Beyond the MBA top 20 supplied by Professor Noonan, I have located a handful of academic resources indicating which Excel skills MBA students should have when they graduate, and in some cases, before they begin their studies. While this information may not be a direct resource to gain these skills, it paints a picture of the expectations that the business world will have for us when we complete our studies.
Duke’s Fuqua School of Business identifies a number of skills that incoming MBA students should have on the Computer Skills section of their MBA ready website at http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/student_resources/mba_ready_executive/computer_skills/#doc2
One of the skills that has caught my attention here, and an area in which I lack experience, is referencing across worksheets and workbooks. While referencing across worksheets is relatively intuitive for me, references across workbooks will definitely require some additional research on my part. Additionally, Duke requests that students are familiar with text file imports into Excel. While I feel that minor research can reveal a process for this, my interest is piqued by this requirement.
Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and their Kelley Direct online program provide a slightly different set of recommendations on their Prerequisite Excel Skills page at http://kelley.iu.edu/onlineMBA/Admissions/Prerequisites/page36896.html . Here we find a grouping of skills and specific functions that are required. While many of these functions should be familiar to most of us, I am not sure how many within our cohort spend time parsing text or using reference functions. To that end, I am sure that the nature of one’s background is likely what is driving what and when these functions may be used.
Finally, the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/mba-program/admit-central/curriculum-and-academics/pre-mba-preparation provides significant opportunities for incoming MBA students to refine their skills in advance of their studies, from assessments to online courses and on campus workshops. While this site does not directly speak to the Excel requirements of it students, it does exemplify the importance that the university places on these skills. Also, you will find a link to an online tools page at the bottom of the above linked page.
What does all of this mean? First and foremost, I believe that this solidifies the concept that excel skills are paramount to success in business school and business in general. Secondly, one could interpret this information as a gauge of where the Excel skill lie for those you will be competing with post-graduation. Finally, I see this information as a sign that Goizueta may be lagging behind some of the top schools in their stated value of Excel. Perhaps I have forgotten by this time, but I do not recollect any Excel requirements being addressed during the orientation or onboarding process and I am fairly sure that there was no foundations course in Excel. Please correct me if I am wrong about this, but I think Goizueta would be well served to sharpen the focus on this key skillset.
The importance of merging business acumen and technical knowledge is on the rise and in great demand right now. To go along with your point on Excel knowledge, many companies are starting to demand people who know how to code. Here’s an article by BusinessWeek that addresses MBA program’s new focus on implementing coding classes into their programs: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-11/b-schools-finally-acknowledge-companies-want-mbas-who-can-code.
Thanks Barry and Nate. This was such a good point to make. Nate, your article talks about how important it is to hire technically skilled MBAs and that business schools are starting to see that.
I recently switched companies and I see this everyday. An MBA’s technical skills are starting to be as important to companies as critical thinking and quantitative skills.
Its important to stay on top of the ever-changing landscapes we are working in and the expectations of current and future employers.
Thanks,
Brandi
Excellent article Barry! I agree with Nate as well. The interview process and skills demanded for MBA level jobs are high. As salary ranges increase, firms want to be assured that candidates have the skills that they claim on their resume. A friend of mine was recently hired to a marketing analytics firm and he was asked to complete a project as part of the interview process. If the position you’re seeking involves certain skills (especially Excel, coding, etc.) you may be asked to do something similar.
Thank you, Matt. I frequently participate in the hiring process, although not for MBA caliber talent, and I have found that a job simulation is one of the best tools at my disposal.
Thanks for the links, Barry. In addition to Professor Noonan’s “Top 20,” it’s interesting to see the areas on which other top business schools focus.
I definitely agree with the need to sharpen one’s Excel skill-set, especially since we will be competing with many other proficient candidates. I think it’s valuable that some programs are also offering coding, particularly if that aptitude is required for one’s industry of interest.
I think that another important aspect to Excel expertise is analysis and interpretation. All too often, employees “hide” behind data dumps and do not possess the acumen to tell the story to their reader. This article highlights this area, calling it “data literacy.” http://blogs.hbr.org/2012/09/data-is-useless-without-the-skills/
As a marketing researcher, I have to rely on this skill-set every day at work, especially supporting company executives, who do not have a lot of time to digest a data dump. I’m sure that most of us can relate to that! I think that one can hone this proficiency with practice and experience.