Anyone done a part-time MBA?

[shifty_uk]

It's something that's interested me for a while. I don't think I'm in the position to take any course on at the moment never mind an MBA but I'm thinking about it over the next couple of years.

Supporting the course financially isn't an issue, it's more the lack of time. I have 2 businesses in their infancy with a potential 3rd on the way in February.

So, to the original question, has anyone done one? Wether you're in business already or not? How demanding did you find it?

I'm trying to gauge the benefits over the long term of having that additional layer of knowledge. My background is in design/design management/technical so I've been thrown into this(as I've always wanted to) and feel there's so much more to learn.

I heard someone say an MBA is more of a 'trade' course, rather than purely academic which suits me as I'm practical and don't learn too well under those sorts of circumstances, if that makes sense.

Any thoughts welcome

 

[h4rm0ny]

It is definitely more of a "trade" course, though I hadn't heard the term before. It's a "trade" course in that you're typically expected to do it whilst a manager and use your current career as part of your studies and course work. It's not just reading a book and sitting an exam.

I looked into it and have decided for now not to pursue it. The main thing to be sure of is what you want to get out of it. Is it business contacts, is it an understanding of doing business abroad, is it a better handle on sales models / forecasting. Or simply better instruction on management techniques. Get a really clear idea of what you want out of it because this will both inform your choice whether or not to do it and will help you choose what modules you want to do.

I think one of the big aims with an MBA is as a signifier. If you're seeking management employment with others, this does have value. If you intend to be forever self-employed, it's minimal. Not that an MBA can't be useful for the knowledge it provides - it is. But a lot pursue it for increasing their employability.

You might want to look at places that allow you to progress through management qualifications piecemeal. For example, the OU allows you to work towards a lesser management diploma which will count as part of your full MBA if you carry on. That helps avoid it being such a big commitment.

I haven't actually done an MBA so I'm unlikely to be much help. But I did go through the same decision making process you are. For me it wasn't worth it right now. It would help me get senior management jobs but right now I'm focusing elsewhere and doing hands-on project management and senior engineering roles.

 

[Amp34]

I presume you mean a vocational course, rather than necessarily "trade".

One thing I'd suggest though (not having done an MBA), but having taken a vocational MSc is that if you're looking to enhance a CV make sure the course is a well regarded one - otherwise will it be worth the expense and time put in?

 

[dowie]

To echo the above, if you're self employed then it probably has relatively much less value for you than say someone in a junior management role trying to grow their career. Some of the value simply comes from the brand name (assuming you go to a decent Uni) and the network you make that can help your career. There are plenty of free courses available online that you could look through at your own pace, within your own schedule(will post links when I get in). You perhaps also do not want to worry about coursework deadlines when trying to grow your business. Bottom line - you're a business owner not a salaryman looking for promotion.

 

[dowie]

Since you're a business owner so presumably more interested in the knowledge than the certificate you get at the end you can take an entire MBA course for free on coursera:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...now-take-an-entire-mba-course-online-for-free

The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign’s College of Business got the green light Monday evening to roll out a new MBA program, dubbed the iMBA, through online education platform Coursera. Over the coming months, the school will put all the courses required for its traditional MBA program on Coursera, free of charge. Students will be able to dabble in select courses or plow through the entire curriculum while earning certificates in such specializations as digital marketing, accounting, and business operations.

you could also select various other coursera or similar courses and tailor your own personalised program - for example there are several free modules from Wharton (one of the top business schools in the world):

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/wharton-business-foundations

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/wharton-business-financial-modeling

and a range of other business courses:

https://www.coursera.org/browse/business?languages=en

 

[shifty_uk]

Thanks for the feedback guys. It's interesting to hear everyone say that it's a course primarily of interest to management looking to enhance their CVs/career. Having done a bit of reading, I took it to be the best of the best with regards to general business operation - from a good university, of course.

I looked into it and have decided for now not to pursue it. The main thing to be sure of is what you want to get out of it. Is it business contacts, is it an understanding of doing business abroad, is it a better handle on sales models / forecasting. Or simply better instruction on management techniques. Get a really clear idea of what you want out of it because this will both inform your choice whether or not to do it and will help you choose what modules you want to do.

I think one of the big aims with an MBA is as a signifier. If you're seeking management employment with others, this does have value. If you intend to be forever self-employed, it's minimal. Not that an MBA can't be useful for the knowledge it provides - it is. But a lot pursue it for increasing their employability.

You might want to look at places that allow you to progress through management qualifications piecemeal. For example, the OU allows you to work towards a lesser management diploma which will count as part of your full MBA if you carry on. That helps avoid it being such a big commitment.

I like the idea of the practical element and the fact that you can apply the learnings to your own scenario but as others have said would have little use for the qualification or university name on my CV. As I said in my opening post, I'm not really the classroom type but areas that are important to me and that I'd have hoped to get from a course is lessons like growth, acquisitions, European/forgein markets, nitty gritty monetary matters etc etc; All areas I will no doubt venture into on my own, in my own time but to be ahead of the game and ready would be great.

I'll look into the OU, I have management experiences so thats not really a prime area I'd like to advance but there might be other things of interest!

Cheers

I presume you mean a vocational course, rather than necessarily "trade".

One thing I'd suggest though (not having done an MBA), but having taken a vocational MSc is that if you're looking to enhance a CV make sure the course is a well regarded one - otherwise will it be worth the expense and time put in?

Yes! I can't remember where I heard the term but it stuck - Vocational is the better way to put it. It would be from a good university but as said above, the CV isn't my concern.

To echo the above, if you're self employed then it probably has relatively much less value for you than say someone in a junior management role trying to grow their career. Some of the value simply comes from the brand name (assuming you go to a decent Uni) and the network you make that can help your career. There are plenty of free courses available online that you could look through at your own pace, within your own schedule(will post links when I get in). You perhaps also do not want to worry about coursework deadlines when trying to grow your business. Bottom line - you're a business owner not a salaryman looking for promotion.

Thanks for the advice / links, I can't believe the entire course materials are online for free?! I'll look at the links tonight and feedback!