This commentary, written by Edward Kairiss, Ph.D., Director of Faculty Development and Innovation at Bryant University, originally appeared in the American Management Association’s fall 2016 issue of AMA Quarterly.
Modern organizations exist in an increasingly complex, globally interconnected environment, and must adapt and rapidly reinvent themselves in response to new challenges. Innovation, creative leadership, and fluencies in multiple domains are hallmarks of many successful institutions. What kind of employee do they need to continue to be successful?
Employers in any professional discipline are looking for employees who approach problem solving by drawing on multiple varieties of knowledge, and can apply quantitative and qualitative methods to find a solution. Being able to think critically and write effectively are essential proficiencies. Many business situations require a collection of critical thinking skills, such as being able to distinguish good data from bad, asking smart questions of clients and colleagues, and thinking about a problem from multiple perspectives. In addition to being able to work in a team of diverse individuals, people who can acquire new skills quickly and independently will bring more value to an organization.
Many business schools highlight the success that their students experience in the post-graduation job market, no doubt an important factor in attracting students to this academic discipline. However, there is also data that suggests that the lifetime earnings of many non-business majors can equal or exceed that of business graduates. Indeed, there are numerous examples of highly successful CEOs and other business leaders who majored in humanities or some other liberal arts discipline.