QUOTE(merchant9 @ Jul 4 2017, 08:49 AM)
Very informative thread but too long to read some of the dispute. Here's my dilemma so hopefully someone with experience can advise.
I am in my late 30s, holding a mid level managerial role. I am planning to do MBA, preferably one with accredition and support from EPF Account 2 withdrawals.
I am thinking to do MBA to help boost my career, I think it would. Why? Because I feel to move up in upper management, Degree may not be enough, especially one with average result.
I plan to do MBA part time as I am working with family commitments. I am currently looking at HELP MBA Online course, but need some comments. Other options for online distance learning works for me too as long as accredited minimally locally.
Appreciate some feedback. Thank you.
I note your message above has words like 'feel', 'maybe', etc. This usually means you have not put in enough thought in your decision making. Let me see if I can be of assistance to you.
In general there are 2 types of degree qualified employees: Management and Specialists/Subject Matter Experts. Both have equal earning potential. You need to first know which category you fit into.
If you want your career to head towards upper management, then doing a MBA program (from a reputable business school) would be a tremendous help. But if u are a SME, then doing a MBA doesn't quite give you or your organisation an advantage. Many ppl fall into this category where their job function / career aspirations are geared towards being a SME but they do a MBA thinking that will propel them immediately into upper management. This usually results in disappointment for the individual because many companies regard MBA's as 'good to have but not something we will pay you for' especially when it brings no distinct advantage to the company.
We must remember that a MBA does not function like a degree. A degree is very specific to a particular field and usually gets you a job in that particular field of study while a MBA is general management. MBA's are called 'career enhancers' for those seeking a pathway to senior management but it can also have zero effect as we have seen in many cases.
There are also hybrid MBA programmes. A good example is the MIT Malaysia Global SCALE Network, Institute of Supply Chain in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Their Masters programme is in essence a MBA programme based on the MIT Sloan Business School curriculum but with a very specialised focus in Supply Chain Management. MIT's Supply Chain Management is regarded as the best in the world currently beating even Harvard.
So to answer your question, you need to consider a few factors:
1) Your current job scope & position in your company
2) Where do you feel your career is heading to currently
3) Where do you want your career to head to (clear goal setting is important)
4) How do you think a MBA program would benefit the company ure working for
5) What does you company think of your future career pathway if you have a MBA
6) The quality of your MBA programme (is it top tier or just average)
At the end of the day, whatever education you have must have a ROI either in salary increases or personal business enhancement (for those running their own business).
And as ive said before, ive seen many more professionals who have NOT benefited from their MBA degrees than those who actually have. If I were you, I wouldn't bother doing any online MBA course as such courses don't hold much weight.
The Top 3 MBA programmes in Malaysia currently are:
1) Asia School of Business in partnership with MIT Sloan Business School and Bank Negara Malaysia
2) Sunway Lancaster MBA
3) Strathclyde MBA
I wouldn't bother to do any other MBA's in Malaysia.