iMBA
International Master in Business Administration

The era of rapid and radical changes has influenced the interconnected global economic system. The financial turmoil and its challenges have convinced executives and managers to undertake new routes towards a renewed path of value creation and growth. Nowadays, many key factors consequently affect management education.

Impacts and implications of demography

A greater number of older, more experienced students require relevant professional education to emphasize project and team-based contents and experiential learning. Curricula should become more flexible and degree programmes need to become shorter and be more effective in a fast-changing environment.

Impacts and implications of technology

Information and communication technologies pervade corporations and the communities of executives, managers, professionals, and consumers. Social networks and the emerging role of on-line communities have challenged the way companies successfully deliver value to the customer. Innovating the value proposition and the business model consequently constitutes one of the most recurrent quests to be dealt by executives.

Impacts and implications of globalisation

The growth of cultural diversity in society and in business, as well as the widespread diffusion of multinational organizations and their operational models, require a superior appraisal of the critical role of cross-cultural content in teaching. Indeed, the requirements to form cross-cultural teams are managing global accounts, shaping operational models in a "think global – act local" mode, and creating global strategic alliances and partnerships.

Impacts and implications of entrepreneurial thinking

A new focus on linkages between technology and management must enhance the capability to produce entrepreneurial strategies and innovative business models even in large and established firms. The teaching of entrepreneurial and emerging business skills also requires to transfer know-how and techniques proper of small and entrepreneurial companies to complex, global, and well structured corporations.

Ethics and corporate social responsibility

The fast pace of the economy, undertaken by some new players from developing countries requires new sustainable trajectories for growth. Energy consumptions and environmental issues must play a crucial role in the strategic thinking of a corporation, since they might soon become a long-lasting and hard to overcome obstacle for growth. Furthermore, accountability, transparency and equity must be taken as a cultural mindset and valuable behavioural habit. Ethics and social responsibility tend to become a core value embedded in the business and operational model.

All of these issues are the main challenges for the development of a new class of executives and managers. Facing these challenges is at the core of the iMBA that wishes to provide an international and outstanding, educational experience enabling students to become global leaders of their future careers.

Paolo Boccardelli,
iMBA Director