The Business Essentials specialisation has been designed with two major objectives in mind:

1. to equip students with a breadth of knowledge across the vital business disciplines of accounting, economics, and finance
2. to allow completion of a capstone course to consolidate, integrate, synthesise and apply their knowledge, skills with the help of the tools, and frameworks and Evidence-based Management capabilities acquired throughout prior studies, as well as to develop and implement solutions to complex real world problems, opportunities, issues, and innovation challenges presented by change and rapid innovation.

Graduate Knowledge

Graduates with a specialisation in Business Essentials will have a coherent body of knowledge of financial reporting, economics, finance, and evidence-based management in practice, which will form the basis for independent lifelong learning.

Graduate Skills

Graduates with a specialisation in Business Essentials will have:

• A user perspective on the role of accounting and financial reporting in capturing and conveying economic information about an organisation;
• A familiarity with economic concepts and principles which are useful in understanding the general economic environment within which businesses and other organisations operate;
• A familiarity with the components of the financial system as well as an introduction to the three basic ideas underpinning finance: the time value of money; diversification; and, arbitrage; and,
•  the opportunity to consolidate, integrate, and apply their knowledge, tools and frameworks, and particularly critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making capabilities, acquired in the MBA program.

In addition to these, students will also develop:

• Cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and explore knowledge, and insights into relevant applications;
• Technical skills to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental applications with insight and creativity;
• Cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking, creative problem solving and evidence led judgement in recognising, and addressing problems; and,
• Communication skills to present concise and coherent exposition of knowledge, and to convey ideas in an appropriate language for business audiences.

Application of Knowledge and Skills

Graduates with a specialisation in Business Essentials will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills

• with initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship;
• to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts; and,
• with responsibility and accountability for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters.