MBA's

godtabh

Is there anyone here doing an MBA or about to start?

What are your thoughts on it?

Darren1o1

godtabh wrote: »

Is there anyone here doing an MBA or about to start?

What are your thoughts on it?

I'm looking at start one shortly in the US. I have been trying to get into a technical leadership role and think this could be a good way to achieve it. It could also give opportunity to completely move away from the hard technical field should there ever be an issue in my area...

enda1

I've been on and off flirting with the idea for over a year. At least get the GMAT done to give yourself the option.

Darren1o1

enda1 wrote: »

I've been on and off flirting with the idea for over a year. At least get the GMAT done to give yourself the option.

Depends on where you would like to do it. With my experience and technical Master's Degree I am exempt from doing GMAT on some pretty decent programs stateside.

enda1

Darren1o1 wrote: »

Depends on where you would like to do it. With my experience and technical Master's Degree I am exempt from doing GMAT on some pretty decent programs stateside.

Perhaps. But I'd only really been looking at the top ten which all need some test and GMAT is accepted by all them.

Darren1o1

enda1 wrote: »

Perhaps. But I'd only really been looking at the top ten which all need some test and GMAT is accepted by all them.

I don't dispute that I am looking top 25 and for a PT program while working. I would also rather not pay 120-150K. Anyway I think we are getting away from the OP's point.

godtabh

I'm hoping to start the DIT MBA in September. I'm looking at doing it for two reasons. First to get the foundation of managerial leadership in an engineering role and secondly to give me options to move away from engineering if the opportunity arises for example management consultancy.

The DIT topics sound really interesting. Looking forward to starting it

Turbulent Bill

enda1 wrote: »

I've been on and off flirting with the idea for over a year. At least get the GMAT done to give yourself the option.

Pretty much in the same boat - it might be a good idea, but I don't know enough about it (or an engineer who's done one) to really assess the value.

There seems to be a chicken - and - egg aspect too. To get the best out of an MBA you need reasonable business experience, but it's hard to get this without a business qualification. I'm worried about being pigeon holed as just a good techie.

nogoodnamesleft

godtabh wrote: »

Is there anyone here doing an MBA or about to start?

What are your thoughts on it?

I think its of very limited value unless you have some exposure to business as part of your day to day job or are moving from a technical to a more commercial role.

The multinational that I work for encourages technical personnel to pursue commercial avenues of interest as from their experience those with a technical background appear to make better decisions as they have the insight to understand the problem better that say someone purely from a commercial domain. Some do MBAs after significant experience.

godtabh

I've been tasked to grow a certain aspect of the business. An aspect that only I have the technical expertise within the company. I think my boss also wants me to have more influence on what markets we operate in. At the moment we are restricted by our parent company but I have on successful project completed in that market.

I am also building new business offerings for new clients. At the moment its done at cost but with the potential to grow it and market it to new clients.

It also gives me some security. At the moment I work in civil engineering. In a years time there may not be a civil engineering industry!

minnow

I completed a distance learning MBA through Manchester Business School 2 years ago. I chose MBS after comparing the various DL alternatives, and because of the program flexibility, the range of electives and its relatively high ranking in the MBA tables. Furthermore, it has one stream which particularly focuses on Engineering Business Management rather than purely Finance.

I enjoyed it immensely, broadened my business knowledge considerably and it has improved my standing in the company (people are impressed with those three letters on your CV). I think to get the full benefit in terms of promotion, salary etc., one has to change companies after completing. On top of those benefits, I derived most enjoyment from being back to education (if only part time) and the friendships I made at the workshops.

godtabh

What kind of salary can an engineer with an MBA expect?

I just paid my deposit for the DIT MBA so I'm (un)officially a student again. When I'm finished I will have spend 8 years in college!

cerebus

I'm an engineer, and did an MBA after working for a few years. Going to business school was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Salary will depend on what you do afterwards. I'd imagine you might need to change jobs or employers to see a step up in compensation.

BDSC1964

The money you earn from any qualification usually depends on whether the industry appreciates such things and in the case of the construction industry here it is my experience they dont. Where as financial services will headhunt people with MBAs.

I've just applied to the DBS for an MBA. I am coming from a construction background also and have made a complete change since 2010. Now in financial services. I see the MBA as a means to go into training. I am set on this but have been knocked back on numerous occasions in the last couple of years because I dont have a level 9 qual. I also want to run it as a business so it will help on this front also.

