EMBA or No-MBA ?? Help please

karthicks

2 4

Posted Jan 30, 2012 16:16

Hi,

I am a IT Project manager working in UK. I graduated in India and have about 10 years experience (first 4 yrs in India, 3 years in Ireland & 3 years now in UK). I hold 4 year graduate degree in Electronics engineering obtained from India.

I also hold these certifications
- Prince2 practitioner - Project management
- Agile scrum master - Agile
- ISQTB - Test certification

Just to give some perspective, I am at 6oK pounds salary pack now and wanted to know what kind of MBA would help me to boost up my career growth mainly financially. I have a mortgage to pay so cannot do a full-time MBA so need to be part-time EMBA and the likes.

I am interested in Imperial EMBA as it suits my work schedule and also gives more focus on Innovation and Strategy which I like.. But unable to see how much career acceleration it would provide me...

Can you tell if Imperial EMBA would be a rite fit for me? Also any other tips and suggestions to plan my career ahead...

Any help on this would be wonderful at this time as I am planning to send my CV to Imperial for their admission day processing?

Thanks in advance...

K

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mistermark

31 62

Posted Jan 30, 2012 18:01

The best executive MBAs cover exactly the same syllabi as their full-time equivalents at the same schools, so should not be thought of as a lesser option; the only difference is that they take two years rather than one and the cohort tends to be a little older and thus has more work and management experience.

The various league tables include some specialising in executive programs and they tend to suggest significant post-qualification salary uplifts at the better schools, even though the methodology favours full-time courses (a lower average age and a higher proportion of students whose pre-MBA jobs were in countries where salaries are lower than the UK both help boost the stat).

I'm biased, being on the Cranfield EMBA programme, but I'd suggest adding it to the shortlist, and researching other good Exec MBAs before deciding.

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karthicks

2 4

Posted Jan 30, 2012 20:38

Hello Mark, Thanks for your response, it was very useful. I read about Cranfield and it looked impressive at the first look. I will add it to my list.

I am going to self-fund my course and so want to understand little bit more on ROI. In the context of ROI will there be about 70 - 80% increase in the salary following the course? Though I am sure there will be long term benefits with EMBA I am in need to understand near-term ROI so to manage my finances effectively. Can some one help?

Also what are the courses that have high near-term ROI so break-even is less than 24 month far.

Rgds
K

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mistermark

31 62

Posted Jan 30, 2012 20:45

Unfortunately I don't know the answers to your ROI questions. You could try looking at the salary uplift figures in the main MBA rankings or the schools' own websites.

However I wouldn't take this data as an accurate guide to how your own income could be affected: the post-MBA salary figures reflect factors such as how old students were and where they were working before they joined and where they settled and what careers they moved into afterwards.

Better I think would be to consider what roles you would like to be considered for in say four or five years' time - the MBA course plus two or three years - then evaluate which program would be best placed to land you such a position.

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karthicks

2 4

Posted Jan 31, 2012 07:12

Thanks once again Mark for your response.

I was checking Imperial EMBA data sheet published in ranking.ft.com and it reads:
Avg. sal - c.150K
% increase - 80%

Do you know where I can find std. deviation of these figures which would give some idea on max and min salary.

Also, what are other parameters I need to assess for before choosing the college, as I said my background is IT project management and I expect the course to boost up my career progression. I am at senior management level and would want to play the role of director / senior executive following the completion of the course. I do not intend to shift the career to a large extent, I like my work I just need to accelerate it.

Please advise.

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Inactive User

2.941 1.801

Posted Jan 31, 2012 18:18

The best executive MBAs cover exactly the same syllabi as their full-time equivalents at the same schools, so should not be thought of as a lesser option; the only difference is that they take two years rather than one and the cohort tends to be a little older and thus has more work and management experience.

I don't know if this is true. EMBA programs, if only because their cohorts bring a different skillset, cover a much different range of topics than traditional MBA programs. Compare the Wharton EMBA program to its full-time MBA counterpart, for example: While the full-time program covers many of the business basics, its EMBA program allows students to choose more varied electives that reflect their background and goals.

<blockquote>The best executive MBAs cover exactly the same syllabi as their full-time equivalents at the same schools, so should not be thought of as a lesser option; the only difference is that they take two years rather than one and the cohort tends to be a little older and thus has more work and management experience.</blockquote>
I don't know if this is true. EMBA programs, if only because their cohorts bring a different skillset, cover a much different range of topics than traditional MBA programs. Compare the Wharton EMBA program to its full-time MBA counterpart, for example: While the full-time program covers many of the business basics, its EMBA program allows students to choose more varied electives that reflect their background and goals.

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mistermark

31 62

Posted Jan 31, 2012 18:40

The best executive MBAs cover exactly the same syllabi as their full-time equivalents at the same schools, so should not be thought of as a lesser option; the only difference is that they take two years rather than one and the cohort tends to be a little older and thus has more work and management experience.

I don't know if this is true. EMBA programs, if only because their cohorts bring a different skillset, cover a much different range of topics than traditional MBA programs. Compare the Wharton EMBA program to its full-time MBA counterpart, for example: While the full-time program covers many of the business basics, its EMBA program allows students to choose more varied electives that reflect their background and goals.

Apologies, I accept there may be some schools, and Wharton could be one, that offer EMBA course content that is not just different to the full-time equivalent but could be considered superior relative to the likely needs of a more experienced cohort. But I believe many EMBA programs are 'MBA lite' courses, in that they cover less ground than the full-time ones, which is why I was suggesting that those that mirror the FT courses are preferable.

