4 MBA Program Concentrations and Their Real-World Applications

Marketing Dept

PUBLISHED:

December 5, 2023

4 MBA Program Concentrations and Their Real-World Applications

MBA programs offer a variety of specializations that allow students to focus on specific business areas. At CIAM, you can pursue an MBA in Business Analytics to gain skills and expertise to prepare for your career. Here are four MBA concentrations and their real-world applications:


Operations Management

Operations management systematically coordinates people, equipment, technology, and information to achieve efficient and effective production or service delivery. In business, operations management oversees the supply chain, from raw material procurement to delivering finished products to customers. This MBA program concentration facilitates maintaining and improving the quality of products and services through quality assurance processes. Operations managers are involved in analyzing and improving business processes. This could include identifying gaps, implementing lean methodologies, and employing technology to enhance efficiency. Managers can also maintain optimal inventory levels to meet customer demand while minimizing holding costs.


Business Analytics

With an MBA in Business Analytics, you can use data to identify trends, patterns, and correlations that influence marketing, finance, and operations decision-making. One of our core courses that you can take is Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making, which will teach you analysis and metrics. Applying analytics to financial data improves financial decision-making, manages risks, and optimizes financial processes. With business intelligence, experts can create dashboards, reports, and key performance indicators for monitoring and assessing business performance across various departments. Predictive analytics involves using statistical algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze historical data and predict future outcomes. With such skills and knowledge, you can forecast sales, predict customer behavior, optimize inventory levels, and identify potential risks and opportunities.


Management of Information Systems

Management of Information Systems (MIS) is an MBA concentration that helps students learn how to manage and leverage IT effectively. CIAM classes cover theory and practice, allowing students to apply theoretical concepts to solve real-world problems. With such knowledge, IT experts can Implement and manage cybersecurity measures, conduct risk assessments, and mitigate security incidents. MIS enables customers to manage their accounts, transfer funds, and conduct financial transactions securely through online platforms. This concept also supports the analysis of viewer data for targeted content creation and advertising. MIS facilitates database management, which entails designing, implementing, and managing databases for efficient data storage and retrieval.


Strategic Management

Strategic management entails top-level decision-making and planning to position an organization competitively within its industry. This course equips executives with the tools to assess market trends, identify opportunities and threats, and make decisions that impact the organization  future. Strategic planners may integrate corporate social responsibility initiatives into the strategy, aligning the organization activities with ethical and sustainable practices to meet societal expectations. Strategic managers work with various departments to ensure that resources, processes, and structures align with the chosen plans.


Pursue an MBA in Business Analytics

CIAM offers an MBA in Executive Management with a concentration in Business Analytics to help graduates venture into various career roles. Our core courses include strategic management, ethical leadership, marketing management, quantitative analysis, and decision-making accounting. Topics also cover information systems management, operations management, corporate finance, and management and organizational behavior. Register through our website or contact us for more details.

A poster for asian american pacific islander heritage month

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

By Marketing Dept • May 14, 2025
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is celebrated each May to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of individuals and communities with roots in the vast regions of Asia and the Pacific Islands. This includes people from East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The month of May was chosen to commemorate two significant milestones: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, a project made possible in large part by Chinese immigrant laborers. AAPI Heritage Month is a time to recognize the many ways in which AAPI individuals have shaped and strengthened the United States — from civil rights leadership and scientific innovation to artistic excellence and public service. It is also a moment to reflect on the challenges the community has faced, including exclusion, discrimination, and more recently, a rise in anti-Asian hate.  By celebrating AAPI Heritage Month, we uplift the diverse stories and voices within the AAPI community and affirm a shared commitment to equity, inclusion, and cultural appreciation.
A poster for jewish american heritage month with an american flag in the background

Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month

By Marketing Dept • May 14, 2025
Jewish American Heritage Month, observed each May, is a time to celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States. From the earliest days of American history to the present, Jewish Americans have played a vital role in shaping the nation’s social, political, cultural, and economic landscape. This month honors the perseverance, traditions, and values of the Jewish community, as well as its enduring commitment to justice, education, innovation, and civic engagement. It is also a time to reflect on the struggles Jewish Americans have faced, including antisemitism and discrimination, and to reaffirm the importance of combating hate in all its forms. Through educational programs, cultural events, and community celebrations, Jewish American Heritage Month promotes awareness and understanding, highlighting the diverse experiences and achievements of Jewish Americans. It serves as a reminder of the strength that comes from embracing diversity and the importance of remembering and honoring all who have helped shape our shared American story.

