Comments for Business Opportunities And Ideas http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk Inspiration, ideas and opportunities for your business! Sat, 17 May 2008 15:41:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by Caroline http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14704 Caroline Sat, 17 May 2008 11:40:55 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14704 Most academic courses are designed to cover just the right amount of 'learning' in the different aspects of a course. It's a bit like a finely tuned engine and you having the knowledge to keep it that way, focus too much or not enough on a particular part and the engine stops working. Most academic courses are designed to cover just the right amount of ‘learning’ in the different aspects of a course. It’s a bit like a finely tuned engine and you having the knowledge to keep it that way, focus too much or not enough on a particular part and the engine stops working.

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by John http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14695 John Sat, 17 May 2008 05:37:43 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14695 Thanks Luke. "It is impossible to say what the value of something is until you have studied it" That's a very good point, certainly the value that I'm getting out of my studies is turning out to be higher than I expected and in areas other than those I expected. Thanks Luke.

“It is impossible to say what the value of something is until you have studied it”

That’s a very good point, certainly the value that I’m getting out of my studies is turning out to be higher than I expected and in areas other than those I expected.

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by Luke http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14687 Luke Sat, 17 May 2008 00:46:28 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14687 Hi John, As usual I think you may some excellent points about MBAs. From the academic perspective it's easy to generalise and say, "Well I would rather skip the course and get what I want"... my response to something like that (to my students) is how do you know what something is worth until you have done it? It is impossible to say what the value of something is until you have studied it. Learning is not simply selecting and choosing, it's exploring and developing. Most of my students often hate me at first ... but as they are guided through what we think they need to learn they are often quite excited and give me good reviews. That doesn't mean however that it has merit as Ryan says. You do not need an MBA to be successful but I can say that a great percentage of people that undertake them get a lot out of it and see new perspectives about business that they weren't previously aware of. Take for example the courses offer on soft systems methodology (a problem solving methodology) at Lancaster university. These have created world class scholars and developed new and exciting approaches to all areas of organisational development. On the other hand I have noticed that a lot of business schools have lost touch with reality and I can understand Ryan's point about self-directed learning. I am of course speaking from Australia so the UK and USA systems might contradict what I have said here. A professor friend of mine argues that the MBA stuff used to be a practical vehicle that enhanced a managers capabilities and gave entrepreneurial insight to problem solving. I am not sure whether that's the case now, at least in this country. There are many things we don't know and doing a course at university is just one way to learn and develop skills that may not even know you need! Thanks John - Great post :D Luke Hi John,

As usual I think you may some excellent points about MBAs. From the academic perspective it’s easy to generalise and say, “Well I would rather skip the course and get what I want”… my response to something like that (to my students) is how do you know what something is worth until you have done it? It is impossible to say what the value of something is until you have studied it. Learning is not simply selecting and choosing, it’s exploring and developing. Most of my students often hate me at first … but as they are guided through what we think they need to learn they are often quite excited and give me good reviews. That doesn’t mean however that it has merit as Ryan says.

You do not need an MBA to be successful but I can say that a great percentage of people that undertake them get a lot out of it and see new perspectives about business that they weren’t previously aware of. Take for example the courses offer on soft systems methodology (a problem solving methodology) at Lancaster university. These have created world class scholars and developed new and exciting approaches to all areas of organisational development.

On the other hand I have noticed that a lot of business schools have lost touch with reality and I can understand Ryan’s point about self-directed learning. I am of course speaking from Australia so the UK and USA systems might contradict what I have said here. A professor friend of mine argues that the MBA stuff used to be a practical vehicle that enhanced a managers capabilities and gave entrepreneurial insight to problem solving. I am not sure whether that’s the case now, at least in this country.

There are many things we don’t know and doing a course at university is just one way to learn and develop skills that may not even know you need!

Thanks John - Great post :D

Luke

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by zowoco http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14680 zowoco Fri, 16 May 2008 20:53:31 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14680 I would prefer a learning base that only offers courses, lecture packages and learning guidance than a system that only offered exams! I would prefer that our culture understood that learning and knowledge are the keys to wisdom and that exam certificates count for nothing. Given time, I could train a chimpanzee to pass a music exam, but I'd hardly credit him on being a learned human being! I would prefer a learning base that only offers courses, lecture packages and learning guidance than a system that only offered exams! I would prefer that our culture understood that learning and knowledge are the keys to wisdom and that exam certificates count for nothing. Given time, I could train a chimpanzee to pass a music exam, but I’d hardly credit him on being a learned human being!

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by John http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14672 John Fri, 16 May 2008 18:23:15 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14672 I suspect they can't do that however under the terms of the charter that allows them to issue recognised degrees. Equally I suspect that few people would want that, most need some form of guidance on what to learn. I suspect they can’t do that however under the terms of the charter that allows them to issue recognised degrees.

Equally I suspect that few people would want that, most need some form of guidance on what to learn.

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by Jaan http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14671 Jaan Fri, 16 May 2008 17:34:31 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14671 I understand the fact that you might select what you learn/study when doing it by yourself. But I've been to 4 different universities and have a degree form only one of them. The simple reason, I learned something new, not something I already knew. There should be some sort of examination way for self thought people to get a cheaper higher education. And before anyone suggests Open University, It's still a course based home learning way of doing things. What I mean is like an institution where you go register for a exam, take it and get your degree/certificate. They would not offer any course materials or do any courses, only tests and exams. Peace, J I understand the fact that you might select what you learn/study when doing it by yourself. But I’ve been to 4 different universities and have a degree form only one of them. The simple reason, I learned something new, not something I already knew. There should be some sort of examination way for self thought people to get a cheaper higher education. And before anyone suggests Open University, It’s still a course based home learning way of doing things. What I mean is like an institution where you go register for a exam, take it and get your degree/certificate. They would not offer any course materials or do any courses, only tests and exams.

