To be a competent manager in the 21st century, you need to have high
doses of both education and experience, says Elmarie Strydom, Academic Head
of Undergraduate Programmes at Regenesys Business School.
Managers form a critical link in the value chain of any business, in service,
sales or distribution. They increase competitiveness and drive teams and
business units to meet business goals. They are the pivot around which both the
planning and execution of business strategy revolves. It follows that a business
is only as good as its managers. Managers? scope of thinking and calibre of skills
are undeniably dominant factors in the performance of any organisation and at
all levels.
So what does it take to become an exceptional manager?
In the 21st century workplace, higher education is playing an increasingly
important role vis-a-vis experience when it comes to creating a successful career
path, building sustainable business models and staying abreast of technological
innovations.
Experience alone is no longer enough to drive efficiency and effectiveness in
the workplace. Nowadays, managers must have an academic or tertiary
qualification as this cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving through the
application of different theories to workplace related challenges.
The value of education cannot be overstated. No matter what environment
or sector, well-educated managers are needed to create competent businesses
that can compete locally and on an international level.
All too often unqualified managers are ineffective as all their skills are
experience based. Their thinking is confined to what they have learned on the
job. Therefore, their problem solving and critical thinking abilities are limited.
What they know is based on what they have experienced and nothing else.
In terms of participation of black South Africans in management positions,
there are some real challenges. For instance, black South Africans own less than
a quarter of the shares on the JSE and 73% of top managers are white.
Although some progress has been made, the battle ahead remains a real one
that needs sustainable solutions.
The reality is that the previous education system provided different
standards of education for black and white South Africans, and as a result we
have managers that have years of experience but no proper formal qualification.
They may hold positions for which they are practically competent but not formally
qualified due to historical factors.
Adcorp?s most recent Employment Index survey reveals that the highly-
skilled categories suffering the greatest skilled shortages include senior
management positions, with as many as over 829 800 unfilled positions for high-
skilled workers across a wide range of occupations in South Africa, resulting from
the fact that there aren?t people with the right skills, experience and qualification
to match the vacant positions.
We have found that once individuals are exposed to post-school education,
they acknowledge the positive impact of a formal qualification and the impact it
has on their attitude and approach to doing things. It is without a doubt that
tertiary education is a critical component in the development of effective, forward
thinking leaders who will drive efficiencies and organisations, create motivated
teams, and who work effectively to contribute to organisational and GDP growth.
The business school offers managers who have experience but no formal
qualification, a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree that prepares
them for employment in junior, supervisory and management positions. The
course offers full-time contact and distance learning for people who are
employed and unemployed. It provides in-depth insight into the core functions
within a business, including human resources, finance, marketing, strategy,
project management and ICT to equip managers with the knowledge required to
take on their responsibilities effectively.
The course develops generic administration and management competencies
required to drive efficient, competitive and effective leaders, teams and
businesses that will influence the world.
"Our institution?s teaching philosophy is based on a holistic approach that
focuses on the Spiritual and Emotional Intelligence of an individual. By
recognising that individuals have cognitive intelligence (IQ), as well as emotional
(EQ) and spiritual intelligence (SQ), we develop the qualities that help them to
drive and lead teams. We impart knowledge and at the same time nurture
individuals? ability to achieve their life?s purpose to enable them to become
effective managers who will influence teams, organisations, the nation and the
world. There is no place for small thinking, we groom managers who want to
become tomorrow?s great leaders,' concludes Strydom.
What do you think?
What do companies value more, experience or qualifications?
