The Changing Face of MBA

Large Corporations and businesses of all sizes have traditionally looked to top MBA graduates to help increase their productivity, efficiency and most importantly their bottom line. Likewise students have pursued an MBA degree to help them launch careers that will move them up the corporate ladder with healthy financial rewards. In recent years however business schools have come to realize that a new generation of MBA hopefuls has a somewhat different view of corporate success.  While growing a company and maintaining the bottom line is still essential, the question of corporate responsibility has become a high priority. With both the economy and the environment on the minds of most, change in both these areas has been inevitable for some time.

More and more the average citizen is looking at what companies are doing to give back to communities, how they are reducing their carbon footprint and are increasingly supporting those that show a commitment to social responsibility. A growing number of groups have begun holding serious discussions with top business schools to discuss how they can incorporate such topics as responsible and sustainable business within their MBA programs. The philosophy is that placing a priority on social and environmental responsibility is where true and sustainable growth will occur in the business world. Ten of the top business schools that offer MBA degrees that advocate corporate social responsibility are:

• Thunderbird School of Global Management
• University of Notre Dame – Mendoza
• University

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Understanding College Accreditation

A great deal of work goes into choosing the right business school and the best MBA program that will help you achieve your academic and career goals. Unless you are lucky (and financially solvent) enough to be accepted into Harvard or another top internationally recognized business school, the school’s accreditation should be your top priority. For any college to simply state that they are accredited by “such and such” accrediting agency is not a guarantee that your MBA degree will be accepted by the industry you are planning to forge a career in. There are a number of colleges and business schools that successfully form a separate entity calling themselves an accrediting agency for the purpose of being able to include an “accrediting seal” in order to enhance the reputation of their own school. There are however specific steps that everyone can take to ensure that the accreditation of a particular college adheres to regional, national or international standards. Along with the suggestions that follow, it is always a good idea to speak to reputable companies in your field of study and inquire about which colleges and MBA programs they recognize and hire from.

Firstly, accreditation is the method of measuring whether or not higher education schools and colleges adhere to established standards in order to ensure that the facility is delivering a high quality education to its students.  In most cases this is carried out through a peer review process which typically includes faculty from…

Attending business school to earn an MBA degree is not a decision most people come by lightly. There are many important factors to consider even before you begin to search for the right business school such as:

• What field of work do I see myself in?
• Is there a specific type of company that I want to work for?
• What do I plan to do with my MBA degree?
• Am I able to attend a full-time MBA traditional program or is an online MBA program best?

Once you have answered these questions, you can begin looking for schools that offer MBA programs in your field of study. Many top business schools now provide a variety of study methods including full or part-time programs as well as options for online MBA programs. There are also a number of different MBA degrees available depending on your level of work experience and whether or not you will be attending full or part-time. Some of these choices are one-year or two-year MBA programs, Executive MBA and online or distance education MBA programs.

Business school tuition is another major factor that must be carefully examined since, in most cases, MBA student loans will probably be required to complete your degree. Always check the student financial department of any school you are considering as well as government student loans, grants or bursaries you might be eligible for. You should attempt to come up with a maximum dollar amount that you are prepared to…

Mapping one’s career path should be an ongoing exercise for all MBA Online students as well as for MBA professionals within the work force. For those who are currently attending business school, there are a variety of resources that students can take advantage of. All top business schools make available career development services such as workshops, career development fairs and conferences, guest speakers from the business community, etc. Of course recruitment and internship programs are also valuable tools in mapping ones career. The career resource centre in most business schools also offer help by connecting students with specific companies, alumni as well as current leaders in the business world. Alumni associations can be an excellent avenue for getting your name out to a wide variety of companies that are currently hiring or may be in the near future. Their websites generally allow one to post resumes or feature job postings. Many alumni associations also hold reunions and events throughout the year like golf tournaments, meetings, etc., that provide great networking opportunities. Online MBA Programs professional associations are another excellent resource for connecting with other MBA’s and usually provide job postings as well as the ability to post your resume. They also hold events at various business schools, sponsor symposiums and organize job fairs.

As an MBA student, it is crucial to avail yourself of all networking opportunities that business schools, alumni and professional associations have to offer. Many of the people you meet and business contacts you make…

Regardless of what field you chose to specialize in to get your MBA degree, once out in the real world you will be dealing with clients in one way or another. It makes no difference whether you are an entrepreneur, work for a large international corporation or a non profit organization, some type of product or service is being offered and you must convince the public to buy into that idea, product or service. In order to do this successfully one must understand consumer behaviour while growing the business or at the very least maintaining the stability and viability of the company. Anyone who has an MBA Online Degree will have learned the three basic questions that consumers ask themselves (consciously or subconsciously) when they are considering a purchase.

These are:

• Is this product or service something that I need?
• Do I like or feel good about this product or service?
• Is it good value for my money and can I afford it?

The best academics in the world have devoted a great deal of time in designing very specific and specialized programs in top business schools to understand the different behaviours of consumers in various cultures around the world. However, there are those who contend that once a person understands what is behind the three key elements involved in a purchase, where the transaction takes place is irrelevant.

