...What is an MBA? An MBA is the Master of Business Administration degree granted by colleges and universities. Receiving an MBA is a good way to get ahead in your career. Earning a Master of Business Administration degree leads to promotions, job offers from competing firms and salary increases. Nowadays, companies can afford to be more selective in whom they hire so it's important for candidates to have every advantage they can when seeking employment or promotions, which leads to more people obtaining an MBA to give them an advantage in competitive job markets. There are several pros and cons that should be weighed when deciding whether or not to pursue an MBA degree. While there are some arguments against obtaining an MBA they are minimal- the amount of work, cost, time and commitment are a few objections. On the other hand, favored arguments of getting an MBA are limitless. Everyone's aspirations, career dreams and goals vary but can all come true by getting an MBA. Schweitzer (2012), stated, "Students of MBA programs study the theory and application of business and management principles. This type of study equips students with knowledge that can be applied to a variety of real world business situations. The MBA degree is thought to be one of the most prestigious and sought after degrees in the world" (MBA-Understanding the MBA Degree, para.1). Although every person's situation is different, there are some arguments in favor of a Master's of Business Administration Degree...
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...Why an MBA The MBA is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. It is a degree designed to give you the ability to develop your career to its fullest potential, at an accelerated pace. What will you get out of an MBA? Aside from a powerful life experience, the MBA degree should supply three main value propositions: Skills, Networks, and Brand. Skills These include the "hard skills" of economics, finance, marketing, operations, management, and accounting, as well as the "soft skills " of leadership, teamwork, ethics, and communication that are so critical for effective management. MBA students acquire these skills inside and outside the classroom. Since MBA programs attract people from very diverse industries and cultures, a program should be able to leverage these differences and translate them into learning opportunities. Networks An MBA degree program offers access to a network of MBA students, alumni, faculty, and business and community leaders. This network can be very useful when beginning a job search, developing a career path, building business relationships in your current career, or pursuing expertise outside your current field. For example, entrepreneurs need access to capital, business partners, vendors, and clients. Arts-related businesses need access to funding and strategic management in order to position themselves to be relevant in the marketplace. Global businesses need access to local business cultures as they expand their enterprises to new territories...
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...Why an MBA University of Phoenix MGT/521 May 31, 2010 I could not decide if I wanted to go after my Master’s in Business Administration, or just stop at my bachelor’s degree. It took me 26 years to decide to go back to school to pursue my AA in Accounting, despite all the pressures, and pushing that I had received from my parents and my family members. So in 2006 I decided that it was time, I looked around to a variety of different colleges and decided that I wanted to attend University of Phoenix Online because I did not want to deal with going to classes, instead I preferred to stay home and be comfortable. After my associates in accounting I decided that because I could still not find a permanent job, I would go ahead and pursue my bachelors of arts in accounting as well. When I was in my last class of my bachelor’s degree, I was toying around with going after my master’s in business administration, and then what will I specialize in. I had been looking for jobs for quite some times on the Internet and in the papers for quite some time and have been sending out hundreds of resumes and have received no responses. I figured that if I went for a master’s degree it would open many more doors in the future. It was a tough decision on whether I wanted to pursue that master’s in business, after all I had been going to school now for the past four years, or if I should just stop at my bachelor’s degree and look for a job. It turned out that finding a job was not working out...
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...Top Reasons for Pursuing an MBA The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a graduate business programme that covers a wide spectrum of business related topics from economics, organisational behaviour, project management to government policy. While it would make sense for an individual already working in the financial industry to undertake the MBA for a deeper understanding on relevant issues that she may come across at work, that is not the main reason why most are motivated to pursue an MBA. 33 percent of those surveyed in a recent poll conducted by JobsCentral of 181 individuals cited “Salary increment upon completion” as their motivation for pursuing an MBA, making it the number one reason. “Acquisition of knowledge and skills” was the second most popular reason with 21 percent picking it as their main motivation. Xinhui who is currently working in private banking agrees with the majority. She explains why she is toying with the idea of pursuing an MBA, “Besides having a better knowledge of business management, having an MBA will put me in a better position to ask for better pay,” “I had both personal and professional reasons for doing my MBA,” Debbie, who has just completed her MBA with graduate business school INSEAD, says. “Personally, it was the challenge to find the drive and enthusiasm needed to enhance my learning and to get involved in networking with like-minded professionals from all around the world. Another motivation was the opportunity to broaden my...
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...The purpose of this paper is to construct and support and argument on why I decided to pursue my MBA and how the results of my Jungian Personality self-assessment fit into my MBA goal. My desire for education started at an early stage in life. My parents who migrated from Cuba in 1966, ended up with five children and no education. I experienced hard-ships that I always attributed to my parents lack of education, to no fault of their own. I was the only sibling of five to obtain anything higher than a high school education. I always prided myself in my scholastic accomplishments given my upbringing, and until this day believe that in today’s competing society an advanced degree is necessary to maximize income potential. Taking my education to the next level is a very important step in achieving my goals of an advanced degree and reaching a senior manager position within my agency. Because obtaining an MBA degree will give me a competitive advantage above my peers, I will be able to advance my career despite competition, economic uncertainty, and a shrinking workforce. I believe that to standout and better prepare myself for the challenges of becoming a senior manager, there are many aspects to managing and being a better leader that I need to learn or improve upon. There are various skills that managers must apply on any given work day, which I have yet to develop. According to ChangingMinds.org (2007) “proper management is vital in these complex environments. The quality...
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...Getting my MBA: The right choice at the right time Jake Medlock MGT 521 April 4, 2011 Bob Armbrust Getting my MBA: The right choice at the right time The American job market is growing tougher and opportunities for advancement are dwindling. More business professionals are finding it hard to compete in such a diverse, global, and highly competitive workforce that becoming the norm in American business. It could be that opportunities are simply not there, or that people are not trying hard enough to advance to the position they want. In most incidents this could be the case, but with such a flooded job market, fewer jobs, and an economy crying out for only the best and brightest, the need for higher education is obviously the answer to get that new position in a new company or to advance up the ranks of a company today. In fact, enrollment trends in MBA programs are continually on the rise with just 5,000 MBA’s earned annually in 1960 to over 150,000 earned in 2010 (Hansen). These numbers indicate that the MBA will make the bachelor’s Degree seem more like a high school diploma, especially in the field of sales and management that I am currently in. When I began my sales career over eight years ago, I did not even think of an MBA because I had assumed that the longer I worked, the more money I would make, more opportunities would come my way, and a bachelor’s degree would be good enough to get me to where I wanted to go. As the business world progresses...
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...1. Why have you decided to enter the MBA Program at this point in time? Learning is a never ending process; however, there are institutions which help you attain knowledge faster than others. Doing an exec MBA at this stage is one of the endeavors driven by an objective to learn new & emerging concepts of Management from a strategic perspective for sustained organizational and personal growth. I have a very rich exposure to Brand & Marketing communications related activities in Consumer durables as a sector. However, now I feel the urge to broaden my perspectives both horizontally & vertically with a focus on perspectives related to other fields of Management like Sales, Human Resources, Finance, Logistics, Information Technology to increase exposure horizontally and understand the functioning of other sectors like Banking, I.T, Consulting, Heavy engineering, Power, manufacturing etc to increase my learning vertically. So, doing an Exec MBA will help fasten the learning process for me, with people from different walks of management joining together for 15 months and sharing their experiences related to different sectors, geographies, their challenges, strategies, success stories etc. The main reason for choosing this time is a little personal, though I always had a hunger to grow and reach different career milestones ahead of others. I feel that I have grown faster compared to my peer group, in terms of professional achievements and responsibilities. I do not want...
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...MBA programs expose students to the full depth of business function because they are created to apply science to management. The MBA is something that individuals in the more technical industries (math, science, etc.) obtain to expand their opportunities beyond what is available to them. An MBA means these individuals are now candidates for new, managerial positions – going from working “with things” and going into working “with people”. Similar to these individuals, I want to earn my MBA to open future professional opportunities. Personally, an MBA will help me bring value to my family and community. I currently hold a B.S.in Business with an emphasis in Information Technology and work in the Risk Assurance field. While I have a business degree, the work is do is technical in nature – programming, reading code, auditing and developing technical strategies to address risks. While I interact with individuals from the business it’s generally with other developers or programmers to discuss and address technical issues. As I progress my career at my workplace, I can see that the functions of my job will change. I see my superiors doing less of the technical work and more work with the business and our clients. Currently, some of my peer group and coworkers hold masters degrees, but they are all in accounting. While this is valuable, I feel an MBA will go much further. By earning an MBA, I will be able to bridge the gap between my technical knowledge and the managerial side of my...
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...Source: http://businessmajors.about.com/od/collegeessaywriting/a/SampleEssay2.htm Throughout my life I have observed two distinct career paths, my father's and my uncle's. My father completed his engineering degree and secured a government job in India, which he continues to hold to this day. My uncle's path began similarly; like my father, he earned an engineering degree. My uncle, on the other hand, continued his education by moving to the United States to earn an MBA, then started his own venture and became a successful businessman in Los Angeles. Evaluating their experiences helped me understand what I wanted from my life and create a master plan for my career. While I appreciate the excitement, flexibility, and independence my uncle has in his life, I value my father's proximity to his family and culture. I now realize that a career as an entrepreneur in India could provide me with the best of both worlds. With the objective of learning about business, I completed my bachelor's degree in Commerce and joined KPMG in the Audit & Business Advisory Department. I believed that a career with an accounting firm would serve me in two ways: first, by enhancing my knowledge of accounting -- the language of business -- and second, by providing me with an excellent introduction to the business world. My decision seemed to be a sound one; in my first two years at KPMG, I worked on a wide variety of assignments that not only strengthened my analytical and problem-solving skills,...
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...MBA: My Bachelor’s Ain’t…enough! Management 521 MBA: My Bachelor’s Ain’t…enough! Pursuing an MBA is simply another way of saying, “My Bachelor’s degree just Ain’t enough!” Obtaining a Bachelor’s degree should be considered an amazing accomplishment. However, many have come to the realization that it is, in fact, inadequate. The status of the current economy is a leading indicator that something beyond a Bachelor’s degree is needed. A potential stepping stone beyond a Bachelor’s degree is an MBA, which opens up a great deal of opportunity compared to a Bachelor’s. Many reasons exist for an MBA to be sought out and why a bachelor’s just “Ain’t enough.” Some of the top reasons to pursue an MBA are that a Bachelor’s degree does not provide the potential to make enough money, give the education to be marketable enough, or give enough prestige to the degree holder. A study in the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education led by Lynn Dailey, MBA, PhD, marketing professor at Capital University, Columbus, OH, showed that career advancement, financial security, and elevated social status/prestige (see Table 1) are within the top 5 reasons to pursue an MBA (Dailey 148). Because of the current trend and these economical times, a Bachelor’s degree is just not enough. Pursuing and obtaining an MBA is an excellent way to make more money in the long run, to make one more marketable, and to give one more prestige than with a bachelor’s degree. One of the top reasons heard most for the...
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...Why Should I Get an MBA? Jane Doe University of Phoenix: MGT/521 October 11, 2012 Joseph Mason The definition of MBA according to Wikipedia (2012) is the following: Master of Business Administration (MBA or M.B.A.) is a master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out scientific approaches to management. The core courses in the MBA program are designed to introduce students to the various areas of business such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, operations management, etc. Students in MBA programs have the option of taking general business courses throughout the program or can select an area of concentration and focus approximately one-fourth of their studies in this subject (“Wikipedia”, 2012). Accreditation bodies exist specifically for MBA programs to ensure consistency and quality of graduate business education. Business schools in many countries offer MBA programs tailored to full-time, part-time, executive, and distance learning students, with specialized concentrations (“Wikipedia”, 2012). I asked myself a series of questions of “Why should I get an MBA”? I took a systemic approach by addressing all the pro’s and cons of having an MBA. First, the pros of an MBA give you...
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...Masters of Business Administration program is one that provides an opportunity for students to learn and to work hard in a setting that will grow qualities essential to success in the business. Given the fact that much of the success, if not all of the success, in modern business directly related to the leadership qualities of those in charge, I feel that I will be a good fit for the program at Southern Adventist University. My life has been shaped through experiences that have provided and afforded me the opportunity to develop and exercise leadership skills. My dream is to shift to a management position in my area. In order for me to do that, extensive business administration skills are needed. The skills that I will gain in this extensive MBA program will help make my dream a reality. The Southern Adventist University offers me a convenient schedule for my busy life. I understand that this program will be a challenge and require hard work; however, my motivation to obtain a degree in Master of Business Administration will help me to get through any...
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...to Pursue an MBA Degree Getting an MBA degree has always been my goal after finishing my first degree in Business Administration. MBA degree will help me in clarifying my strengths; therefore, giving me the opportunity to focus more. I also believe that people that have their MBA degree make more money than those with first degree in the long run. Being in MBA program opens up opportunities to network with fellow students, which may eventually land one a very good job opportunity. An MBA degree holder is always been looked at as someone who is experienced and skilled in their chosen profession; therefore, commanding more respect from others. Having done my Jungian 16-type personality assessment, my personality result is ENTP. ENTP means: Extrovert, Intuitive, Thinking and Perceiving. A person with “ENTP personality is innovative, individualistic, versatile, and entrepreneurial. Possible career as politician, strategic planner, literary agent, publicist, entrepreneur, investment broker, computer analyst and ad executive.” (Personality Inventory, 1989). This assessment gives me clearer vision of what I may likely pursue in my MBA program. I always see myself as an entrepreneur based on my personality; entrepreneurial, innovative and someone who likes to help the public. Based on my Jungian 16-type personality result, I will develop my interests and skills towards my personality type, so as to benefit from my potentials. Aside from the above mentioned points, MBA degree holder...
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...Why I Chose to Pursue an MBA Abstract This paper will outline the reasons I chose to pursue an MBA. I will construct and support an argument for my pursuit of an MBA. I will support my decision of pursing an MBA with references and data of individuals who have written articles regarding the pursuit of an MBA for African Americans. This paper will include my Jungian results from the 16-Type Personality Insights questionnaire to see if I have the qualifications of a manager. Why I Chose to Pursue an MBA I decided to pursue an MBA to start a new career and to achieve a personal goal. I have a best friend who persuaded me to further my education. She would tell me, “Seles, this world is going to require that individuals who seek employment have a Master’s degree.” I began to think how my goal would be achieved and what university I attend. Wondering and worrying about the cost of this type of education caused me to have many sleepless nights and much stress. My concern was finding the time between allocating times with my six year-old son, working part-time as a volunteer and taking care/assisting my parents who are 70. Also my biggest issue I had was who would hire a recent graduate who is almost 50, African-American single parent of a six year-old son and who have never worked in the corporate world. So I prayed and asked GOD to authorize my pursuit of a Master’s degree. I talked with my advisor Lance Thorsen and he eased my mind and encouraged me to...
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...{text:bookmark-start} Why I Decided to Pursue MBA Degree {text:bookmark-end} In a world with growing population and ever increasing competition among humans for limited resources a person needs to stand out with polishedskills and education. I strongly believe that pursuing an MBA degree will open more doors of opportunity, enhance myself confidence and will give me advantage in getting a desired job. As an graduate in medical sciences, I started my career as clinical research coordinator which is a challenging position in medical research. During one year of experience in the health care research program, I dealt with different pharmaceutical companies, their managers and researchers. Most part of my job was to take care of research documents and get approval for different studies from international revenue board (IRB). During that job I explored, that I need to improve my communication and interpersonal skills to improve my public dealing skills. After gaining one year of experience in cancer research, I joined a cancer research center and got my experience in cancer abstracting and coding in cancer registry. Here I once again dealt with different doctors’ offices, their office record and medical data.. I felt that just medical knowledge is not sufficient to fulfill the requirements of my job, I felt the need to increase my knowledge in project management and resource planning in order to efficiently deal well with business aspects of my job. Moreover, better communication...
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