FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND FLEXIBILITY OF THINKING AS PRIORITIES OF MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOR TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH

Abstract

The article substantiates the need for a radical review of approaches to the training of managers in high technological industries, whose professional activity context is defined by continuous crises, growing uncertainty, dynamic trends, the massive emergence of the newest technical, organizational, and IT solutions, and a profound transformation of markets. Building upon their own research, analysis of expert opinions from top managers, university professors and the best practices of the world's leading universities, the authors identify trends indicating the growing role of the fundamental knowledge possessed by managers, who are capable of raising up to the challenges of an unstable environment. Links are determined between fundamental training and the flexibility of managerial thinking. A conceptual vision is presented of the peculiarities of managerial thinking and of conditions for developing its flexibility in the educational process.The scientific novelty of the article includes arguments substantiating the need for stepping up fundamental training in line with objective demand for changes in the content of managerial functions. Such training is based on three components: methodology of anticipatory management; scientific and technological foundations of production and technologies of the future; a vision of professional activity and changes that will be brought about by the introduction of new technologies. On the applied side, the authors have designed a concrete structure of fundamental training and a mix of training methods that promote flexibility of thinking and have proved effective as part of Masters in Management programs.