A question I do have is: What kind of weekly time input does it require (part time basis two evenings)?

godtabh

BDSC1964 wrote: »

A question I do have is: What kind of weekly time input does it require (part time basis two evenings)?

A lot I would imagine!

godtabh

I'm starting my MBA today. I hope to update this thread over the next days/weeks/months/years

I meet one of the lectures yesterday. Interesting chat and a marked change from previous post grad work I've done.

PCR

godtabh wrote: »

I'm starting my MBA today. I hope to update this thread over the next days/weeks/months/years

I meet one of the lectures yesterday. Interesting chat and a marked change from previous post grad work I've done.

Good luck with your study. I look forward to reading your updates.

CatFromHue

I read this book recently and found it pretty good.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Teach-Harvard-Business-School/dp/0141046481

It's a bout a journalist who doesn't have a business background who enrols in Harvard to do an MBS. He doesn't enrol to watch or anything, he enrols to study.

Turbulent Bill

PCR wrote: »

Good luck with your study. I look forward to reading your updates.

Ditto, would love to hear about this godtabh.

CatFromHue

So after a month in how's it going so far?

godtabh

So far so good.

First term is based around 4 modules

• Financial Analysis
• Modeling and & Analysis for Management
• Organizational Behavior & Theory
• Marketing for Managers

So two wooly subjects and two subjects for an engineer should be ok.

We've had a few individual assignments and a few group ones. Group one was interesting. Probably highlights the benefit of the MBA as the group dynamic used individual experience to asses the problem.

We've had some interesting non module lectures as well. Very interesting on on the weekend regarding communication skills from some one from RTE.

There are a few other engineers on the course as well

jiminho

godtabh wrote: »

So far so good.

First term is based around 4 modules

• Financial Analysis
• Modeling and & Analysis for Management
• Organizational Behavior & Theory
• Marketing for Managers

So two wooly subjects and two subjects for an engineer should be ok.

We've had a few individual assignments and a few group ones. Group one was interesting. Probably highlights the benefit of the MBA as the group dynamic used individual experience to asses the problem.

We've had some interesting non module lectures as well. Very interesting on on the weekend regarding communication skills from some one from RTE.

There are a few other engineers on the course as well

Sounds awesome. Quick qs for you, out of curiosity. What path do see yourself taking if you stay in the civil eng area with an MBA? Are you in technical or more managerial type role?

godtabh

I wouldn't be an technical expert. I can hold my own in my field but would struggle if I had to deal with a pure technical project. Probably see myself more as in a managerial type role

lg123

will be keen to follow this thread too, best of luck godtabh. enjoy your strava stats, they are only going in the wrong direction for the next couple of years.

i am thinking of enrolling soon too, i am looking for an MBA with a strong focus on marketing.

a question for most of the people already enrolled or completed, did your employer sponsor you or you fund it yourself?

godtabh

lg123 wrote: »

will be keen to follow this thread too, best of luck godtabh. enjoy your strava stats, they are only going in the wrong direction for the next couple of years.

i am thinking of enrolling soon too, i am looking for an MBA with a strong focus on marketing.

a question for most of the people already enrolled or completed, did your employer sponsor you or you fund it yourself?

Strava should reach 10000km in the next week or two!

The DIT MBA has a marketing module. It's ok

Funding is 75/25 not in a good way

lg123

that's great going.

you mind me asking what kind of commitment they looking for in return for the 25%?

godtabh

All back if I leave in one year.
50% in year 2
25% in year 3

lg123

not bad i suppose.

nicger

Hi godtabh

i wonder have you any more feedback on MBA and would you recommend for non engineers. i have an accountancy background, not fully qualified but have worked as senior management at accounts level, i am seriously considering DIT myself next year, however i will be 100% self funding so its a big commitment.

godtabh

There is a good mix of people in there. This is the first year with no accountants apparently.

Have exams starting on Friday so doing 'lots' of study. Had lots of assignments it hand in over christmas. That was a pain.

Other than that I am enjoying it.

nicger

thanks for that....

lg123

hi all,

would be keen for an update on how people are going with their MBA or MBA hunt?

i have got my uni list down to two. as mentioned before i want my MBA to have a strong as possible marketing focus.

came across this article on linkedin, may be of interest.

another curved ball thrown into the mix from a friend is a Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. this wouldn't have the same value on a CV I'd guess but the learning's might be more useful. depends on what you are after i suppose, management of a mature organisation or a role in a developing organisation.

godtabh

just about to start end of term exams.

Studying is going ok.

