MET: Executive MBA

MET: Executive MBA

There’s an old saying, “Education is its own reward.” Nowhere is this truer than in the case of an MBA degree. Whether you’re pursuing a full time course or an Executive MBA, as many professionals with career ambitions today are, the apparent value of an MBA degree is there for all to see. While an Executive MBA isn’t the only prerequisite for career advancement, it is an extremely important determinant in how far you could go in making a mark for yourselves in your career.

The following are the salient benefits of an Executive MBA programme from a recognised and reputed institution.

1.      Better rate of incremental income: An executive MBA is an expensive proposition, sure. But most EMBA students also see a bare minimum year on year increment of around 14%. This is just the tip of the iceberg and in essence the beginning of a long and productive career, On an average, an executive MBA, from a reputed institution pays for itself within a year and a half of graduation. The upper limit on salaries and increments are completely up to the individual in question.

2.      Inculcates better all round skills: The knowledge imparted in an executive MBA classroom is being given to students who already have access, on a daily basis to situations where this knowledge can be tested on a daily basis. An EMBA also gives students the access to some of the industry’s brightest minds and enables them observe the leadership style each doyen comes in with. This means an inculcation of better all round skills and the access to real world situations to test these skills in, which leads to a better grounding.

3.      A sense of innovation: Being able to think on the fly and adjust to high pressure situations, by being flexible and innovating, is one of the traits that EMBA graduates are renowned for having. This happens primarily because of the circumstances of the teaching methodology and curriculum also the application of learnings to business situations on a daily basis.

4.      Greater perceived value: An organization that already shares a comfort level with an individual, is more likely to promote said individual from within itself. An individual opting for an EMBA ensures that the powers that be, notice his/her drive and ability to multi-task, two very important parameters in a promotion situation. A company perceives an EMBA graduate as greater value, because he or she is from within the company and is therefore available to the management on a more full time basis, is known to have greater and more contemporary knowledge and market intelligence and are hungry to prove their worthiness. This makes them indispensable in the long run.

5.      Easier to speak the Glocal language: In the age of ‘Think Global, Act Local’, the way business speaks has also changed, this means that many of the precepts that held true even 5 years ago are obsolete. An EMBA programme is tuned withan eye on both the present and the future and is geared to equip a professional with the tools to understand, associate and speak the language of the ever evolving business scenario.

An executive or EMBA is an excellent way for a professional to update their skills and education with the aim of forwarding their careers and job profiles. While a top EMBA is an expensive proposition, it is an attractive options, as the benefits far outweigh the costs.

An overview of an Executive MBA : Pros and Cons

A Masters in Business Administration in definitely a worthwhile academic pursuit. It is one of the most popular degrees with students out there today and one that has a range of specializations from a number of different kinds of schools. A number of students today opt to pursue an MBA program to further their educational aspirations as well as enhance their career prospects. But what about those professionals who have already joined their chosen professional stream and are looking to climb the rungs of a slippery corporate ladder? It becomes impossible to juggle a full time job as well as a full time course. This is where an Executive MBA can come in and fill the gap.

A Executive MBA program or an EMBA as it is also called, is a Masters degree that serves a large population base of working professionals. It is as its name suggests an MBA option for executives and professionals who have already started working and want to gain an additional degree or diploma in order to give them a boost at the work place. Many employers too today willingly fund an executive MBA course for talented employees who they feel have the potential to blossom and be a major asset to their companies. It is in fact a great option for lower and mid level employees who want to advance to the managerial level and higher. 

If you are considering opting for an EMBA, here are a few pros and cons you may want to consider:

Pros: 

• It shows initiative – Employers love a worker who has the drive and ambition to succeed and wants to take the next step to not only further their career prospects, but also be a more skilled employee for their company. Opting for a course of study even after you have already begun your journey on the career path shows that you are serious about your job and want to rise. Talk to your higher ups whether going in for such a program would be considered a boon for the company and whether you can adjust your schedule if needed for course work.

• It is not as intensive as a regular MBA – An EMBA program will likely be a part time one, a few days a week. The course materials may be more targeted toward a specific set of skills and subject matters rather than a very comprehensive full time regular MBA.

• It is a good networking tool – An executive MBA course will likely be attending by other working execs like yourself. Although you will find people from all streams, some find it a great way to meet like minded people and people working in the similar strata as themselves.

Cons:

• It might be too much to handle – Not everyone can handle a full time job and a post graduate course at the same time efficiently. Responsibilities at work as well as course work can get a bit overwhelming if you cannot manage your time well and give due diligence to both.

• It may not be what you need – Not all workplaces are that supportive or appreciative of their employees taking on additional responsibilities and courses. It may not even be necessary in order to be considered for that career raise. Talk to your higher ups and check if this is something that is worth your time, if that is the sole purpose that is driving you to take it on.

Executive MBA

Executive MBA programs are primarily aimed at experienced business professionals from various fields with more than two years’ working experience. There are many businessmen and professionals that do not get the time or opportunity to acquire an MBA Degree because of the pressing need to work and earn a livelihood; but with management skills being the need of our modern times most executives have now realized the importance of such studies. These career development programs are designed to transform your leadership skills, and increase management aptitude and strategic thinking to take on today’s global business market in your area of work. This is the reason part time Masters Degrees in Business Management are gaining due popularity in the corporate world.

The value of an MBA Degree to scaling the corporate ladder is undeniable. Today, you have an opportunity to acquire this Degree without having to take a break from your job and join a full time MBA program, thanks to the many B schools conducting such programs for your benefit. Plus, there are quite a few advantages involved with undertaking such a program. Firstly, it allows you to study without disturbing your professional standing. The Executive MBA Degree is considered at par with the full time Management Degree within the corporate world. With work experience on your side, you tend to learn quicker and better than someone inexperienced. This translates into better understanding of the subjects and in turn better use of the acquired knowledge in the future. In such programs, there is a huge scope of learning from other candidates, as the class is full of students from various fields and backgrounds. Thus, shared work experiences serve as another kind of learning. Such programs are designed in such a way that they offer niche specializations that help aspirants focus and grasp the subjects well. And lastly, most Executive MBA programs are more economical in comparison to full time MBA Degrees.

Most Executive MBAs are either one year full time or three year part time programs in India. There are some B schools that even offer these courses online or through distance learning mode, giving the candidates flexibility and convenience in learning. These days you can see many corporate houses taking initiatives to urge their employees to take up such programs offered by the leading B schools in the country. Some companies fully fund such employee undertakings, as this directly benefits the company in the long run.

It may be concluded that such programs are a little different from the normal MBA Degree programs. Executive MBA programs focus on specifics and stress on learning through real life experiences and case studies, rather than generalizing the subject and reading up on the topics. Some of the good programs offered in the country are a 3 years part time Masters Degree in Management in Finance, Marketing, Information Management or Human Resource Development (MFM / MMM / MIM / MHRDM).