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graduate degree dilemma: MS or MBA
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:13 am
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:13 am
Engineer with multiple yrs exp. in a field where nearly every middle to upper management position prefers a graduate degree these days. It was not like this 5-10 years ago, and there really is very little supply for that demand (at the moment), but it is an increasing trend.
Is it just me, or with all the PMP and company-specific training firms require of their PM's these days, is the value of having an MBA diminished (since you will get most of the "business" training internally/on-the-job anyway)? big Question: What will an MBA afford you that the PMP and internal PM training of large firms will not?
I am leaning towards going get my MS in science/engineering field instead, but was curious if there were others out there who have considered the tradeoffs.
Is it just me, or with all the PMP and company-specific training firms require of their PM's these days, is the value of having an MBA diminished (since you will get most of the "business" training internally/on-the-job anyway)? big Question: What will an MBA afford you that the PMP and internal PM training of large firms will not?
I am leaning towards going get my MS in science/engineering field instead, but was curious if there were others out there who have considered the tradeoffs.
3
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:24 am to man in the stadium
Or find a school with a joint MSEngr/MBA program. Pitt, Columbia, plenty of others offer it.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:36 am to hungryone
What are your future career goals?
Do you just want to stay in engineering managment?
IMO The return on a MS is very little unless you plan on getting a phd and doing heavy research.
If you want to stay strictly in engineering and engineering managment an MBA won't be as valuable. The value of an engineer with MBA is when it comes to doing things outside of engineering because you can now work in the "business" world but are able to understand and speak to the technical aspects. Most people who were undergrads in business can't do the opposite.
Also in the engineering world, alot of times an MBA is seen as fluff or mumbo jumbo because its a lot of soft skills that don't vibe with their black or white minds.
Disclaimer:Undergrad BS, mech and MBA
Do you just want to stay in engineering managment?
IMO The return on a MS is very little unless you plan on getting a phd and doing heavy research.
If you want to stay strictly in engineering and engineering managment an MBA won't be as valuable. The value of an engineer with MBA is when it comes to doing things outside of engineering because you can now work in the "business" world but are able to understand and speak to the technical aspects. Most people who were undergrads in business can't do the opposite.
Also in the engineering world, alot of times an MBA is seen as fluff or mumbo jumbo because its a lot of soft skills that don't vibe with their black or white minds.
Disclaimer:Undergrad BS, mech and MBA
This post was edited on 4/7/15 at 11:38 am
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:38 am to man in the stadium
quote:
What will an MBA afford you that the PMP and internal PM training of large firms will not?
An MBA...
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:48 am to Hester Carries
As Barry said though, it is often viewed as fluff in the engineering world.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:54 am to man in the stadium
Are you asking which had more intellectual value, or which has more marketplace value?
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:55 am to man in the stadium
quote:
As Barry said though, it is often viewed as fluff in the engineering world.
Tell us your carrer goals and current job
Posted on 4/7/15 at 1:01 pm to barry
goals is to be location manager of our water design group or possibly even higher as a regional or national manager for our water resources design group by end of career (a few decades from now). it would require me to speak the technical language if you will, but largely would not require me to remain an in-depth technical practitioner. as a current member of the technical staff, i see the senior leadership with more technical backgrounds garner more respect from my peers than the senior leaders with business backgrounds, hence the question of what truly is gained via an MBA.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 1:08 pm to man in the stadium
Just be sure to get them to pay for it.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 1:30 pm to man in the stadium
quote:
i see the senior leadership with more technical backgrounds garner more respect from my peers than the senior leaders with business backgrounds, hence the question of what truly is gained via an MBA.
Well you would have a technical background so you should be able to get the "respect" of the group. Getting an MBA will most likely make you a better manager and increase your business skills. If your long term goal is to be a lifer at this company than i suggest you get them to pay for your MBA. The problem is in a technical role, you will be hard pressed to find a manager who will think this is a good idea.
So this question is, if you want to move up at this comapny, you need to find out what they value. The problem is you also need to do whats best for you because you never know when you will leave the comapny or will be let go.
Posted on 4/8/15 at 2:46 pm to man in the stadium
quote:
nearly every middle to upper management position prefers a graduate degree these days
I use linkedin to see what experience and education the people who are currently in those positions have. If every one of them has an MBA, then it's likely that you would need one to fit in. If only half or less have it, then you should have some conversations with them to get an understanding of the value.
I would not do a program without some support from the company and only take face-to-face classes.
Full disclosure: BS, IE and MBA
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