Business education provides employees skills that enhance organizational effectiveness.

• 84% of American Management Association survey participants found communication as the most important leadership skill.[1] MBA alumni from an AACSB accredited college in the Midwestern United States reported that acquired communication skills were the most useful aspect of their programs.[2]
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a sizable proportion of top executives have a business education.[3]
• Surveyed MBA graduates stated they were better at “problem-solving, leadership, and team collaboration” than colleagues without MBA degrees.[2]
• CEOs from top firms commonly hold a business degree. For example, 40% of Fortune's 20 Most Admired American Companies[4] have a business degree.
• About 40% of all new employees had an MBA and companies surveyed plan to hire 18% more MBAs in 2006. Large firms are far more likely to hire MBAs than small or mid-sized firms [5.
• Companies with CEOs who have an MBA earn a one percentage point higher rate of return than firms with a CEO who does not have an MBA. [6]

1)  American Management Association. (2003). Survey on leadership challenges. Retrieved May 8, 2006, http://www.amanet.org/research/pdfs/04apsummary.pdf. 

2)  Zhao, J. L, Truell, A. D., Alexander, M. W., & Hill, I. B. (2006). Less success than meets the eye? The impact of master of business administration education on graduates’ careers. Journal of Education for Business, 81(5).

3)  Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2006). Occupational Outlook Handbook – Top Executives. (USDL Publication). Washington, DC.

4) Fortune (2006) America's Most Admired Companies, Retrieved 12/5/2006, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/03/06/8370761/index.htm

5) GMAC (2006). Corporate Recruiters Survey 2005-06 Survey Report. Retrieved, December 6, 2006. http://www.gmac.com/gmac/ResearchandTrends/Tools/CorpRecSurvey06SurveyReport.htm

6) Bertrand, M. & Schoar, A. (2003). Managing with style: the effect of managers on firm policies. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118: 1169-1208.