Let’s first look at what part of us asks (and answers) each of these questions. The first question…

Aside from the obvious implied meaning of “experience”, what does Experiential Learning mean and how does it apply when choosing a business school for your MBA Online? In its most basic concept, Experiential Learning is gaining knowledge through direct experience. To quote from Aristotle, “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”

The same is true when researching the various philosophies and teaching methods of Online MBA programs in that you want to make certain that whatever business school you ultimately attend, there will be ample opportunity for internships or direct experience in working with or for business in the course of your studies. In this sense all top business schools engage in Experiential Learning practices.

There are however specific criteria that must be followed for true Experiential Learning to take place and which contrasts with didactic or rote methods of learning. An example would be someone who cultivates a piece of land and plants vegetables to learn about gardening rather than reading books about the subject. This method of learning about vegetable gardening did not require a teacher or a classroom nor did it require working in a commercial greenhouse to acquire a new skill set or apply the knowledge learned.

However in order for a person to acquire and absorb real knowledge through direct experience, there are specific elements that must be present such as:

• A genuine desire to be actively engaged in the learning experience

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MBA programs teach us how to succeed in business by applying newly acquired theories and academic knowledge to real life business situations. Our MBA Online studies should also have taught us that it is equally as important to think outside of the box by understanding what consumers want and then implementing innovative ways of filling those needs. With enrollments in MBA programs experiencing a decline due to the recent economic climate, business schools have had to take a closer look at what their customers, the students, want. After all, colleges and universities are in the business of filling classrooms in order to achieve their bottom line as well. It is no longer enough to simply offer a great MBA program and hope that students will pick them just because of their prestige and reputation.

If business schools expect students to pay tens of thousands of dollars to purchase their product, they must offer incentives that make financial sense to those looking to buy. It’s really no different than say buying a new car. If you just want an inexpensive vehicle to get you from point A to point B, then price and a certain level of reliability will be you top priorities. If, on the other hand someone is looking for a luxury car, they will undoubtedly expect extras to justify the added expense. So what are top business schools prepared to offer MBA students who are in the market to purchase a top of the line education?…

In past articles we have covered the topic of various financing options for students enrolled or enrolling in an MBA program. It was highly recommended that one exhausts all opportunities such as scholarships, bursaries, grants as well as looking into the possibility of research assistantships as a way to cover some of your costs. Of course not all students will be eligible for funds that never have to be paid back and not everyone is going to land an assistantship. When all other resources have either failed or in most cases simply fall drastically short of covering tuition and all other expenses related to getting your MBA Online, student loans is the next step to investigate. Your first choice should always be loans from the federal government as they tend to come with better interest rates and more flexible repayment terms.

Stafford Graduate Loans is good place to begin as these are loans that are guaranteed by the government. They are offered in a number of different ways which will include specific amounts and certain criteria that must be met in order to be eligible. Stafford loans can be either subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized Stafford loans are considerably more difficult to obtain and one must be able to prove extreme financial hardship on their FAFSA application. The federal government assumes the interest payments on the loan and when the loan becomes due, only the principal has to be repaid. The majority of applicants will of course be more…

While most people understand the many advantages of studying online for an MBA Online degree, it is important to explore the disadvantages that studying online can present. As you begin your search, it’s a good idea to keep track of all the pros and cons that will ultimately help you make the decision that is best for you. It is also important that you be completely honest in the self-evaluation process since earning an MBA degree requires a major personal commitment and having the odds stacked against you before you even begin defeats the purpose.

So let’s take a look at some of the disadvantages of enrolling in an online MBA degree.

• Time Management – Are you someone that tends to procrastinate when left on your own? Without specifically scheduled class times, it’s easy to put off the next lesson until later, “when you have more time”. Of course that time will rarely present itself especially if you are juggling family and work commitments.
• Lack of Personal Interaction - Although you will have an opportunity to communicate with professors and other fellow students, this is limited to e-mails and online chats. Many people require that personal interaction to keep them motivated and on track. Since no one is going to notice if you did not attend “class”, it’s easy to let things slip. Getting answers to questions can also prove to be frustrating since you will have to pose them in an e-mail and then wait for

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Business professionals and graduate students alike understand the value of continuing their education to receive their Online MBA Programs. Very often though, the reality is that many people either are not in a position to leave a full time career or simply can not afford to continue on to college after graduate school. Although online study has been around for some time now, there are many who are still leery about the quality of education in an online MBA degree. As we discussed in an earlier article, it is certainly possible to receive a recognized degree through online study providing certain and specific criteria are met. Verifying the program’s and school’s accreditation along with speaking to professionals in the industry will help identify business schools that have a solid reputation.

Providing you have the right character traits and are highly motivated, there are many advantages to enrolling in an online MBA degree. The first and probably most obvious is that you can continue to work and earn a living while studying. This is usually the foremost deciding factor for this method of study. A close second is the ability to continue networking within your field. Building professional relationships is of immense importance and can have a significant bearing on future career opportunities. Other factors on the plus side of online study that should be considered include:

• Applying What You’ve Learned – Studying online gives MBA students a unique opportunity to immediately put into practice the things they

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