Why Operational Capability Is Missing in Most Real Estate Programs
A look at the structural reasons universities can’t fully teach the operational side of commercial real estate.
Updated: November 2025
Introduction
Real estate programs across the country excel at teaching financial modeling, law, valuation, development, planning, and macro-level concepts. But operational capability—the day-to-day execution inside buildings—remains the industry’s most persistent readiness gap.
This is not a flaw in academia. It is a structural reality.
Reason 1: Curriculum Must Prioritize Breadth Over Depth
Universities serve:
- Business students
- Real estate majors
- Finance students
- Construction management majors
- Urban planning students
They cannot dedicate multiple courses to building systems, facilities, or operational execution.
There simply isn't room in the curriculum.
Reason 2: Operations Evolve Too Quickly for Academia
Building systems change fast.
Technology changes faster.
ESG requirements evolve yearly.
AI is reshaping workflows.
Academic approval cycles take years, not weeks.
Reason 3: Faculty Expertise Is Typically Strategic, Not Operational
Just as finance professors aren’t hedge fund traders, real estate faculty are often experts in:
- finance
- law
- development
- urban policy
- valuation
They are not property operators or facility directors.
Universities shouldn’t be expected to teach live building operations—they are not structured for that.
Reason 4: Employers Expect Capability, Not Just Knowledge
Lean teams mean new hires must:
- interpret leases
- understand mechanical systems
- manage vendors
- identify risks
- communicate with tenants
- understand operational accounting
The industry expects readiness universities cannot provide.
This is one of the reasons the industry faces what many hiring managers call the employer readiness gap, where new hires struggle to meet operational expectations.
The Solution: CREXOM™ Adds the Missing Layer
CREXOM fills this operational void with:
- practical execution frameworks
- building systems literacy
- scenario-based training
- applied financial context
- risk and compliance awareness
- tenant and vendor alignment
This is the layer higher education programs cannot easily offer—and the layer employers desperately need.
CREXOM™ addresses these challenges by building day-one capability through practical, execution-focused instruction.
Bring CREXOM™ to Your Students, Program, or Institution
Academic programs excel at teaching theory, but operational readiness requires applied training. CREXOM™ adds the execution-focused skills universities cannot easily provide.
