Definition
Business, finance, and accounting examine topics associated with improving business outcomes, such as increasing efficiency, profitability, and market share. University business schools typically offer degrees in specific areas, such as accounting, finance, business management and administration, marketing, sales, and international business. At the graduate level, business students obtain master’s degrees in specific areas or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Subdisciplines
There are many subdisciplines offered by business schools, including entrepreneurship, project management, supply chain management, human resources, and real estate management.
In Practice
Although many business graduates enter the private sector, some also work for government and nonprofit organizations, as well as other segments of the workforce.
In Disaster Research
Disaster research offers many opportunities to study the impacts of hazards and disasters on different aspects of business, including business vulnerability, loss-reduction measures adopted by businesses, disaster impacts on businesses, and business recovery (Tierney, 2007). Other related topics include the impacts of hazards and disasters on supply chains, facilities, and infrastructure, as well as other components that determine business operations and outcomes. Although these topics are of vital importance, many of these subjects have received less attention than other disaster-related topics (Ponomarov & Holcomb, 2009). The impacts of hazards and disasters may also be studied by researchers in broader, related fields (for example, economists who may examine different scales, objectives, and theories).
References
Ponomarov, S. Y., & Holcomb, M. C. (2009). Understanding the Concept of Supply Chain Resilience. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 20(1), 124-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09574090910954873
Tierney, K. J. (2007). From the Margins to the Mainstream? Disaster Research at the Crossroads. Annual Review of Sociology, 33(1), 503-525. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.33.040406.131743
CONVERGE is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation, Program on Humans, Disasters, and the Built Environment (Award #1841338). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.