MBAconnect conducted a survey towards the end of 2011, measuring the impact of the MBA degree on the lives of students and graduates. The resulting report aims to answer the question: 'Should I do an MBA or not?'
Traditionally, business schools and other media have focused only on the impact that the MBA degree has on career and financial remuneration. Although these areas are important, this is only one part of the overall impact of the MBA. An MBA also has a major effect on one’s family, work-life balance, lifestyle, health, as well as psychological intangibles (such as status, confidence, leadership development, etc.). Besides career advancement and remuneration, people should consider all these factors when deciding whether or not to study for an MBA.
This report covers the following areas where the MBA degree has an impact:
Subjective Value
What are the main reasons people do an MBA? And did the MBA meet expectations in these areas? In retrospect, did graduates make the right choice to study an MBA?
Career
Did the MBA have an impact on graduate’s careers (in terms of promotion, changing industries, mobility)?
Personal Life
How did the MBA impact areas of students’ personal lives (e.g. relationships, health, etc.) while studying?
Network
Did the MBA network help graduates in their post-MBA endeavours (e.g. jobs, business opportunities)?
Financial Impact
How has the MBA contributed to graduates’ salary progression? Is there a positive ROI on the MBA degree?
Outlook on Life
Has the MBA changed the individual’s world-view? And has it changed their view of their own potential?
Alumni Management
How important and effective are alumni management activities? The primary aim of the research is to provide a holistic and well-balanced view of MBA students’ and graduates’ perceptions of the overall value and impact of the MBA degree.
The perceptions of the students and alumni, different according to business school and based on the different variables assessed, are also explored. After reading this report, the reader should be able to make a fully informed assessment of whether or not do an MBA, incorporating all the factors that might affect that decision. The reader would also be in a position to assess which of the accredited South African business schools are strongest in those areas of greatest importance to the reader (based on the perceptions of the MBA students that actually studied there).
The full report can be downloaded
here.
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