Challenge yourself with an MBA

Challenge yourself with an MBA
Published: 21 November 2013
There is an old joke that asks how you know that someone has an MBA. The answer is quite simple: They will tell you - usually within the first few minutes of meeting them.

You may see this as arrogance but in reality an MBA is a tough and complex study in which you dive into a range of disciplines to learn how organisations move from ideas to their full potential. People call attention to this qualification because it signals hard work that stretched them to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Imagine studying for a degree that claims to match the most important aspects of organisational management and that serves as the work benchmark for people who manage organisations of all sizes. While most Masters degrees only tackle one subject, the MBA tackles typically 14 subjects, and a mini research dissertation.

While many organisations want to relegate an MBA to a professional degree - in reality it is the passport to understanding both the world of business, and yourself within it. Also, it allows you to ask important questions around purpose and how to achieve it. An MBA is the key to becoming a professional manager and is a must for anyone who needs to build a broad understanding of management, self, teams and organisations.

Right now, the debate is whether it is still relevant to have an MBA. To establish this argument, it is important to ask: Would you want someone to act as a manager if he or she does not have an MBA? People often make decisions that intricately affect an organisation, without having the necessary background to understand such an impact. At least in an MBA you learn about the interconnectedness of various disciplines in an organisation. You also learn to at least research and develop plans and strategies to execute the changes that you want to see. Furthermore, an MBA provides you with tools to manage the change, understand the financial impacts of what you are doing, and at the same time grow teams that have meaning and purpose.

In a modern age, the MBA has become a basic entry-level requirement to do business in many industries. It has moved from being an elite, best-only qualification, to a must-have that can benefit every person who runs an organisation. Some organisations insist that they will only hire MBA graduates for a range of disciplines, including management, sales, strategy and finance.

The challenge is that organisations seek specialised MBA's while individuals seek ways to experience the MBA in more life-style oriented ways. Evening classes, weekend classes and one-year MBA options are becoming attractive options, as more people want to understand the practice of an MBA.

What does a MBA programme entail?
A typical MBA course involves a short introduction by a lecturer, a study guide and textbook review (to familiarise you with the main areas of the topic), lectures, videos, and a tutor to guide you through your learning. All of these work towards an assignment, in which a student typically produces about 20 pages of well-researched content on key questions presented on a module. The module culminates with an exam to assess the student's knowledge across the whole area and to assure that the learning outcomes have been met. All of this is facilitated through extensive quality assurance and academic rigour at a relatively fast pace. Before you know it, the next module will require your attention and you will have to push ahead, deliver, and not fall behind.

Moreover, MBA's also include other aspects: food, fun, networking, alumni and the life-experience of research, projects and hard work all contribute to the equation. You will build lasting friendships and relationships. The good thing about alumni is that they will always help each other. Being an MBA student is a rare opportunity to share ideas with other likeminded people who all feel challenged to run their lives better and become better managers and leaders. MBA students share values, perspectives and approaches and are always willing to respect others' opinions. What makes the MBA qualification different is that it is real. It enables you to not only talk about change in organisations, but to see the opportunity to actually change organisations through your day-to-day actions.

You will also test business models and share findings with others to analytically and spiritually add new ideas and theories. The MBA environment creates a safe space where you can both give and receive. As long as you are open to possibilities, you may find great ideas there. It is an opportunity that both challenges your rational thinking and inspires you to think bigger. You will challenge yourself to find out more. Sometimes the journey of seeking an answer will lead to a side investigation and present a totally new perspective.

The research journey is also quite fascinating. After completing two years of theoretical and applied studies - you will assemble your ideas into a topic and formulate a study of the real world. In many ways this is a journey of self-discovery because you have to prove something that you believe in. In approaching the real world, you will achieve a monumental project. It is rare to find a student who has completed a research study who is not willing to tell you all about it. Most students will know exactly what it entails to finish such a project. And the skills learnt in this process will serve as a prototype for taking ideas and turning them into reality.

Recent studies show that the return on investment equation is important in the MBA decision. Those who achieve an MBA are expected to get better jobs and earn higher salaries. This type of behaviour possibly damages the situation because as with all studies, you can only improve someone if they are actually hard workers and make the most of opportunities. Just because you have a degree does not mean you will necessarily be better at what you do. At some level though, academic institutions can certify that a student has reviewed and worked through a subject at a level required to achieve a full understanding of the subject. Through good academic design, such a student can ultimately achieve a full understanding of the relationships between different subjects.

Therefore, the MBA is a journey, possibly unlike other journeys. In this journey people can really find out more about themselves and their worlds and learn how to make an impact on it. Are you ready to challenge yourself to do an MBA?
- Regenesys
Tags: MBA, Regenesys,

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