HRM Perceptions on MBA Graduates’ Employability Competencies (Matching Importance and Performance)

Samah Mohamed Mustafa Kamal

This research is an exploratory cross sectional study aiming at assessing the Master of Business Administration Graduates (MBAG) competencies in Sudanese universities from the Human Resource Managers (HRM) perceptions. This is achieved through, investigating the gap between importance and performance of the MBAG current competencies. Additionally, to investigate the difference in importance between soft skills and hard skills. The sample is selected using cluster sampling technique. And an online survey instrument is constructed using google form and circulated to 214 HRM. Furthermore, T-test is utilized to test the hypotheses under 0.05 significant level. The study revealed that HRM are mainly dissatisfied with the MBAG acquired competencies. Furthermore, there is significant difference in importance in terms of soft skills and hard skills as perceived by HRM. The employers seem to value soft skills more than hard skills, because most of the competencies that ranked high by employers are soft skills. Additionally, the study indicates a gap between competencies’ importance and performance. Thus, it can be concluded that there is mismatch between the current MBAG competencies and what is really needed by the Sudanese employers. Accordingly, business schools should perform curriculum restructures for prioritizing skills and designing coursework to incorporate top ranked skills viewed as most important by business and employers. Precisely, Design curricula so that students can learn — by doing — to apply multiple disciplines on the job, and encourage students to take electives outside the traditional core curriculum.

https://doi.org/10.31871/WJRR.10.3.6