The Pursuit of a MBA - Essay Example

In his book ‘Managers Not MBAs’, Henry Mintzberg (2004) mentioned that, despite the fact that the MBA is regarded as the ‘education for management’, it actually prepares the ‘wrong people in the wrong ways with the wrong consequences’. One of the major reasons for such criticisms is that the MBA programme gives too much of importance on the management theories while ignoring the need to develop the practical expertise. This leads to an imbalance in the supply and demand of proficient managers in the context of real scenario, opposed to theoretical knowledge.

Pfeffer & Fong (2002) questioned the lack of repositioning of the MBA model over the years and discussed that a number of interpersonal and social skills required in the current corporate world cannot be developed through an MBA programme. The authors stated that the fact that the individuals graduating from the most elite MBA programs realized the maximum salary packages is due to the fact that these individuals were chosen by their institutes on the foundation of their competences and qualifications which were way better than the average.

Thus, it could be inferred that the personal characteristics of the candidates are more important than what is being taught in the MBA programme. This explanation is consistent with the verity that the curricula of majority of the MBA programmes and the course books utilized are extremely analogous across business schools of different statures. Thus, it can be concluded that there are no significant distinctions in the knowledge being imparted in the different MBA programmes. Nonetheless, the individuals undertaking MBA generally benefit in terms of both intrinsic as well as extrinsic aspects of career development and success.

A few of the aspects enhanced by taking up an MBA are confidence, credibility, social status and remuneration among others. The MBA degree prepares the candidates with a perceptive of the variety and miscellany that they would gradually deal with in their place of work. This enables the individuals to discover the principles, values and conducts suitable for that environment. Moreover, MBA degree is believed to develop the skills necessary in the process of information investigation, interpretation of data as well as the proficiency in taking up new endeavors.

Furthermore, the MBA programme also enhances the presentation as well as negotiation ability and the social interaction capability of an individual. The MBA classrooms are the sites of vigorous discussion and arguments amongst the students; the involvement of individuals in such a vibrant atmosphere reinforces their aptitude to investigate, converse, convince, and reach agreement while integrating diverse viewpoints. Thus, on the whole, the MBA programme is linked with attributes for swift career progression.

Sturges & Et. Al. (2003) identified that the major result of the MBA programme in addition to enhanced self-assurance, was the evolution of the ‘knowing why’ and the ‘knowing how’ career proficiencies in the candidates, which are highly esteemed in the management world. In the assessment of changes in terms of management role and function as well as income levels of individuals prior and post their MBA degree,