Comments on: Strategy Business Thinking With An MBA http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba Inspiration, ideas and opportunities for your business! Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:50:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Sowing good seeds for the future http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6154 Sowing good seeds for the future Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:39:15 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6154 [...] Recently I was reading through this interesting debate at  John Cricket’s Business Ideas and Opportunities website and it struck me how much of a stretch doing more study is for some people.   It is truly hard for some and a breeze for others.  One old guy called Joe that I used to teach really struggled with the way academics think and act.  Especially when it came to demonstrating his knowledge.  He often used to tell me what his experience was and never relate it to theory.  He didn’t seem able to do it.  But, he really stretched himself and went there without sacrificing his pragmatic edge.   You want something from your future, why not begin to stretch out and do something that challenges you on a daily basis.  I have found blogging to challenge me.  It has really given me something to think about and made me work on how to explain academic ideas in a way that normal non-eggheads can understand them.  That’s been a stretch but given that I like blogging… it’s been well worth it.  As you stretch yourself on a daily basis you begin to expand your own capabilities inch by inch.  You are sowing towards a great harvest in the future. [...] [...] Recently I was reading through this interesting debate at  John Cricket’s Business Ideas and Opportunities website and it struck me how much of a stretch doing more study is for some people.   It is truly hard for some and a breeze for others.  One old guy called Joe that I used to teach really struggled with the way academics think and act.  Especially when it came to demonstrating his knowledge.  He often used to tell me what his experience was and never relate it to theory.  He didn’t seem able to do it.  But, he really stretched himself and went there without sacrificing his pragmatic edge.   You want something from your future, why not begin to stretch out and do something that challenges you on a daily basis.  I have found blogging to challenge me.  It has really given me something to think about and made me work on how to explain academic ideas in a way that normal non-eggheads can understand them.  That’s been a stretch but given that I like blogging… it’s been well worth it.  As you stretch yourself on a daily basis you begin to expand your own capabilities inch by inch.  You are sowing towards a great harvest in the future. [...]

]]> By: John http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6069 John Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:11:02 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6069 Andy, I agree there's definitely the risk that you'll get trapped thinking inside the box, but if you're inclined to think that way then at least the MBA should increase the size of the box. I'd also agree there's an opportunity cost associated with doing the MBA and you might well get more out of working for a startup, unless your goal is to climb the corporate career ladder - which I doubt is the case for many of my readers. Personally as an entrepreneur I don't believe that the top tier business schools deliver value for money (i.e. the corporate bragging rights and networking opportunities are not as relevant) and your time would be better spent in a startup. However if you've already got some entrepreneurial experience and you're looking to expand your knowledge then a part time, reasonably priced MBA may well be a worthwhile investment. Thanks for sharing your $0.02. Andy,

I agree there’s definitely the risk that you’ll get trapped thinking inside the box, but if you’re inclined to think that way then at least the MBA should increase the size of the box.

I’d also agree there’s an opportunity cost associated with doing the MBA and you might well get more out of working for a startup, unless your goal is to climb the corporate career ladder - which I doubt is the case for many of my readers.

Personally as an entrepreneur I don’t believe that the top tier business schools deliver value for money (i.e. the corporate bragging rights and networking opportunities are not as relevant) and your time would be better spent in a startup. However if you’ve already got some entrepreneurial experience and you’re looking to expand your knowledge then a part time, reasonably priced MBA may well be a worthwhile investment.

Thanks for sharing your $0.02.

]]> By: Andy Swan http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6066 Andy Swan Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:01:17 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6066 Good point and I'll concede that knowing the strategy of others is definitely a good thing. I do think however that there is significant risk of paradigm-fixing, which limits an MBA grad's ability to identify strategic alternatives, and to "think" like everyone else. I'm definitely not saying an MBA is a bad thing....I just think that spending those 2-3 years working high up in a startup (even for no pay) is a better use of time/money. Just my .02 Good point and I’ll concede that knowing the strategy of others is definitely a good thing.

I do think however that there is significant risk of paradigm-fixing, which limits an MBA grad’s ability to identify strategic alternatives, and to “think” like everyone else.

I’m definitely not saying an MBA is a bad thing….I just think that spending those 2-3 years working high up in a startup (even for no pay) is a better use of time/money.

Just my .02

]]> By: Paul Simister http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6033 Paul Simister Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:32:16 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6033 The MBA strategy module will give people a set of tools to use to look at their business in terms of customers, competitors and the environment. In no way does the full course say "this is the strategy to use" since it encourages investigation, analysis and insight although at a basic level some of the individual tools may appear prescriptive. One of the benefits I get from my MBA is the ability to see patterns of likely development in a market but that gives me a choice: * Do I want to encourage that pattern to happen or indeed lead it from the front? * Do I want to fight against it and standout from the crowd? It is only a choice to have if you know enough to see the patterns from what is happening. The MBA strategy module will give people a set of tools to use to look at their business in terms of customers, competitors and the environment.

In no way does the full course say “this is the strategy to use” since it encourages investigation, analysis and insight although at a basic level some of the individual tools may appear prescriptive.

One of the benefits I get from my MBA is the ability to see patterns of likely development in a market but that gives me a choice:
* Do I want to encourage that pattern to happen or indeed lead it from the front?
* Do I want to fight against it and standout from the crowd?

It is only a choice to have if you know enough to see the patterns from what is happening.

]]> By: Luke http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6017 Luke Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:04:57 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/513/strategy-business-thinking-with-an-mba#comment-6017 Hi John, Good point. I am with you on this one. I have had seasoned project managers come into some MBA level courses and realised why they had on-going problems in their work. They were after to craft a better strategic vantage point through just a bit more education. Thanks Luke Hi John,

Good point. I am with you on this one. I have had seasoned project managers come into some MBA level courses and realised why they had on-going problems in their work. They were after to craft a better strategic vantage point through just a bit more education.

Thanks

Luke

]]>