re: Managers not MBA's

So no one has read the book?

I would say that the programs that are hybrid are a best fit for MBA.

Not sure of the industry you are in, but everything is going global, technology driven, and less and less face time interaction. What I see more of are webcasts, live meetings, etc.

The personal touch and discussions are indeed valued, but in the big picture, being able to have skills that allow for global communication and rapid response are just as important these days. Being able to collaborate on projects with teams spread out across the nation is a critical asset.

unfortunately for myself I will need to get a mba. The only way I am doing it is part time weekend classes and either at a place like darden or fuqua

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I've talked to my company about going to get my MBA and they would be willing to pay for it if I would wait a few years. Just wanted to look at it from both sides and weigh the pros and cons.

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USF EMBA alum here. USF has a ranked program by many publications but is certainly not part of the top tier elite B-Schools. My take is this, if you can get into the Top 10 or 15 B-Schools then go for it. There is something to be said for the name recognition and networking opportunities. With that stated, you should only be doing it on someone elses dime. The degree of separation in terms of ROI between those B-Schools ranked between 20 and 100 does not justify the additional expense associated with some programs. Most people who talk up more expensive programs are simply trying to justify their own overspending.

I graduated near the top of my class. In the University Graduate Business Case Competition I was the University Champion for which I got scholly money. I later placed second only to UF in the Florida Intercollegiate Competition. I took it seriously and enjoyed most aspects of the MBA program.

Has it paid off for me? A year and change later, not really. USF carries weight locally and in Florida but not much beyond that. I did get some additional monies from my employer and I've had offers from other organizations that I've declined. I do feel confident that those offers would not have happened minus the MBA. Of the 17 people in my graduation cohort only two have been promoted or moved to a new career. One of those two was laid off and had no choice in the matter.

There is a ton of academic propaganda boasting the career opportunities for MBA's and online education. I was on a Delta flight earlier this month and the in-flight magazine had a 5 page excerpt about online MBA's.

Heres the thing, a recent poll showed that when online degree holders were asked if they would reveal that they completed their studies online to a potential employer the majority indicated they would not. In fact, the first question typically asked by potential online students is "does the diploma say online or distance learning on it?". In a related question, HR managers were asked if given the choice between an online vs. brick and mortar trained employee with comparable levels of experience and the same credential nearly all of them said they would take the brick and mortar.

In that light, I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would choose online. To me you are cheating yourself and acknowledging it. Distance learning and online education are little more than opportunities for Universities to make additional money with a minimal time and resource investment. Now many Universities are pushing for a DBA or EDB which may ultimately make the MBA even less valuable.

A large part of the MBA is collaboration and presentation skills. I know "virtual teams" was a big buzzword a few years ago during globalization and I suppose online education may give someone a leg up on that. Presentation skills on the other hand cannot be mastered in front of a webcam when you can simply try again if things dont go to your liking. Just one mans opinion. YMMV..

If I was a government employee I'd take a $5,000 raise for sitting at my same desk without any added duties just because you(the company) paid for my MBA.