The MBA degree opens up worlds of opportunity for its bearers.

Many business positions require an MBA for advancement. For example, investment banking and management consulting firms hire large classes of newly minted MBAs each year at six-figure salaries into the "associate" level -- those without MBAs generally don't advance past the "analyst" level. At major consumer products companies like Procter & Gamble, Kraft and Colgate-Palmolive, MBAs are hired as "assistant brand managers" into the brand management department -- those without MBAs are generally not eligible for the department. And it is from this function that these companies' senior executives are generally drawn. There are two kinds of MBA institutes in India -- a handful from which you leave with a pedigree and the vast majority which offer just degrees. In the first category lie the IIMs, XLRI and, to a lesser extent, FMS and Bajaj -- the institutions which pioneered the concept of management education at a time when the IAS was a far more wanted career path. In the second lies a vast array of institutes -- the good, the mediocre and the dubious. Evaluating the value proposition in the latter category is the daunting task faced by the majority of MBA aspirants. Although numerous B school rankings may be published every year, it rarely if ever alters the recruiter's pecking order. For 'class' or the jobs requiring brainwork, it's a select few institutes. For 'mass' or the groundwork jobs, it's down the B school ladder. And how low down this ladder a company will go depends on how many fresher it requires. With so many new sectors opening up -- retail, insurance, BPO, telecom -- it would seem the job pie has grown exponentially. True, except that B school you graduate from often still determines whether you eat your slice at the chairman's table. Many companies follow differential recruitment policies. Better salary, designation and job profiles are offered to the more premium grads. But, in an ironic twist, one man's Cat can be another's Dog. Several reputed companies -- especially Indian ones -- prefer to recruit from less elite campuses. These MBAs, they believe, work harder to prove themselves and are far more loyal to the organisation. It's a different thing that, given half the chance, the same MBAs would jump to join the very MNCs that won't touch them.

WHY CONSIDER MBA?

Companies should seriously consider MBA if they believe they could and should be doing a better job tapping the full potential of their employees' knowledge, experience and skills in accomplishing the organization's objectives. This belief may have arisen due to problems related to sales, product/service quality and delivery, after sales service or any of the other aspects of the organization's operations resulting in less than optimal profitability. To the extent that these problems are rooted in "people problems", they may be the result of employees not caring about their job or the company, being unwilling to go the extra mile or take responsibility for their actions, and poor teamwork or cooperation between different teams and departments. Such employee attitudes and behaviors are typically rooted in poor communications and a lack of mutual trust and respect. In situations where communications, trust and respect are lacking, particularly between management and employees, companies invariably experience "people problems" that cause needless expense and reduce profitability. MBA is uniquely designed to address these issues. Nevertheless, companies cite a variety of reasons for adopting MBA:

Need to improve the companys performance: When management concludes they need the
active help and involvement of the entire organization to improve the companys performance.

Need to turnaround a negative culture: When management feel their efforts to move the company forward are being de-railed by a lack of real support or cooperation among the employees. Realization that there has to be a better way: When management recognizes they no longer could or should carry the entire burden of responsibility for the companys success or failure on their shoulders alone.

Belief that you get what you give: When management believes employees respond to a good work environment, challenging opportunities and an equitable compensation program by being more productive.

Desire to give something back to the employees: When management wants to reward employees by offering them a share in the companys financial success and by providing them with opportunities to further their careers.

Many MBA companies appear to have been relatively enlightened in their management practices prior to adopting MBA but, for a variety of reasons, failed to tap the full potential of their organizations capabilities. Its the integration of the various management practices or components of the MBA system and the discipline demanded by the system that has the power to bring about the culture of ownership and enhanced performance.

The Value of an MBA

In difficult economic times, going back to school to build new skills -- and make yourself more attractive to future employers -- becomes extremely popular, even for people with full-time jobs. MBAs are especially popular since the degree is usually meant to prepare someone for more advanced, leadership roles in business (or even government). But is an MBA degree worth the extra years of schooling -- especially when you could be spending that time working full-time? At first glance, the numbers indicate that the answer is a definite yes. A recent survey of accounting/financial workers of varying skill and seniority levels found that CFOs without a degree had an average salary of only $38,920, those with a Bachelors Degree earned $88,836, and MBAs earned an average of $104,284. The return on investment for an MBA certainly seems worthwhile.
Factors to Keep in Mind

