The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a graduate professional degree designed to provide training in a broad set of managerial skills. Usually, it is for managers who are taking on responsibilities beyond the narrow focus of a specific business function. For example, it is not about learning lots of accounting detail, or marketing detail, etc. MBA programs do look at state-of-the-art thinking in the various business functions in some depth, but not to make people specialists in a particular business function.
Rather, most MBA programs aim to give participants an understanding of how accounting, marketing, and the whole set of business functions must fit together into a coherent whole for the organization to function well. Higher level managers need to know something of all the functions to manage the organization well.
Typically, MBA programs offer a mix of theory and practice. In other words, participants are brought up-to-date on current management concepts, and the programs make sure that participants know how to translate those concepts into the real world to perform better in their own jobs and their own organizations.
UAS MBA in Service Management: The UAS School of Business, Public Administration, & Information Systems is small, but has high quality faculty. Frequently the best small organizations in markets full of competitors aim to supply high quality, specialized products / services, and stay away from direct competition in mass produced, generic offerings. The UAS MBA focuses on Service Management to give participants a thorough understanding of services and how to manage them.
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"The MBA Program was challenging and rewarding. It enhanced my management skills which I have since applied in Alaska State government."
--Guy Bell
Assistant Commissioner
Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development
UAS MBA Graduate
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The focus of the UAS MBA program is tailored to Alaska ’s economic trends. Projections by the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development indicate that the vast majority of jobs created over the next decade will be in various services areas: ( http://labor.state.ak.us/trends/sep04.pdf ). The need for skilled managers in rapidly growing services industries is becoming critical to keep Alaska ’s economy competitive. A few examples of service industries in Alaska which need well-trained managers include:
- health care services
- retailing & wholesaling
- tourism & hospitality
- financial services
- logistics services
- oil field and mining support services
- professional services (doctors, lawyers, architects, accountants, etc.)
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Managers from almost any service industry will find the UAS MBA in Service Management filled with current thinking about how to manage the broad range of activities necessary to provide high quality service to customers / users. This knowledge is integrated into a strongly applications oriented approach. Our goal is that every participant will be able to take something from each course directly into their jobs, to immediately begin contributing toward better performance for their organizations.
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