Comments on: MBA or no MBA?? http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/ Personal and professional development for technology professionals. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:55:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Rajesh Setty http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-5773 Rajesh Setty Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:34:22 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-5773 Hello Anthony, Thank you for your kind comments. One thing to remember is that whatever path you take (MBA or No MBA) - there are ways to realize your dream. MBA is not a bad thing nor it is a good thing, especially, if you can achieve your dreams without having an MBA. Without knowing your complete situation, it is hard for me to give a generic advice as to whether you should or should not pursue an MBA. If startups are your passion, then here is a starter list of articles on that topic on my blog: http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2006/10/11/blast-from-the-past-entrepreneur-pack/ The first thing I would suggest you look at is "with whom are you starting the business". The structure and configuration to execute is the biggest challenge (bigger than the idea itself) . Have a great week ahead. Best, Raj Hello Anthony,

Thank you for your kind comments.

One thing to remember is that whatever path you take (MBA or No MBA) - there are ways to realize your dream. MBA is not a bad thing nor it is a good thing, especially, if you can achieve your dreams without having an MBA.

Without knowing your complete situation, it is hard for me to give a generic advice as to whether you should or should not pursue an MBA.

If startups are your passion, then here is a starter list of articles on that topic on my blog:

http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2006/10/11/blast-from-the-past-entrepreneur-pack/

The first thing I would suggest you look at is “with whom are you starting the business”. The structure and configuration to execute is the biggest challenge (bigger than the idea itself) .

Have a great week ahead.

Best,
Raj

]]> By: Anthony http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-5771 Anthony Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:01:18 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-5771 Hi Rajesh, I think this is the first blog i have ever fully read, very intriguing. I'd like to ask your opinion; I have had few e-business ideas but I just can never start them up! Maybe I don't know a structured way of going about it or I don't have the right people on my side; that's why I am thinking of pursuing an MBA. It's not that I don't have business knowledge, I have computer science and economics degrees plus more than 10 years in IT and project management. But perhaps I'm lacking confidence to start-up a business on my own without having an MBA to back me up. Should I pursue an MBA in hopes of coming out with skills and right people on my side or just put all that effort, time, and investment into starting something now?? Thanks. Hi Rajesh, I think this is the first blog i have ever fully read, very intriguing. I’d like to ask your opinion; I have had few e-business ideas but I just can never start them up! Maybe I don’t know a structured way of going about it or I don’t have the right people on my side; that’s why I am thinking of pursuing an MBA. It’s not that I don’t have business knowledge, I have computer science and economics degrees plus more than 10 years in IT and project management. But perhaps I’m lacking confidence to start-up a business on my own without having an MBA to back me up. Should I pursue an MBA in hopes of coming out with skills and right people on my side or just put all that effort, time, and investment into starting something now?? Thanks.

]]> By: Rajesh Setty http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-3252 Rajesh Setty Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:15:51 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-3252 Thank you for your comment and question Ravi. There is a reason you thought of doing an MBA. Kelloggs would be a great school to achieve that objective. However, if you are looking for options outside of an MBA, there are many that exist. It requires more discipline on your end to make that alternative option work - because unlike in an MBA program, "do it on your own" programs won't have someone to enforce the structure and discipline. On the positive side, if you get the right help, you can achieve those objectives without spending a fortune. If you want me to explain this further, please send me a note offline with your contact details. Best, Raj Thank you for your comment and question Ravi.

There is a reason you thought of doing an MBA. Kelloggs would be a great school to achieve that objective. However, if you are looking for options outside of an MBA, there are many that exist. It requires more discipline on your end to make that alternative option work - because unlike in an MBA program, “do it on your own” programs won’t have someone to enforce the structure and discipline. On the positive side, if you get the right help, you can achieve those objectives without spending a fortune.

If you want me to explain this further, please send me a note offline with your contact details.

Best,
Raj

]]> By: Ravi http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-3251 Ravi Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:03:51 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-3251 Hi Rajesh, Great Blog... I was looking for information regarding why I should do an MBA and got the information. I am 28 years old, have MS in Computer Science with 4 years of work experience for a pharma company in Chicago area and I have my own consulting business(with 5 employees),I am thinking of doing MBA from Kellogs(or top 20 schools) as they just started parttime MBA, which we can finish in 2.5 years. But my big dilemma is instead of doing an MBA should I concentrate on my consulting company and grow it? which I don't know if I will succed in because of the competition. Any suggestion/help will be greatly appreciated Hi Rajesh,

Great Blog… I was looking for information regarding why I should do an MBA and got the information. I am 28 years old, have MS in Computer Science with 4 years of work experience for a pharma company in Chicago area and I have my own consulting business(with 5 employees),I am thinking of doing MBA from Kellogs(or top 20 schools) as they just started parttime MBA, which we can finish in 2.5 years. But my big dilemma is instead of doing an MBA should I concentrate on my consulting company and grow it? which I don’t know if I will succed in because of the competition. Any suggestion/help will be greatly appreciated

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-41 Anonymous Mon, 21 Mar 2005 16:25:00 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-41 Thanks Valentine. Good points. Agree with you on everything especially on the point that learning is a life long endeavour Thanks Valentine. Good points. Agree with you on everything especially on the point that learning is a life long endeavour