There are some other factors to consider, though. For instance, nearly any advanced degree will earn you more money over the long haul -- MBAs are not unique in that regard. So the question then becomes whether an MBA is the degree you really need. Perhaps your skills and goals would be better served by earning a CPA or just a financial planning certification. Money isn't everything -- first and foremost, look at the skills you want to develop and the career goals you've set. Another thing to remember is that the salary figures quoted above are fairly flexible and can vary widely based on a number of factors. For instance, the type of work you're going into can make a huge difference; consulting jobs will often pay more than finance/accounting jobs, though each could have a different compensation/bonus structure. Your previous experience also speaks volumes. If you're fresh out of business school and go hunting for an investment banking job after years in a marketing firm, odds are good that your starting salary will be much lower than someone with greater comparable experience.
A Mountain of MBA Potential

The numbers are still very persuasive. Statistics from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (the folks who administer the GMAT) indicate that in many cases someone's pre- and post-MBA salary can jump 50% or more. For example, someone working in marketing making an average of $42,000 before getting their MBA can make an average of $80,000 after receiving their degree. That's nearly doubling your money! An MBA may not be equivalent to a lottery ticket, but the odds are good that your earnings will increase after earning your degree -- making those extra years of school worthwhile. Just be sure that you're pursuing the right degree for the right reasons and, of course, good luck with that graduate school application! The MBA is a challenging study program for the following reasons:

There is a great deal of interesting material to absorb An intense study format and An experienced and international body of motivated MBA students

The Benefits of an MBA Degree

The MBA Studies format is demanding whether you choose full time or part time. A solid preparation to each class session and class participation are strategically important as amazing amount of material is covered during each day. Teaching sessions are extremely interactive; the diversified work experience and creativity are highly valued during in-class discussions. Professional and active attitude are expected as well within teamwork sessions. For the same reasons the MBA Programme is hands-on and well in touch with the real business world. All these add to the value and quality of the Programme. And this is why it is important to try to grab the experience others are offering; equally crucial is to forward your work experience to others. Your time spent at an MBA School will become your competitive advantage strategically and in financial terms, sooner or later. During the MBA Studies you and your colleagues form bonds that will most probably stay forever, the outcome being, on top of everything else: "speaking the same language". This network will be fruitful throughout your working life and beyond, and often you will find your colleagues from the least expected corners of the world. I must admit that I have only been able to fully appreciate the advantages of my MBA Studies years after my graduation; after various jobs and positions held I could fully put into practice what I had learned. I also often received help and given a helping hand to many of my MBA ex-colleagues. Your motivation is the professional business environment, the speed with which you absorb new things, and the creativity surrounding you. If you choose the innovative school that follows the needs of the market with respect to effective business operations (for example e-commerce, telecommunications), you will learn even more and really feel at the top of the technological developments. Anyway, what you really learn during your MBA studies is time management and prioritizing. What you should know already before coming to study an MBA, is that quality is strategically important in business life and beyond.

A Distance Learning MBA Makes You Marketable

One of the main rules of the job search is that you must be able to market yourself. Employers need to see what puts you a cut above the rest of the job-seekers who are vying for the same position. They want to know what makes you viable and unique. If you want to know what makes you invaluable to an employer, you may consider getting a distance learning MBA. It is always good to know a little bit about everything. However, it can be much more advantageous to know a great deal about one thing your discipline. A distance learning MBA helps you to become an expert in your line of work. It makes you more valuable to businesses. You can stay ahead in the corporate world by earning a distance learning MBA through learning new business procedures and methods. The knowledge you acquire through an online masters program can be applied to decisions that need to be made on your job and in everyday life. You will become equipped with tools that lead to better corporate strategies, decision-making, and policies. When you use these tools on the job, you will impact your entire work environment with your knowledge. The advancement opportunities are tremendous for those with advanced degrees like a distance learning MBA. Investing in your career could lead to raises and promotions. With your expertise, you will be eligible to climb higher up the corporate ladder. Most managers, top executives, and CEOs have reached those positions because they have attained sophisticated degrees in their line of work. They steadily rose from an entry-level employee. Each subsequent step led to higher and higher ranks within the company until they finally reached the height of their careers. Yet, moving up the corporate ladder is not your only option when moving ahead in the workforce. Many people become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses. The knowledge that you gain from pursuing a masters degree is focused and in-depth. Many people take this knowledge and start their own careers from the ground up. This gives them the freedom to do something they love and work for themselves at their own pace. An enormous benefit of earning a distance learning MBA is that you can tailor the curriculum to fit your specific needs. You can choose which courses you want to take so that you can enhance your educational experience. You select courses that apply specifically to your current occupation or a profession that you would like in the future. The program allows you a flexibility that you otherwise might not obtain from a traditional college curriculum. The courses are taught by professors who have similar experience in your field. Many of these

instructors have already published books that have received exceptional reviews. These books are based on their own success stories in the corporate world. The techniques and strategies they teach have been proven to work and have lead to new business theories and organizational change. Impress your prospective employers with a distance learning MBA. It will put you on the cutting edge of the business market and a step ahead of the competition.