When Agile Scrum Meets Peter Drucker: Aligning Modern Method with Timeless Strategy

By Dr. Cindy Cheng • April 14, 2025
When Agile Scrum Meets Peter Drucker: Aligning Modern Method with Timeless Strategy Agile Scrum (scrum) is the primary methodology teams use to create value through quick and continuous delivery. What are the connections between the modern scrum framework and Peter Drucker's Theory of Business? Both frameworks function on different levels at first sight. Scrum functions at a tactical level, whereas the Theory of Business operates at a strategic level. Yet, examining the two frameworks uncovers key intersections supporting organizational agility and stability. Agile Scrum Methodology Scrum employs an iterative approach to product development. Teams complete product segments in “sprints” that typically span two to four weeks. Collaboration and continuous feedback are at the forefront of Scrum methodology, emphasizing adaptive responses to change (Schwaber & Sutherland, 2020). Scrum teams operate cross-functionally as self-directed units with the managers to make decisions and solve problems efficiently. Scrum fundamentally focuses on achieving the correct tasks rapidly and efficiently through transparency and ongoing enhancement (Beck et al., 2001). Drucker’s Theory of Business Peter Drucker’s Theory of Business provides a strategic framework organizations can use to achieve success. The theory argues that every successful organization is built on three assumptions: its environment, mission, and primary competencies. The organization achieves success when its assumptions align with reality. Business becomes vulnerable to failure if its fundamental assumptions do not align with reality. According to the Theory of Business, organizations must evaluate their foundational assumptions continuously. Businesses must continually assess if their foundational beliefs align with the surrounding environment to ensure their theory remains valid (Drucker, 1994). Where Scrum and Drucker’s Theory Connect Scrum and the Theory of Business function at distinct levels but share foundations in feedback mechanisms, adaptability principles, and customer-centric operations: • Continuous Improvement: The Scrum methodology includes iterative refinement through sprint reviews and retrospectives. According to Drucker, organizations must review their strategic assumptions to maintain viability (Drucker 1994). • Customer Centricity: Scrum uses direct user feedback to determine immediate development requirements (Beck et al. 2001), while Drucker advises leaders to predict future customer demands (Drucker, 2006). • Adaptability: Scrum, together with the Theory of Business, promotes the principles of learning and remaining responsive while being agile. Scrum functions at the project level, whereas Drucker operates at the organizational level. Scrum functions as the operational "how," delivering products quickly, while Drucker’s Theory of Business explains the strategic "why" behind product development initiatives. Conclusion Numerous organizations implement Scrum processes yet have not evaluated their overarching strategies. These organizations will master executing incorrect strategies without Drucker’s Theory of Business. A great strategy loses its potential value when it lacks agile implementation (Rigby et al. 2018). Organizations that merge Scrum with Drucker's Theory of Business establish a winning position for success. Organizations need to move efficiently to survive constant change and understand the purpose behind their movements. Scrum enables organizations to respond swiftly to changes, while Drucker’s Theory of Business empowers organizations to move with intent. Combining these frameworks creates a strong harmony between practical execution and strategic vision. References Beck, K., Beedle, M., van Bennekum, A., Cockburn, A., Cunningham, W., Fowler, M., ... & Thomas, D. (2001). Manifesto for Agile Software Development. Agile Alliance. https://agilemanifesto.org/ Drucker, P. F. (1994). The theory of the business. Harvard Business Review, 72(5), 95–104. https://hbr.org/1994/09/the-theory-of-the-business Drucker, P. F. (2006). The effective executive: The definitive guide to getting the right things done. Harper Business. Rigby, D. K., Sutherland, J., & Noble, A. (2018). Agile at scale. Harvard Business Review, 96(3), 88–96. https://hbr.org/2018/05/agile-at-scale Schwaber, K., & Sutherland, J. (2020). The Scrum Guide™: The Definitive Guide to Scrum: The Rules of the Game. Scrum.org. https://scrumguides.org
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