<blockquote><blockquote>The best executive MBAs cover exactly the same syllabi as their full-time equivalents at the same schools, so should not be thought of as a lesser option; the only difference is that they take two years rather than one and the cohort tends to be a little older and thus has more work and management experience.</blockquote>
I don't know if this is true. EMBA programs, if only because their cohorts bring a different skillset, cover a much different range of topics than traditional MBA programs. Compare the Wharton EMBA program to its full-time MBA counterpart, for example: While the full-time program covers many of the business basics, its EMBA program allows students to choose more varied electives that reflect their background and goals. </blockquote>

Apologies, I accept there may be some schools, and Wharton could be one, that offer EMBA course content that is not just different to the full-time equivalent but could be considered superior relative to the likely needs of a more experienced cohort. But I believe many EMBA programs are 'MBA lite' courses, in that they cover less ground than the full-time ones, which is why I was suggesting that those that mirror the FT courses are preferable.

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mistermark

31 62

Posted Jan 31, 2012 18:46

Do you know where I can find std. deviation of these figures which would give some idea on max and min salary.

Also, what are other parameters I need to assess for before choosing the college, as I said my background is IT project management and I expect the course to boost up my career progression. I am at senior management level and would want to play the role of director / senior executive following the completion of the course. I do not intend to shift the career to a large extent, I like my work I just need to accelerate it.

Please advise.

Standard deviation!?! I suspect the schools don't even have this data themselves. As with my previous comment, I don't think it would help to have this data, in any case.

You're understandably keen to know whether having an MBA from Imperial, Cranfield or anywhere else will, together with your qualifications and experience to date, get you into the kinds of jobs you aspire to in a few years' time. But the mean of the salaries of people who graduated several years ago and the standard deviation thereof is a very poor proxy for the reassurance you seek, because of variables such as what sectors and countries they are working in and what prior skills and experiences they had.

I think there could be some mileage in talking to the HR departments of companies you would like to work for, to get their views about the MBA programs on offer, and also to talk to the marketing teams in the business schools on your shortlist, as many may be willing to put you in touch with alumni that can tell you how that school's MBA qualification would be perceived in your industry.

<blockquote>
Do you know where I can find std. deviation of these figures which would give some idea on max and min salary.

Also, what are other parameters I need to assess for before choosing the college, as I said my background is IT project management and I expect the course to boost up my career progression. I am at senior management level and would want to play the role of director / senior executive following the completion of the course. I do not intend to shift the career to a large extent, I like my work I just need to accelerate it.

Please advise.</blockquote>

Standard deviation!?! I suspect the schools don't even have this data themselves. As with my previous comment, I don't think it would help to have this data, in any case.

You're understandably keen to know whether having an MBA from Imperial, Cranfield or anywhere else will, together with your qualifications and experience to date, get you into the kinds of jobs you aspire to in a few years' time. But the mean of the salaries of people who graduated several years ago and the standard deviation thereof is a very poor proxy for the reassurance you seek, because of variables such as what sectors and countries they are working in and what prior skills and experiences they had.

I think there could be some mileage in talking to the HR departments of companies you would like to work for, to get their views about the MBA programs on offer, and also to talk to the marketing teams in the business schools on your shortlist, as many may be willing to put you in touch with alumni that can tell you how that school's MBA qualification would be perceived in your industry.

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repoman

20 39

Posted Feb 02, 2012 09:55

I think there could be some mileage in talking to the HR departments of companies you would like to work for, to get their views about the MBA programs on offer, and also to talk to the marketing teams in the business schools on your shortlist, as many may be willing to put you in touch with alumni that can tell you how that school's MBA qualification would be perceived in your industry.

Good ideas. Definitely alumni, though I'm not sure what HR people would say beyond: 'Yeah, great. We would definitely take your EMBA into consideration when looking at job applications'. I doubt they would divulge any data reflecting average career paths and salaries of EMBA grads inside their companies. Maybe I'm wrong.

<blockquote>I think there could be some mileage in talking to the HR departments of companies you would like to work for, to get their views about the MBA programs on offer, and also to talk to the marketing teams in the business schools on your shortlist, as many may be willing to put you in touch with alumni that can tell you how that school's MBA qualification would be perceived in your industry.</blockquote>

Good ideas. Definitely alumni, though I'm not sure what HR people would say beyond: 'Yeah, great. We would definitely take your EMBA into consideration when looking at job applications'. I doubt they would divulge any data reflecting average career paths and salaries of EMBA grads inside their companies. Maybe I'm wrong.

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karthicks

2 4

Posted Feb 02, 2012 10:52

But the mean of the salaries of people who graduated several years ago and the standard deviation thereof is a very poor proxy for the reassurance you seek, because of variables such as what sectors and countries they are working in and what prior skills and experiences they had.

Hi Mark - Many thanks... I understand what you are saying...
I need talk to people in specific industry so I get industry specific data... Thanks for your suggestion... I would have read too much into the facts and took a wrong decision... Your response helped...

<blockquote>
But the mean of the salaries of people who graduated several years ago and the standard deviation thereof is a very poor proxy for the reassurance you seek, because of variables such as what sectors and countries they are working in and what prior skills and experiences they had.
</blockquote>

Hi Mark - Many thanks... I understand what you are saying...
I need talk to people in specific industry so I get industry specific data... Thanks for your suggestion... I would have read too much into the facts and took a wrong decision... Your response helped...

quote