Doing an MBA - Worth it?
Discussion
Brothers,
Strangely a search for MBA comes up with nothing on PH? I'm sure someone will proved a relevant link to another thread..
Anyway I digress; I've been considering doing an MBA for quite a few years as I want to move on, and would be useful to get a proper insight into business operations (and finally have some spare cash in the bank)...
I see far too many decisions made that are wholly inappropriate, and made by senior people in the organisation who come from a purely technical back-ground, but have severely limited, (if any) exposure to a business environment and how it should operate.
So I wonder if there is anyone out there who has done an MBA, what their experiences were, the age they did it, cost (both time and money), and in the end, if it was worth it?
Thanks in advance.
Peace.
Strangely a search for MBA comes up with nothing on PH? I'm sure someone will proved a relevant link to another thread..
Anyway I digress; I've been considering doing an MBA for quite a few years as I want to move on, and would be useful to get a proper insight into business operations (and finally have some spare cash in the bank)...
I see far too many decisions made that are wholly inappropriate, and made by senior people in the organisation who come from a purely technical back-ground, but have severely limited, (if any) exposure to a business environment and how it should operate.
So I wonder if there is anyone out there who has done an MBA, what their experiences were, the age they did it, cost (both time and money), and in the end, if it was worth it?
Thanks in advance.
Peace.
Definitely worth it as long as you have a clear idea of what you want from it - it is, IMHO, one of very few degrees beyond the obvious professional ones that can have a material impact upon your earning potential. The ultimate benefit you derive depends upon what age/career level you are tho'.
I would also add that, even more than a first degree, where you go dictates the "value" you get from it....
I would also add that, even more than a first degree, where you go dictates the "value" you get from it....
Straight to MBA after your graduation may get you a job, but you won't be respected, and I suspect it isn't worth it. You would be, as the cliche goes "Master of Bugger All".
It sounds more like you've a few years under your belt. In this situation I'd expect it to be a much more worthwhile venture. But, it won't be cheap to put yourself through it.
A very mixed bag, IMO, and much of it negative. Remember, most self-made millionaires left school pretty early...
Best of luck.
It sounds more like you've a few years under your belt. In this situation I'd expect it to be a much more worthwhile venture. But, it won't be cheap to put yourself through it.
A very mixed bag, IMO, and much of it negative. Remember, most self-made millionaires left school pretty early...
Best of luck.
Well I'm recently 33 and not quite where I expected to be.
I enjoy learning, I am and always have been interested in running businesses (black sheep of the family for going into the corporate rather than running my own business). But even at an early age I could see where friends and family were not running things as optimally as they could be (but I would never say anything)...
Plus I think it would be good for one's confidence, but it is hard to get an impartial view from the prospectus of different institutions. One of the most popular courses in the States isn't even recognised internationally.
I had considered the OU course, but not sure how it is perceived in the wider business community...
Peace out...
I enjoy learning, I am and always have been interested in running businesses (black sheep of the family for going into the corporate rather than running my own business). But even at an early age I could see where friends and family were not running things as optimally as they could be (but I would never say anything)...
Plus I think it would be good for one's confidence, but it is hard to get an impartial view from the prospectus of different institutions. One of the most popular courses in the States isn't even recognised internationally.
I had considered the OU course, but not sure how it is perceived in the wider business community...
Peace out...
Brother D said:
I had considered the OU course, but not sure how it is perceived in the wider business community...
Quiet mirth and ill-restrained giggling would be my guess. The annual summer influx of OU 'students' weren't exactly Captains of Industry. More like "Band Camp" for the middle aged.I'd try to work out whether a well respected (and presumably expensive) MBA would cost in over time, or consider a bit of private reading.
There is a huge difference between an accredited MBA and a non-accredited MBA.
Any University can do a business course and call it a MBA, but the quality can vary wildly. All MBAs accredited by the “Association of MBAs” have minimum quality level and graduates have access to job adverts that do not have a wide circulation.
If the MBA is too expensive for you, speak to your local college about a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Leadership/Strategic Management. It gives you the MBA foundations but you do not do a huge dissertation at the end.
Any University can do a business course and call it a MBA, but the quality can vary wildly. All MBAs accredited by the “Association of MBAs” have minimum quality level and graduates have access to job adverts that do not have a wide circulation.
If the MBA is too expensive for you, speak to your local college about a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Leadership/Strategic Management. It gives you the MBA foundations but you do not do a huge dissertation at the end.
ettore said:
Definitely worth it as long as you have a clear idea of what you want from it - it is, IMHO, one of very few degrees beyond the obvious professional ones that can have a material impact upon your earning potential. The ultimate benefit you derive depends upon what age/career level you are tho'.
I would also add that, even more than a first degree, where you go dictates the "value" you get from it....
Most important part underlined above!I would also add that, even more than a first degree, where you go dictates the "value" you get from it....
Also, if you do it, find a 'Triple-Accredited' instutution like Strathclyde Uni as their MBA is recognised world-wide. Many are not!
One of the reasons I've stated for doing it, is that there seems to be very few business people who can understand the technology areana, and even fewer Technology people who understand the business side of things. I think what I am trying to achieve is a becoming an middleman/interface between the two areas.
I think I'm in a similar position to the OP. Been thinking about it for a while as I'm at the stage where I'm supposed to be moving more out of field/technical operations and more into operations management. Problem with that, for me, is that the company tends to just pull guys out the field and drop them in management with very little training or preparation for that role. I've been toying with the idea of an MBA for a while and have a meeting with an Admissions Director in a few weeks.
I'm also thinking about it for other reasons in that I want to eventually get out of working overseas and come back to working at home (UK as opposed to my house
) and my industry doesn't really have much work in the UK so I need to hatch an escape plan which would allow me to change direction in some way. I know the company would pay for it but same as a previous poster in that I don't want to be tied in afterwards.
I'll bookmark this thread for later
I'm also thinking about it for other reasons in that I want to eventually get out of working overseas and come back to working at home (UK as opposed to my house
) and my industry doesn't really have much work in the UK so I need to hatch an escape plan which would allow me to change direction in some way. I know the company would pay for it but same as a previous poster in that I don't want to be tied in afterwards.I'll bookmark this thread for later
stefd said:
Swilly said:
SmoothRB said:
MBA's will just make you think exactly the same as every other muppet out there.
MBA's will just allow you to know exactly how every other muppet out there thinks...Sun Tzu suggested the importance of positioning in strategy and that position is affected both by objective conditions in the physical environment and the subjective opinions of competitive actors in that environment.
He thought that strategy was not planning in the sense of working through an established list, but rather that it requires quick and appropriate responses to changing conditions.
In effect, know your enemy, how they think and will act/react to you and half the battle is won before you even step on the battlefield.
The main thing it does for you as far as I can tell from people I know who have them is makes you world class at this game....
http://www.bulls
tbingo.net/cards/bullst/
..and that impresses some folks and might get you a better job.
http://www.bulls
tbingo.net/cards/bullst/..and that impresses some folks and might get you a better job.
Edited by bertie on Tuesday 18th May 16:48
Three online/distance learning MBA's to choose from here www.rdi.co.uk and a DBA!
bertie said:
The main thing it does for you as far as I can tell from people I know who have them is makes you world class at this game....
http://www.bullstbingo.net/cards/bullst/
..and that impresses some folks and might get you a better job.
I think you hit the nail on the head.http://www.bulls
tbingo.net/cards/bullst/..and that impresses some folks and might get you a better job.
Edited by bertie on Tuesday 18th May 16:48
I can see a lot of MBA's becoming management consultants.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff