My regular readers know that I am not a great fan of the current crop of MBAs, that is being churned out by assembly line fashion by purely commercial organizations for profit. Most of them end up as unemployable in India and start at Sales Representative or Call Center Service Representative, which they could have easily done without the MBA anyway.
I have no quarrel with the recognized leading institutions which churn out great graduates who find great jobs. I wish them all the luck.
Jean, before you tear me to pieces, please read till the end.
I would simply like all of them, whether in India, or in the West to read this new book that has been written by two graduating MBAs from the Mecca of Management education, Harvard. It has a nice title to say the least: “The MBA Oath: Setting a Higher Standard for Business Leaders.”
Not bad, there seems to be some conscience somewhere.
STOP PRESS:
There seems to be some mysterious force working out there. I post about something and next day, something else pops up about the same subject. Here, my post has been up for about a couple of hours and I come across this article in the Economist!
Ramana, I am always looking for advice on how to teach people to behave properly. Do you think ethics classes make much of a difference? My instincts are that they might be good for relatively honest people to avoid stupid actions, but the morally challenged sorts will learn a different lesson …
Rummuser Reply:
May 27th, 2010 at 11:49
Yes indeed. There is a ‘logical’ explanation for this in the Vedas. It is one’s nature to be so, and that nature has been inherited through one’s karma. When they act unethically, they will eventually pay the price, one way or the other. The classic cases in Indian Puranas are Ravana who kidnaps Sita and Duryodhana who steals his cousins’ kingdom by deceit. Both eventually pay the price of ignominious deaths and also live in human memory as representatives of evil.
After your comment, I have added another article to my post from the Economist. Please do read that too.
As I’ve said before, I’m impressed by the quality of the MBA program my daughter is taking. And the timing is perfect for her, it’s immediately useful at work.
Rummuser Reply:
May 31st, 2010 at 12:43
Good for her and I have no doubts that she will benefit.
Ramana, I don’t follow. Anything that furthers education and expands our brain is worthwile even if not immediately (or ever) put to its obvious use. And what of that remark in the Economist’s last paragraph that the dearth of high flying job opportunities has led to an increase in entrepreneurial enterprises, using one’s initiative to set up your own business? Surely a great result.
U
Rummuser Reply:
May 31st, 2010 at 12:45
The particular MBAs that I talk about are assembly line productions that teaches student to pass examinations. Do you think that, education should be doing that?
‘Life isn’t about how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.’
All the degrees in the world are not worth the paper they are written on, if the bearer is not willing to use and share that knowledge while showing respect to those around him/her.
Rummuser Reply:
May 31st, 2010 at 12:48
That is well put Grannymar. The problem is, from those days when we used to say acquiring an education, we have now come to a situation where we are acquiring degrees.
Like any other academic endeavor one undertakes in life, the value of an MBA depends on how curious one is, how much one is willing to learn about a particular subject, and how one finds ways to apply it in the real world.
Unfortunately, many universities offering MBA degrees do not emphasize the practical application of an MBA degree enough. And of course, the real world is the best teacher. A well-applied MBA program is only an aid that helps.
Synchrony at work. You are in tune with the universe, Ramana.
Speaking of synchrony, I had my own event happen yesterday. It goes without saying that it became a post!
It’s fun to find the connections. Do you agree?
My ex-son in law became vice president of a company by working his way up from the bottom rung of the ladder. He only had a high school education. After he had entered the management phase the company sold and the new owners would not hire managers unless they had an MBA degree. All too often the new guys didn’t have a clue on how to apply their ‘book learning’ to the real world. Most of them were abject failures while my son in law was successful. Sometimes experience tops an education.
I hear you on this one. The MBA is the most sought after degree – there are people in my house trying to get their son into an MBA course any way they can. The lad has a BBA. I think they are wasting their time.
Rummuser Reply:
May 31st, 2010 at 12:57
If I comment, I shall land in to big problems!
MBA also has its benefit for knowledge, a lot of good theory, but finally in the real job all will narrowed and we will start learning the “ART” of business
Rummuser Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 20:56
Yes Tikno, being an entrepreneur, you should know.