Schulich Mini-MBA: Essentials of Management with Specialization in Construction

The Changing Leadership Demands of Canada’s Construction Sector

Canada’s construction sector is at an inflection point. According to a KPMG industry report*, productivity in Canada’s construction sector has increased by only about 0.4% annually since 1997. More recently, labour productivity has declined to its lowest level in nearly 30 years.

Across the country, construction faces labour shortages, rising costs, housing pressures, and slow approvals, while productivity lags behind other sectors. Fragmented end to end processes and limited digital adoption drive inefficiencies and cost overruns, especially for small and mid sized firms. At the same time, modernization through digital integration, modular building, and stronger collaboration offers a clear path to faster, more affordable delivery.

This Mini-MBA with Specialization in Construction equips professionals with core management and financial fundamentals alongside a strategic, applied focus on digital transformation, approval process innovation, and modern construction methods. Through a construction-focused Action Learning Project (ALP), participants tackle real industry challenges such as end to end digital workflows, modular design, and housing solutions, building the capability to lead meaningful change across the construction value chain.

Note: Participants of Schulich Mini-MBA: Essentials of Management with Specialization in Construction will focus their ALP on the construction sector. They complete the program alongside participants in the Schulich Mini-MBA: Essentials of Management , sharing the same modules.

Essential Management Skills for an Economy in Transformation

Productivity Pressures and the Need for Stronger Management Capability

According to KMPG*, Canada’s construction sector contributes 7.4% of GDP and employs about 1.6 million people, yet productivity growth has lagged for decades.

With the sector under mounting pressure to deliver faster, safer, and more cost-effective projects amid labour shortages, digital disruption, and rising risk, construction managers need to think bigger than the next build.

Schulich Mini-MBA with Specialization in Construction equips professionals with the management, leadership, and strategic capabilities to modernize operations, strengthen performance, and drive sustainable results across complex construction environments.

Note: Participants of Schulich Mini-MBA: Essentials of Management with Specialization in Construction will focus their ALP on the construction sector. They complete the program alongside participants in the Schulich Mini-MBA: Essentials of Management , sharing the same modules.

*Source: KPMG Industry Report

DISCLAIMER: Schulich ExecEd requires a non-refundable deposit from all students as part of the enrolment process. Domestic students are required to submit a $1,000 deposit, while international students are required to submit a 50% deposit. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our advisors for assistance.

Here’s a justification letter for you to edit and send to your supervisor to provide reasoning for attending this program. Our expert advisory team can assist with customizing the letter to suit your needs!

Learn principles of business strategy and analytical frameworks for evaluating alternative strategies.

Assess and improve individual and team confidence levels through structured evaluations and interventions. Learn to identify, understand and evaluate the domestic and global forces that cause economic change.

Engage in a hands-on learning experience where strategic management principles are applied to real-world challenges.

Taking hard data and communicating it in a way that’s easy to understand to find business solutions.

Develop leadership skills that allow you to identify and challenge taken-for-granted assumptions and develop new ways of thinking.

Master the art of high-impact presentations through real-world practice and expert feedback. In this module, you’ll learn how to craft clear, compelling messages and deliver with presence. Strengthen your ability to engage, persuade, and lead conversations that drive results.

Choose and define purposes and objectives of strategy and monitor strategic performance.

Gain a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to high performing teams and learn strategies that will help unlock your team’s potential.

Understand modern investment and finance including asset valuation, capital budgeting, risk management and performance assessment.

Explore the role of marketing in the value creation process and how products, services, and strategic branding determine your marketing mix.

Learn HR from a managerial standpoint with new perspectives on actively managing your own career.

Learn how AI can improve workflows, decision-making, and performance while addressing governance, risk, and compliance considerations.

The program concludes with group final presentations, followed by a program wrap-up and graduation.

Action learning Project (ALP) is a core pillar of the Schulich Mini-MBA. All participants complete a team-based Action Learning Project that runs throughout the program, ensuring learning is applied continuously as new concepts are introduced in class. Participants apply these insights to a real organizational or strategic challenge, strengthening understanding through practical use.

It gives participants the flexibility to work on a project of their choice, either individually or as part of an employer sponsored team. Guided by experienced instructors and coaches, participants follow a structured methodology to develop and present a clear, compelling proposal, building business acumen, leadership capability, and real-world problem-solving skills. The outcome is a practical, well-grounded plan that delivers value back to the organization and can be applied immediately on the job.

Construction-focused ALP examples may include initiatives such as:

By embedding the ALP across the full program, participants build the confidence to translate insights into action and develop practical recommendations that reflect the realities of today’s construction sector.

Note: Participants of Schulich Mini-MBA: Essentials of Management with Specialization in Construction will focus their ALP on the construction sector. They complete the program alongside participants in the Schulich Mini-MBA: Essentials of Management , sharing the same modules.

Construction leaders currently overseeing construction teams who wish to enhance their management skills for more efficient and successful project delivery.

Professionals who collaborate closely with the construction sector and want to deepen their understanding of management to better align their work with project goals.

Early-career professionals in the construction sector looking to advance their careers by gaining formal management training tailored to the unique demands of construction projects.

Respond to labour shortages, digital disruption, rising risk, and productivity pressure. Build the management and leadership capabilities needed to perform in today’s complex construction and infrastructure environments.

Shift from managing individual projects to leading strategically. Strengthen decision-making in finance, strategy, change, and people management to deliver results across portfolios, not just builds.

Your Action Learning Project (ALP) runs throughout the program. Apply new concepts in real time through ideation, analysis, and solution development, guided by instructors with real-world construction insight.

Gain confidence interpreting financial data, managing risk, and aligning budgets with strategy. Learn how stronger financial decisions drive profitability, resilience, and long-term performance in construction organizations.

Develop the leadership skills to motivate teams, manage resistance, and improve performance in high-pressure, multi-stakeholder environments where safety, timelines, and accountability are critical.

Graduate with a Mini-MBA with a specialization in Construction. Receive a digital badge from Canada’s top-ranked business school that signals credibility, leadership readiness, and career progression.