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-40 Anonymous Mon, 21 Mar 2005 16:17:00 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-40 It really depends on what you want to do. As noted, getting an MBA does not mean effectiveness or success. I have my MBA. I remember most of my MBA stuff because I had an idea of what I wanted to do before my MBA. A lot of MBAers go to get the paper for a job or move up in the organisation. There are a lot of lawyers, accountants and engineers in MBAs. What MBA does give you are the tools of the business trade. It can help you quickly analyse the competitive environment. The methodologies are sound and well structured (Porter's Competitive analysis, as an example). But, everyone using the same tools do not necessarily come to the same conclusion. This is where the individuals make the difference like everything else in life. While a lot of the MBA material can be self-learned, how many of us are disciplined enough to do that? It is interesting that two of the most successful techies do not even have an undergrad degree in Applied Science or whatever, Bill Gates and Ellison. Will an MBA make you a Bill Gates? A well trained MBA will see too much in the risk analysis and tend to be more cautious. If you are an entrepreneur (like Azim Premji) and feel the need to polish up on your business skills, think about hiring an MBA instead of doing it yourself. If you are a professional and would like to expand your scope of business, an MBA might be the right thing. Know what you want and you will get more out of the program. For engineers, knowing a bit about finance and mareketing is always a good thing. Education is a life long endeavour. Learning from one's own experience is only one data point in life. Education can help you expand those data points. Education in universities is the cumulative knowledge of man for your consumption. What you do with it and how succesful you are depends on you. It really depends on what you want to do. As noted, getting an MBA does not mean effectiveness or success.
I have my MBA. I remember most of my MBA stuff because I had an idea of what I wanted to do before my MBA. A lot of MBAers go to get the paper for a job or move up in the organisation. There are a lot of lawyers, accountants and engineers in MBAs.
What MBA does give you are the tools of the business trade. It can help you quickly analyse the competitive environment. The methodologies are sound and well structured (Porter’s Competitive analysis, as an example). But, everyone using the same tools do not necessarily come to the same conclusion. This is where the individuals make the difference like everything else in life.
While a lot of the MBA material can be self-learned, how many of us are disciplined enough to do that?
It is interesting that two of the most successful techies do not even have an undergrad degree in Applied Science or whatever, Bill Gates and Ellison. Will an MBA make you a Bill Gates? A well trained MBA will see too much in the risk analysis and tend to be more cautious.
If you are an entrepreneur (like Azim Premji) and feel the need to polish up on your business skills, think about hiring an MBA instead of doing it yourself. If you are a professional and would like to expand your scope of business, an MBA might be the right thing. Know what you want and you will get more out of the program. For engineers, knowing a bit about finance and mareketing is always a good thing.
Education is a life long endeavour. Learning from one’s own experience is only one data point in life. Education can help you expand those data points. Education in universities is the cumulative knowledge of man for your consumption. What you do with it and how succesful you are depends on you.

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-39 Anonymous Sun, 20 Mar 2005 16:21:00 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-39 Rajesh: I concur with you about lifetime learning. It was easy for me to discern that you read a lot of books just by the interaction that I had with you. Reading the right kind of books and applying the concepts can advance our career: no two ways about it. Thx. Ravi Rajesh:
I concur with you about lifetime learning. It was easy for me to discern that you read a lot of books just by the interaction that I had with you. Reading the right kind of books and applying the concepts can advance our career: no two ways about it.
Thx.
Ravi

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-38 Anonymous Sun, 20 Mar 2005 15:28:00 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-38 Thanks Ravi. I am a big believer in "Lifetime Learning" In fact, I think the real education happens after you leave college (most of the time) You really cannot afford to stop learning as the life and business context keeps changing so rapidly that our expertise to deal with reality is constantly outdated. Thanks Ravi. I am a big believer in “Lifetime Learning” In fact, I think the real education happens after you leave college (most of the time)
You really cannot afford to stop learning as the life and business context keeps changing so rapidly that our expertise to deal with reality is constantly outdated.

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-37 Anonymous Sun, 20 Mar 2005 15:15:00 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-37 Rajesh: I think MBA provides the "common business-sense" which is not very common. I think it is a good idea for every individual contributor who works in a corporate environment to undergo some kind of business training (need not be an MBA) so that they appreciate the way business works. Employees who can understand the business bottomline can add more value to a company since they are more likely to exercise due diligence in their day-to-day tasks which minimizes liability at the top. Thx. Ravi Rajesh:
I think MBA provides the “common business-sense” which is not very common. I think it is a good idea for every individual contributor who works in a corporate environment to undergo some kind of business training (need not be an MBA) so that they appreciate the way business works. Employees who can understand the business bottomline can add more value to a company since they are more likely to exercise due diligence in their day-to-day tasks which minimizes liability at the top.
Thx.
Ravi

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-36 Anonymous Fri, 18 Mar 2005 22:53:00 +0000 http://www.blog.lifebeyondcode.com/2005/03/17/mba-or-no-mba/#comment-36 Thanks John. As we can see, there is no one right answer for this. What works for one may not work for the other. Have a great weekend. Thanks John. As we can see, there is no one right answer for this. What works for one may not work for the other.
Have a great weekend.

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