Business Administration vs Business Management: What’s the Difference?

Interested in embarking on your career journey in the exciting and dynamic world of business? If so, you may be wondering what type of education you need to thrive in this field.

Both business admin and management programs can be suitable — but the path that’s right for you will ultimately boil down to your unique interests, strengths, and long-term professional goals.

With a stronger understanding of the differences between business administration vs. business management, along with the kinds of career opportunities you can explore in each field, you’ll be in a better position to decide on a business degree or diploma.

What Is Business Administration?

Defining business administration can be challenging due to the simple fact that it’s such a broad field. Generally speaking, business administration involves oversight of a company’s day-to-day operations at the highest possible level. Professionals who work in business administration may be responsible for long-term strategic planning, resource allocation, and goal setting. Despite their focus on everyday operations, business administrators must also be able to see the “big picture” and make decisions with the company’s future in mind.

Business administrators can work in any number of roles and departments within a company, ranging from human resources and marketing to finance and operations. Companies of every size and industry, whether a small startup or a large corporation, depend on business administrators to help achieve their goals.

What Is Business Management?

Business management is another critical aspect of any company’s success — but it’s not as broad of a field as business administration. Specifically, management in business tends to focus more on the everyday oversight of projects, people, and resources, with the end goal of carrying out company-wide objectives.

Typically, business managers take on more of a leadership role. In project management, for example, they may be responsible for delegating tasks to individual team members, allocating resources to different teams, and ensuring that projects stay on-track and on-budget. In other areas of business, they may focus more on leading individual departments or overseeing certain aspects of the company (such as operations or finance).

Business Management vs. Business Administration

When comparing business management vs. business administration, there seems to be a lot of overlap between the two. Both fields, for instance, are heavily focused on overseeing certain resources and ensuring that businesses operate with their long-term objectives in mind.

However, there are also some notable differences. One simple way to understand the difference between business admin and management is to think of business managers as being responsible for carrying out the decisions and directives of business administrators.

For example, a business administrator may make a decision that applies to (and affects) everybody within the company. However, it is management that is responsible for ensuring those decisions are enforced and applied to the workplace.

In other words, business administration is itself a much broader field than business management. Those working in administration are typically more focused on formulating big-picture business strategies, whereas management centers on applying those big-picture policies and procedures to individual teams.

So, how can you decide which area of business is better suited to your own interests and professional goals? Ultimately, a lot of it will boil down to how much time you’re willing to spend in school and where you see yourself in the next five years, ten years, and beyond. If you enjoy big-picture thinking and strategic problem-solving, then a career in business administration may be right for you.

On the other hand, if you like the idea of leading and inspiring teams (or overseeing projects from start to finish), then you may want to consider a career in business management instead.

Business Administration Explored:

Leaning toward a career in business administration? With a better understanding of the key skills you need to thrive in this type of role, as well as what kinds of education options to consider, you can embark on your journey with confidence.

Key Administrative Skills

Business administrators need to possess a wide range of hard and soft skills, including strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. These competencies are especially important when it comes to making big-picture decisions that can affect entire companies (and their team members) at a broad level.

It’s also not uncommon for business administrators to juggle multiple responsibilities at once. As a result, having sharp time management skills (and the ability to delegate tasks) can really come in handy.

Finally, business administrators need to possess excellent communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills. These professionals encounter and work with a diverse audience of people on a daily basis, so being able to communicate and build relationships effectively is a critical aspect of the job.

Good Degrees for Business Administration

The degree option that’s best for a career in business administration will depend on many factors — including the exact type of administrator job you’re interested in landing. Some examples that may be worth exploring include:

• A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• A specialized BBA, such as one in Accounting, Finance, or Analytics
• An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Business
• A diploma in office administration, accounting, or general business

Careers in Business Administration

Part of what draws many people to careers in business administration is the fact that you can specialize in and explore many different areas of business based on your interests, strengths, and professional goals. For example, if you’re interested in working directly with people and making big-picture hiring decisions that support a company’s long-term objectives, then going into the human resources (HR) side of things could be an excellent choice.

Some other potential careers to consider in business administration include:

• Market research analyst
• Accountant
• Marketing professional
• Financial analyst
• Office administrator

Business Management Explored

What if management in business feels like a stronger calling? Below, we’ve outlined some of the key skills business managers need to have in today’s competitive landscape, as well as some popular business degree options to help you kick-start your career.

Key Management Skills

Above all else, business managers need to be strong, capable leaders. Being able to motivate, inspire, and lead teams is an essential part of the job — regardless of whether you’re working with a small team or an entire department.

Strong leadership and effective communication skills often go together. For instance, communicating with employees is key to keeping everybody on the same page while mitigating any potential conflict. These professionals should be approachable and capable of handling any number of issues that could arise in the typical workplace.

Business managers also need to have excellent time management skills, especially when juggling many different tasks or projects at once. This includes being able to adapt and pivot as needed when encountering unexpected obstacles. Adaptability, combined with the ability to problem-solve creatively, can serve business managers well in their everyday work.

Good Degrees for Management

So, where can you learn the essential skills needed to be a proficient business manager? There are a number of degree options that can help you build the foundational knowledge and competencies demanded in this field, including:

• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Business
• AAS in Office Management
• BBA in General Management
• Bachelor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership

Careers in Business Management

With the right education and skills under your belt, there are numerous career paths you may want to consider in business management. Some of the more in-demand business management careers include:

• Business analyst
• Talent acquisition specialist
• Project manager
• Operations manager
• Financial manager

Start Your Business Journey Today!

Despite some similarities, business administration and business management are two distinct fields that require different experience, skills, and knowledge. If you’re more interested in the ins and outs of keeping a business running efficiently, then a career in business administration may be right for you. On the other hand, if you’re eager to take on more of a leadership role overseeing everyday operations, then you may want to consider business management instead.

Regardless of the path you choose, the right education can prepare you for the challenges and opportunities that come with a career in business. At Bryant & Stratton College, we take pride in the wide selection of business programs offered both online and on our physical campuses. From diplomas and associate’s degrees to bachelor’s degrees and more, some of our most in-demand business programs include:

• Business Assistant Diploma
• Office Administration Assistant Diploma
• Associate of Applied Science in Business (AAS)
• Associate of Applied Science in Office Management
• Bachelor of Business Administration in General Management
• Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) in Organizational Leadership

No matter which program you choose, you can enjoy a career-focused curriculum with plenty of faculty support and opportunities for hands-on learning. Get in touch to learn more about any of these program offerings today — or take the next step by applying now.