Enjoying the course.

In reference to the linkedin link about an MBA is more than what you can learn from books. Its what you also learn from course decisions and interacting with colleagues/lecturers.

lg123

that linkedin thing is a bit of a piss take.

how you finding the workload?

godtabh

lg123 wrote: »

that linkedin thing is a bit of a piss take.

how you finding the workload?

Workload with CA can be very hectic. Luckily I have managed so far

godtabh

Year one finished with an average of 67% The maths based modules were easy. The "soft" skills modules were grand but marks hard to get

nicger

hi Godtabh, how are you finding the lecturers? i am struggling to make a choice between DIT and National college of ireland...??

DenisOakley

I did a distance learning MBA and found that it was best at helping me see the big picture. My company wouldn't pay for it so I ponied up the GBP10k+ cost and then after a year or so quit and started my own business.

The combination of the fast learning that you achieve when you are responsible for making a new business survive (and all the pitfalls you fall into) and the framework that the MBA gives you is great.

Generally the biggest impact that doing an MBA has had for me is that when I take the time to sit back and look at the business I am able to figure out the strategy better. In essence it is a way of accumulating experience without having to make so many mistakes first

DenisOakley

That said on many occasions it provided very little advice in helping me figure out what to do in practical cases.

godtabh

One of the biggest benifits of an MBA is the group work. How do you achieve that through distance learning?

DenisOakley

At Warwick the DL was over 3 years. So each year we had to be onsite for a week of intense group work. There were also a bunch of projects throughout the course where we worked together online. This worked because we had already built the relationships at the September seminars

lg123

i done my MSc via distance and wouldn't do another course that way. i was always one of the kids who showed up to class every day at uni, that kind of structure worked for me, where as with the DL course i didn't have that. really struggled with interest and motivation.

DenisOakley

LOL. It took me 9 yeas to do a 3 year DL course! Still I graduate in January

richiee

Really interesting thread. I hope your studies are going well godtabh. I am looking into studying an online MBA here in Australia in the new year. (Im from Ireland, been here 2 years). I will complete my online Diploma of Management in November, its also online. I love the online format. I do shift work, so it really suits me to be able to study at different times. One of the biggest problems I am having is choosing an MBA provider. Ive narrowed it down to about 5, they all have their plus and minus points. 2 of them allow me to specialise in a particular field. Project management interests me so I might go for one of those 2. Also, another 2 provide the MBA online, but with intensive 1 week study periods on campus at various stages throughout the course. Ive heard before what has been mentioned here about the online MBA being not as useful due to lack of networking possibilities. For me however, it has to be completed online as I live too far away from any University and my work hours just wouldnt suit anyway. Choosing one where I could go on campus at various stages throughout the course might help in gaining networking opportunities, however Im not sure I completely buy into that idea about the networking. Surly In studying an MBA you learn all about different management systems and procedures?

godtabh

Networking is two fold. 1) interacting with people who may have similar problems/issues but different solutions and 2) the possibility of business opportunities.

breadmonkey

godtabh wrote: »

Networking is two fold. 1) interacting with people who may have similar problems/issues but different solutions and 2) the possibility of business opportunities.

I see your execuspeak is coming along nicely :pac:

godtabh

breadmonkey wrote: »

I see your execuspeak is coming along nicely :pac:

I've been able to bull**** for a while. I'll just have the qualification to back it up shortly!

Lurching

Great thread folks.
How's it going now Godtabh?

I'm lining myself up for a full-time MBA in Sept '15. I'm looking around at the options between Ireland and England.

Has anyone heard any justification for forking out €30-35k for the likes of Trinity or Smurfit versus DIT or the likes?

jimmy.choo

whats your plans Lurching, pack your bags and do one at home?

godtabh

DIT is due to get accredited by the American MBA association this year I believe and as I result I would see the cost of their MBA rise by €5-8k. I would see it priced at around €25k in the coming years.

Nearly finished my third semester. Started to dip my toe in to my consultancy project.

Lurching

jimmy.choo wrote: »

whats your plans Lurching, pack your bags and do one at home?

Yep, that's the plan.

godtabh wrote: »

DIT is due to get accredited by the American MBA association this year I believe and as I result I would see the cost of their MBA rise by €5-8k. I would see it priced at around €25k in the coming years.

Nearly finished my third semester. Started to dip my toe in to my consultancy project.

Was there a GMAT requirement for DIT? I'd imagine if it gets accredited, and it doesn't already, then it soon will.