Why MBA? 25 Reasons Why You Should Do an MBA
Nowadays, as soon as a graduation course draws towards its end, there is a mad rush to go for a suitable postgraduate business course.
The gateway to an ever-ascending corporate career becomes a reality by acquiring a postgraduate business degree.
Sometimes decisions are taken just because it happens to be the trend or the “in thing.” Of course, there is nothing wrong in this, but it is always better to have clarity on “why MBA” and the career benefits that one will derive from the same.
Let us examine at least a quarter of a century compelling factors:
1. Entry Barriers- Some decades back, having an MBA qualification was an added step to success at the corporate growth level. Now, many branded and blue-chip organizations have made it a policy to hire only MBA even at the entry levels. They are tagged as management trainees. In various departments, it is these management trainees who move up the ladder.
2. Removing Growth Barriers – Having a management degree is an added weapon which helps when being considered for promotion and higher positions in the corporate structure. The lack of an MBA degree can lead to deserving people being overlooked simply because it is an organizational policy. In 2017, nearly 7% of MBA students secured immediate placements.
3. Limitation of Generic Jobs – Having a non-professional graduate degree often becomes a constraint when someone starts entering the workforce. It is not necessary that all have a specialization like – Engineering, Doctor, Chartered accountant, or others. A plain vanilla graduation degree will only give generic jobs, and such jobs always have ready substitutes. There is no demand for generic profiles, and there is always a glut of supply.
4. Jack of all Trades & Master of all – The chartered accountant, even at the top level, limits his or her skill to accounts and audit. The mechanical engineer can supervise production as per standards but cannot assure capacity production if there is a slump in demand. The management profession can assess the external market conditions and at the same time detect a ballooning of cost in the internal department of the company. They can suggest remedial measures.
5. At the Top Hierarchy is MBA – The corporate culture is changing. There was a time when the Chief Financial Officer used to get the top boss job. If it was a manufacturing company, then the production head due to his technical expertise used to get the coveted position of the CEO. But today, the trend is to put the MBA manager in the top slot because of their ability of bird’s eye view. Due to this discernible view, they are entrusted with the role of steering the ship in the right direction.
6. Personality Development – It is not just about subject knowledge. It is the development of the soft skills. An MBA helps in overall personality growth. The course helps to have better presentation and interpersonal relationship skills by fine-tuning the communication. This communication ability is enhanced from the vigorous training and group discussions imparted as part of the curriculum. There is an overhauling of the personality, which otherwise would have taken, painstakingly long years.
7. Confidence Building – The personality development leads to a high level of confidence. Having high confidence is the gateway to career success. The present-day corporate scenario demands self-esteem and the ability to install confidence in others. These include internal colleagues, superiors as well as external customers, partners, etc. For them to have confidence, first, the self-confidence should be inculcated. This is where having an MBA helps.
8. Team Building – It is one of the most important qualities for job success and career growth. Leading a team and motivating them to deliver the result, is the core component of any organizational growth. It is the team that ultimately succeeds, and for the team to reach its goal, the best in each member should come out. This happens only through a good leader. A good MBA program develops the leader in the individual. It is not uncommon to hear legendary stories of Harvard, IIM and Wharton MBA pass outs who have built a small business to giant organizations.
9. Entrepreneur Abilities – There is many a scene in the current era of digital start-ups, who are fired up with the zeal of setting up their organizations. This becomes much easy if there are experience and background in working in the corporate sector. Additionally, an MBA degree helps in acquiring the technical and theoretical knowledge of subjects like Marketing, Human Resources, Operations, Project management, and channel management.
10. Helps in Running the Family Business – With the advent of digital technology, apps and automation like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), the family business is no longer restricted to specific pockets. It requires exposure and knowledge along with strategic thinking. Business families are nudging their scions to go for MBA and then run the family business.
11. Subject Specialization – As the economy of any nation expands, more and more sectors are added to it. The growth of a particular sector is a corollary to the expansion of another sector. An MBA course imparts skills as per the contemporary needs. It specializes in subjects like – Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations & Systems Management, Forensics & Corporate Fraud, Business Analyticsetc. This creates specialized management professionals who are employed for the specific verticals.
12. Branding and Advertising- There is no doubt on the fact that brand management, through advertising via the various forms of media, has become a specialized field after numerous MBA schools and colleges springing up across the globe. Product branding and promotion as of today is a research and scientific subject.
13. Flexibility in Learning- Many universities have the option of part-time MBA. This is to help working professionals to have a scaled knowledge of their vertical domain. It also gives them the chance to apply higher positions which sometimes get stymied on account of having a graduate qualification. Part-time MBA has flexible class timings, so that daily work schedule is not affected.
14. Global Credentials – The MBA degree has worldwide credentials. It is country-agnostic. Good managers can succeed in any environment and any country. It is very often seen that top heads of brand names in USA, UK, Canada, etc. are from countries like India and China.
15. Constant Networking – An entry into the MBA program gives the opportunity to be networked. Every MBA college has industry professionals, recruiters, top-notch managers, subject speakers, and new joiners in the corporate sector, etc. The Alumni of majority MBA schools are highly active cells. It is a source of guidance to old and new students.
16. Knowledge Building – The MBA curriculum is so designed that it creates an insatiable appetite for knowledge. Campus placements are for the best students. Nobody would like to miss out on that. Upgrading knowledge on real-time facts, economic and political, becomes the need of the hour.
17. Multi Vertical Skills – The knowledge so built up, comes to use when working and switching from one vertical to another. Only the skills need to be transferred across the organization. A banking domain manager, who understands business, can easily take charge of a consumer goods company.
18. Out of the Box Ideas – Strategic thinking is a major advantage derived from an MBA as compared to others. The MBA course teaches them to brainstorm and come out with out of the box ideas. Product diversification, Mergers & Acquisitions are happening lately, courtesy the MBA managers.
19. More Job Opportunities – More openings are available for MBA candidates than for the non-MBAs. It is very common to see the words – MBA preferred, in the job description. This is the norm even in the smaller companies.
20. Job Candidate Differentiation – There are job opening where comparatively lesser years’ experience is asked from an MBA candidate for certain positions. This is indeed a high advantage and warrants the need for an MBA degree.
21. Higher Salaries- Talent and capabilities are always rewarded in the corporate sector, but the trend has shown that MBA’s claim a higher pay package with an average of INR 18 – 24 lakhs across top B-school placements during 2017.
22. Technical and Managerial Skills- The typical Mechanical or Electrical engineer understands machine dynamics. There may find constraints in smooth customer negotiations and deal conclusions. This is where having an added MBA degree helps in a combination of tech and soft skills.
23. Finance Management – Good MBA is good finance managers also. They have a better sense in planning their investments.
24. Flexible Syllabus – Among all professional degrees, the MBA syllabus is the most dynamic and is imparted according to the economic and corporate needs of the time.
25. Higher Social Prestige – Apart from job reasons, it also has its social prestige value. In countries like India, the MBA has a good value in the marriage market as well for prospective bride and grooms – In a lighter vein of course!
