What an MBA teaches you that a job may not The question that often mulled over is whether an MBA degree can successfully give you the exposure and train you in aspects similar to the ones you would get from an on-job experience. Therefore, it clearly makes sense for any MBA aspirant to ask before deciding to opt for a program. What these MBA programs do is introduce the candidates to management concepts and business fundamentals that traditionally cannot be learned on the job. Moreover, such training presents the students with a systematic and process-oriented thinking that would eventually help them handle the complexities of businesses and human behaviour. On the basis of the experiences of MBA students and experts in the industry, here are a few things that an MBA program offers. Business Fundamentals Almost all top Business Schools have mandatory core courses that build the foundation for a career in management. Students will have a broader understanding of Strategy, Finance, Sales, Marketing, Operations and HR, and how each element inter-operate. A core skill that an MBA develops during the course of the program is Quantitative analysis skills, which is essential for executive decision-making. Although most MBAs have the option to choose a concentration by selecting electives after the core courses, learning about Business Fundamentals gives a new perspective that can be utilized in the future while leading a team with various cross-functional skills. Learning Skills Although experiential learning is slowly taking over the tried and tested Case Study Method, the later is still relevant as analysis of the case gives new insights into actual scenarios that a Business face. By discussing with the class about each case, MBAs develop scenario-based thinking that can be useful in future roles, as executives. During case discussion, students will introduce new issues about the scenario that might have not been considered by the learning team during the pre-case discussion. This allows students to develop skills to create solutions dynamically and address issues as they come – a skill that is essential for being an effective manager or a CEO. Negotiation Skills Negotiation is a skill that one can learn only over a period of time. Most of the experts would straightaway dismiss the concept of learning negotiation in a classroom. However, many business schools have developed methodologies based on the expertise of their faculty and their industry experience as well. In the real world, mistakes in negotiation can cause enormous losses and so experimenting in the classroom would definitely make sense as carrying out simulations and applying strategies will definitely help the MBAs learn the nuances of negotiation under stressful situations. Leadership The leadership skills of a person majorly depend on his upbringing and influences. However, top business schools boast of having a curriculum or a group of activities that inculcates skills in planning, motivating and talent spotting. The presentations and other group activities give the candidates the opportunity to take up leadership roles and understand the intricacies of the same. Various business schools use methodologies like case study, field-based learning and immersion programs to develop the requisite leadership skills in the candidates. Source: F1GMAT
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:49:18 +0000
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