Why the MBA is AI-proof, for now

BITSOM DEAN SARAVANAN KESAVAN SAYS MANAGEMENT DEGREE IS MORE ESSENTIAL THAN EVER

- VIKRAM CHAUDHARY

IN THE RAPIDLY-CHANGING landscape of higher education, few topics spark as much debate as the survival and relevance of the MBA in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

But for Saravanan Kesavan, the dean and professor of Operations at BITSoM (BITS School of Management, near Mumbai), the answer is clear — the MBA is not just safe, but more essential than ever.

Even as technical roles face disruption, Kesavan told the Financial Express that management professionals will be the ultimate navigators of the AI revolution.

Automating tasks

While many fear that AI will automate managerial tasks — this was one of the topics of discussion at the recent AI Summit in New Delhi— Kesavan said that the technical side of AI development is the easier part of the equation.

“The real challenge, one that dwarfs the technical problems, is organisational adoption,” he said.

It’s often argued that engineers cannot solve the human resistance, conflicting incentives, and process reengineering required for a company to integrate AI. That burden falls on MBAs — trained in organisational behaviour, soft power, and change management. “If there is one programme that is not at risk (due to AI), it is the MBA. 1 am most bullish about it,” Kesavan said.