
customer, then customers consider seeking for better service somewhere else. Therefore, oral
communication is a key determinant of how business attracts and maintains loyal customers.
Business Writing Skills
Business writing skills is an important part of communication and are greatly exercised in
a modern collaborative world. In business management career, effective business writing skills
are essential in driving sales because proposals and market copies play a key role in the
establishment of the sales process. In addition, if the business writings are poor, the material
makes the company or organization look incompetent and unprofessional. Therefore, by having a
business, writing skills are essential in improving the organizational image and assist in the
generation of more leads that converts to higher sales.

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In business management career, effective writing boosts brand reputation as most people
interact with the organization through written content such as reports, social media,
organizational websites and emails. Therefore, through the development of effective writing
skills, the organization makes a positive customer experience.
Business writing skills also booster’s productivity, efficiency and innovation as the
majority of stakeholders in the organization spends most of the time on writings. With effective
business writing skills in the organization, readers are less likely to seek clarifications and waste
time on interpretation as employees always communicate through emails and documents which
requires excellent writing skills.
Team Working Skills
Teamwork is defined as an ability of individuals collaborating their personal skills in
pursuit of a set objective, target or a goal. In business management career, team-working skills
are essential in motivating unity and fostering of creativity and learning within an organization.
According to Folkestad and Gonzalez (2010 p.115) creativity and innovation thrive through
teamwork because brainstorming of creative ideas prevents inappropriate viewpoints.
Furthermore, a combination of unique perspectives creates an effective selling solution. In
addition, team-working skills also assist in the Business management career by maximizing
shared knowledge in the organization assisting in the development of new skills that are useful in
advanced careers.
Teamwork skills are also essential in building trust with other people in the workplace.
According to Thomas, Zolin and Hartman (2009 p.287) reliance on other people creates trust and
employees are in good position of building a strong relationship with colleagues. Furthermore,

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an effective team enjoys togetherness and shares a strong bond despite occasional disagreements.
A research by Hassan and Semerciöz (2010 p.67) indicated that when an organization puts trust
on coworkers, it builds a background of a relationship that endures insignificant conflicts.
Having effective team building skills is also essential in the business management carrier
because it blends complementary strengths. Working as a team helps employees to identify and
build the talents of their colleagues. For example, if an individual has strength in organizational
and building, the teammates can build that individual to have other strengths like creative
thinking.
Analysis and Presentation of Basic Research Information
Skills in the analysis and presentation of basic research information is important for
employees and more especially to team members who have to research and present findings to
the team. Analysis of data is important as it brings results which assist in solving a particular
problem. Data analysis and skills in the presentation of basic research information can also bring
new ideas to the team which may result to faster decision making processes.
Resume writing and job interview skills
Resume writing and job interview skills are developed when a student has thoroughly
developed effective communication skills. The skills are needed in the business management
careers as they are determinant of whether a student will get their desired jobs immediately after
college or they will tarmac for couple of years. Furthermore, the majority of the managers selects
the suitable candidate by basing their conclusion on their resumes. Once an employer notices the
resumes are not properly written, it becomes hard for them to trust the concerns candidate with a
particular job. In addition, the student might have insufficient skills but gets a job as a business

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administrator because of properly written resume. On the other hand, job interview skills, are
essential for the business carrier as they provide the candidate with a selection chance for a
particular job role depending on what he or she answers. Having effective job interview skills
indicates that the candidate being interviewed for a role is competent and experienced. A
research conducted by Macan (2009) has indicated that many candidates in a job interview fail to
be selected because they don’t have appropriately job interview skills as some panic in the
process and end up providing mediocre answers. Therefore, the resume writing and job interview
skills are essential for business management careers as they help the student to secure their
desired roles and also get promoted easily in the organization.
Conclusion
A career in the business management field is a lucrative career since the field is flooded
with many job opportunities. Reviewing the subjects and skills in the business career
management is therefore important as it will assist students in making the right career decision.

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References
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