The Top Strategic Management MBA Online Programs

Businesses need a strategy if they want to not only gain a foothold in their market or niche but also remain competitive against rivals. These strategies are usually multifaceted, requiring the participation of all departments and levels of management, and they must also be unique enough to prevent competitors from copying them. Companies hire specialized managers to design, implement and oversee such strategies, and these people often hold an online Master of Business Administration in strategic management.

Top online strategic management MBA schools train students to analyze a company’s industry and determine the best way for a company to proceed in its business. Online MBA programs prepare students to assess a company’s weaknesses and devise a plan to remedy them, whether through restructuring levels of management, rolling out a new marketing plan or cutting budgetary excess. These plans influence all sectors of a company’s daily operations, so the best online MBA strategic management programs instruct students in how to communicate effectively and manage large groups of workers.

How can I tell if an online MBA strategic management degree is right for me?

A strategic management MBA online will appeal to anyone who is interested in business, research and corporate analysis.

Many online MBA strategic management students also have the following traits:

• A flair for analyzing data or information
• A knack for communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• An inclination for communicating with persons outside organization
• An ability for organizing, planning, and prioritizing work
• An inclination for getting information

How long does it take to earn an MBA online strategic management degree?

The time it takes to earn a strategic management MBA degree online is comparable to the time it takes to earn other MBAs online. Two years of full time schooling is generally required to earn this degree. However, students are able to finish the course at their own pace at some institutions that offer part-time or accelerated programs.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA strategic management schools online?

An undergraduate degree is typically required before students can enroll in online MBA strategic management programs. While having a bachelor’s degree in areas such as organizational management, management, business administration, and operations research may be ideal for those considering enrolling in a good MBA strategic management online program, it is generally not required.

In addition to requiring students to have a bachelor’s degree, many online MBA in strategic management programs base admission on the following criteria:

• Essays
• Academic transcripts
• Work experience
• References or Letters of Recommendation

What courses will I take in strategic management MBA programs online?

Any accredited online Master of Business Administration in strategic management program begins by exposing students to core business knowledge and skills. Courses during this stage of an MBA strategic management online include management, ethical business practices, developing effective organizations, marketing, accounting and financing. Strategic management MBA schools online make sure that students grasp the basics of how a business operates before moving on to more advanced instruction.

Once these prerequisites are out of the way, students in a strategic management MBA online program move on to coursework that focuses specifically on their desired concentration. They are trained through classes in strategy formulation and implementation and power and ethics. Since workers tend to resist new policies and methodologies, programs with high online strategic management MBA rankings also offer courses in managing change, leadership and professional communication.

In addition to coursework, internships are also completed by some students in online strategic management MBA programs. These internships can prove very helpful. Through them, students get a chance to put their knowledge into practical use. They also often make important business contacts.

What are the best online MBA in strategic management books I should consider reading?

Some books students wanting to pursue strategic management MBA careers may find helpful are:

1. Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach (R. Edward Freeman) – A watershed book in stakeholder theory, Strategic Management makes the case for ethical business conduct to ensure the financial security of stakeholders.

2. Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors (Michael E. Porter) – One of the most famous resources in strategic management, this book defines Porter’s three “generic strategies” and explains how they are used to achieve competitive advantage.

3. HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Strategy (Harvard Business Review) – This collection contains ten of the most helpful articles in the area of strategic management.

4. Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant (W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne) – Kim and Mauborgne make the case that in order to achieve lasting success, companies should maneuver themselves in “untapped” marketplaces.

5. Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters (Richard Rumelt) – Rumelt differentiates between a good and bad strategy and argues that most companies surprisingly do not have a coherent plan for the future.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue strategic management MBA jobs?

Because those holding an online MBA in strategic management can enter different positions, there are no solid figures for how many “strategic managers” exist. Some become management analysts, of which there were 747,000 in 2008, others enter sales and become market researchers, of which there were 624,000 in the same year, and others still might become CEOs and presidents, of which there were 2.1 million. Whatever position graduates choose, they are likely to receive a strong strategic management MBA salary:

• Strategic Planning Manager – $116,136
• Financial Analysis Manager – $99,678
• Commerce Marketing Analyst – $62,962
• Chief Executive Officer – $730,370

Job growth in these careers is expected to rise. Analyst jobs, for instance, should grow by 24%. Graduates with an MBA online strategic management background will remain in demand to guarantee that the companies that they work for have a plan to remain competitive and lucrative.

Many employers want graduates who have graduated from AACSB accredited strategic management MBA programs. Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation typically is evidence that that a business school provides a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Strategic Management MBA degree?

• University of the Southwest
• Brandman University
• Grand Canyon University