Peace, J

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by John http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14670 John Fri, 16 May 2008 16:35:50 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14670 Ryan, While I disagree with you, there's definitely some merit to what you say (particularly in the comments you've added). The problem that I see with book learning / self directed learning is that skipping aspects of a curriculum that would not necessarily interest you is too easy. Which can lead gaps in your knowledge. I look forward to reading more of your posts and have subscribed to your RSS feed. Ryan,

While I disagree with you, there’s definitely some merit to what you say (particularly in the comments you’ve added).

The problem that I see with book learning / self directed learning is that skipping aspects of a curriculum that would not necessarily interest you is too easy. Which can lead gaps in your knowledge.

I look forward to reading more of your posts and have subscribed to your RSS feed.

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by Ryan Stephens http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14669 Ryan Stephens Fri, 16 May 2008 16:01:25 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14669 John, Unfortunatley it seems that I articulated my article in a way that made it seem as though I wanted each of those three reasons to stand on their own, and that is definitely not the case. Would obtaining an MBA from a solid program in addition to reading the literature probably expand your breadth of knowledge? ABSOLUTELY. My article is an attempt to explain that there is an alternative to getting an MBA, and that you can still be successful without one provided you are navigating the three things I mentioned. Even then, there's certainly a lot more to it. Was I intentionally trying to stir the pot a bit? Certainly. But what I was -attempting- to get at was that if you're reading the literature and that's your foundation instead of classroom studies, and then you're engaging people in the field, others that are interested in the subjects, perhaps blogging about the strategies, etc. then you are actively applying what you're learning. Not only that you are dictating your own course of action, which enables you to learn all about whatever is you want and you can skip aspects of a curriculum that would not necessarily interest you. Nonetheless, definitely an inciteful contribution to the entire conversation, and I agree Mintzberg's work would've been better justification for the points I was trying to establish. I hope, in spite of the fact you disagreed, that you found some merit in the blog. Best wishes. Ryan Stephens John,

Unfortunatley it seems that I articulated my article in a way that made it seem as though I wanted each of those three reasons to stand on their own, and that is definitely not the case.

Would obtaining an MBA from a solid program in addition to reading the literature probably expand your breadth of knowledge? ABSOLUTELY. My article is an attempt to explain that there is an alternative to getting an MBA, and that you can still be successful without one provided you are navigating the three things I mentioned. Even then, there’s certainly a lot more to it.

Was I intentionally trying to stir the pot a bit? Certainly. But what I was -attempting- to get at was that if you’re reading the literature and that’s your foundation instead of classroom studies, and then you’re engaging people in the field, others that are interested in the subjects, perhaps blogging about the strategies, etc. then you are actively applying what you’re learning.

Not only that you are dictating your own course of action, which enables you to learn all about whatever is you want and you can skip aspects of a curriculum that would not necessarily interest you.

Nonetheless, definitely an inciteful contribution to the entire conversation, and I agree Mintzberg’s work would’ve been better justification for the points I was trying to establish.

I hope, in spite of the fact you disagreed, that you found some merit in the blog.

Best wishes.

Ryan Stephens

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by John http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14667 John Fri, 16 May 2008 14:45:51 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14667 The downside to that is it's very easy to focus too narrowly on a particular area of interest and neglect other related areas that are required for genuine depth of knowledge and a wider perspective on the topic. In my two main areas of interest (software development and business) I'm largely self taught, however in both cases adding a relevant degree did/is adding a breadth of knowledge. The downside to that is it’s very easy to focus too narrowly on a particular area of interest and neglect other related areas that are required for genuine depth of knowledge and a wider perspective on the topic.

In my two main areas of interest (software development and business) I’m largely self taught, however in both cases adding a relevant degree did/is adding a breadth of knowledge.

]]> Comment on Read A Book And Get An MBA? by Jaan http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14665 Jaan Fri, 16 May 2008 14:06:36 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/731/read-a-book-and-get-an-mba#comment-14665 I value autodidact people. The fact that people are able to learn by themselves is a wonderful thing and these people have usually much more deep knowledge of the subject. Think of it like learning a Language: How much can you remember about the French you studied at school? And how good can you speak Spanish now after living in the country for 3 years? My English was bad before i came to the UK, I knew the basics but had such a bad accent so people could not understand me at all. Now after 3 years I got used to the local language and dialect without any "going to school". The same can be with almost every subject. If you are keen to learn something, you do not need to go and spend thousands on a formal degree. Sadly, not many companies value autodidact people anymore. I value autodidact people. The fact that people are able to learn by themselves is a wonderful thing and these people have usually much more deep knowledge of the subject. Think of it like learning a Language: How much can you remember about the French you studied at school? And how good can you speak Spanish now after living in the country for 3 years?

My English was bad before i came to the UK, I knew the basics but had such a bad accent so people could not understand me at all. Now after 3 years I got used to the local language and dialect without any “going to school”.

The same can be with almost every subject. If you are keen to learn something, you do not need to go and spend thousands on a formal degree. Sadly, not many companies value autodidact people anymore.

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