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(‘The Right Choice’ is a series by The Indian Express that addresses common questions, misconceptions, and doubts surrounding undergraduate admissions. You can read the stories here.)
– Yash Merchant
In a business environment shaped by digital disruption and complex supply networks, enterprises are rethinking how they extract value from data and operations. MBA specialisations in Business Analytics and Operations Management are two key pathways that help build these capabilities. While they may appear to serve different domains, both are vital to driving modern enterprise performance.
An MBA in Business Analytics is designed to develop professionals who can interpret data and generate business value through insight-led decision-making. It blends statistical modelling, machine learning, and domain-specific analytics with tools like Python, SQL, and Power BI. The focus is to unlock predictive power and real-time business intelligence that helps in guiding strategy.
In contrast, an MBA in Operations Management prepares students to design and manage systems that deliver goods and services efficiently. The curriculum emphasises supply chain strategy, process design, logistics, lean methodologies, and project execution. The lens is primarily structural, with a strong foundation in quantitative decision-making and process optimisation.
Business Analytics professionals typically start in roles such as Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Consultant, or Product Analyst. As organisations invest in advanced analytics and automation, these roles often lead to positions in digital transformation, customer intelligence, or data-driven strategy.
Operations Management graduates take on roles like Supply Chain Analyst, Operations Consultant, Procurement Manager, or Program Manager. Their work is critical in sectors ranging from manufacturing and logistics to services and retail, especially as businesses build more resilient and adaptive operations post-COVID.
Placement trends reflect the growing demand for hybrid talent. Companies in tech, consulting, financial services, and e-commerce actively seek Business Analytics graduates for roles involving customer analytics, risk modelling, and product strategy. Operations graduates are recruited by firms in manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure, and consumer goods to lead process improvements, supply chain digitisation, and operational excellence initiatives.
Increasingly, job roles are evolving to blend both capabilities such as supply chain analytics, operations digitisation, and performance intelligence, creating opportunities for professionals who straddle both disciplines.
Business Analytics is best suited for individuals who are data-curious, comfortable with quantitative tools, and interested in influencing decisions through evidence. Operations Management, on the other hand, is ideal for those who enjoy systems thinking, problem-solving at scale, and optimising how work gets done.
Ultimately, both paths contribute to building enterprises that are smarter, faster, and more resilient. The edge lies in professionals who can connect real insights with execution.
(The author is the Director of Communications at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai)
