Although managers oversee projects, departments and lines of business, they all have one thing in common: they manage people. As a result, managers study to become more-effective communicators. They also write letters, send emails, develop reports and make presentations -- all important managerial communication functions. Business communication courses help managers understand how to develop a communication style that enhances team commitment and individual performance. For example, managers learn how to identify the barriers that can cause misunderstanding, how to identify the relative importance of face-to-face communication, how to match the right communication method with a communication goal and how to communicate effectively with a multigenerational workforce.
Every business makes important decisions about its direction. Sometimes a business reviews the big picture, while other times it must consider which specific product, service or marketing approach will position it for greater success and profitability. Business strategy courses teach the systematic thinking required to sort through important deliberations. A typical core management course might be a business strategy and policy course. Courses emphasize critical thinking, common business scenarios and case studies that give context and relevant examples. Managers often tap, or utilize, their skills from other courses such as economics, operations management and marketing.
Business schools use economic theory as an analytical tool to help organizations achieve their business goals. That is the essence of business economics. Typically, business economics is concerned with studying pricing and monetary policies, forecasting economic impacts, measuring demand and applying economic models to management decisions. Business economics courses analyze capital markets and macroeconomic policies and international business economics, according to the University of Washington.
Many of the world's leading corporations credit their employees for their successes. Companies focus on employee perks and benefits to ensure their people function at their best. This focus is based on an understanding of human resource management (HRM) and organizational behavior -- topics taught at business schools as well as seminars given by consultants and management trainers. Managers learn everything from best practices for getting more out of employees using approaches like employee empowerment and motivation to progressive discipline to the safest and best ways to terminate an employee. The human dynamics of organizations are myriad, but an HRM education addresses the fundamental issues -- pay, benefits, motivation, diversity, equality, grievances, professionalism, communication and labor law.