MBA advice 2

Society Business and Career
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I have been contemplating a career switch for sometime now. I have a BSc in Electrical Engineering, followed by an MS in Computer Engineering and have been working in software development for embedded systems for close to 2.75 years now.

Even though my academic background is all technology oriented and I am doing pretty good in my current job, I dont see myself working in this field for the rest of my life. I am not passionate about technological innovations and I am the first one to cover my ears whenever someone mentions a new programming trick that might help save us a few clock cycles for the processor.

I have seriously thought about getting an MBA. I understand that there are plenty of concentrations to choose from for the MBA (Accounting, Finance, Stretegic Management, Operations Management, Project Management, Global Supply Chain Management, Management Information Systems etc.).

However, I ask those who are in the know: Which one of these is a good choice(career-wise) for someone with my kinda background (Engineering, Software)? I am not in the US currently, however, that is where I intend to get my MBA from. (UK/Canada are also a possibility)

Secondly, what is Analytical Consulting?

Thanks.

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Re: MBA advice 2

Advice has been great so far. However, I am still one short on the count. Who is willing to cast the last stone?

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Re: MBA advice 2

Hi Scratch,

The concentrations that you’ve mentioned are the long-established conventional ones offered by most business schools, but depending on your short-list, there may be others that may be more suitable. A lot of schools offer “Management of Innovation”, “Technology Entrepreneurship” etc. and these may prove to be a good synergy with your academic and professional background.

From the more contemporary ones, I would suggest project management and/or Operations Management, but then again, you’d still be working in the same organizational context… just at a more elevated level, and from what it sounds like – you’re not too keen to do so - ??

I for one, completed my MBA in somewhat of a related field as my Bachelors, but I wanted to move away from the tactical and operational details of software engineering (my undergrad degree and pre-MBA experience) towards business analysis and consulting. Hence, I opted to pursue MIS as the main stream in MBA and specialized in e-Business and Knowledge Management.

One way to look at this is to first evaluate your predilection towards your current work and decide whether you’re interested in pursuing an MBA for:

  1. Adjacencies? – One objective to pursue an MBA could be to reinforce your current professional bearings by adopting a high-level business comprehension of the same decisions that you’re involved in your daily routine. This would mean opting for a major such as “Management of Innovation/Technology” etc.
  2. Complementarities? – An alternate objective for you to pursue an MBA could be to find a specialization that would strengthen your outlook through a perspective other than the purely technical. I see Finance as one option because you can help devise business plans and supplement technical decisions by considering their cost-effectiveness etc.
  3. Scope Expansion? – Finally, you may decide to go for an MBA to move onto a totally different industry or vocation, and specializations such as Accounting, HR, Supply Chain Management etc. would be examples of some potential areas.

Looking at it this way, you’d feel most at home by pursuing an adjacency type specialization, and would have to expend the most effort if you opt for a scope expansion type undertaking.

I don’t know if this makes any sense, but in light of the above, if you can tell us a little more about your objectives, that would help us discuss a little more.

Finally Re: your question about Analytical Consulting... it is one branch of Management Consulting where you'd be involved in business process analysis and financial consulting for projects involving business process reengineering, mergers and acquisitions etc. Typically, analytical consulting involves a lot of quantitative research, data mining, simulation modelling etc.

Hope this helps,
Ciao.

abhee tek nahee ponhcha
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Re: MBA advice 2

Thanks Umar!

My objective is somewhat similar to yours. I want to move away from the technical development's nitty gritty. I have given thought to Project/Operations Management also. However, that is something that wouldn't necessarily require an MBA. If I stay in the field that I am currently in, I suppose I would be doing technical project management in 7 to 10 years time. Moreover, I am not too interested in staying on the technical side too much. It doesn't excite me. So, that rules out what you call adjacencies.

I am biased towards the second option. I have considered Finance too. Good thing is, it has the potential to lead to business and strategic planning (business development ??). This is something that I am interested in over the long haul. This option however gives rise several other questions: What is actual demand for such MBAs in the job market? Lets say I get an MBA from an american university but at that time I would have all of my work experience from outside of US. Where would I be standing at that time in comparison with other job candidates who would US experience combined with US degrees? That is my biggest cause of concern here.

What other career options does an MBA in Finance offers?

Third option seems too risky. It would be difficult starting at zero in a new field. Unless I top the class there (yeah, fat chance!), job search might turn out to be a pretty rough ride.

Grass is greener on the other side? True. But I need a change in direction. Writing networking protocols isn't too exciting after the first couple of years!

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Re: MBA advice 2

Hi Scratch,

I too opted for the least risky route and ended up specializing in e-Business & Knowledge Management, both of which I see as adjacencies. Several of my colleagues however successfully transitioned into alternate fields… a close friend of mine who worked as a technologist in the telecom sector is now in investment banking (majored in finance). If you were considering finance, then business valuation and development for high-tech ventures would most certainly be one area where you can apply your technical know-how.

Other areas that might be possible are corporate finance, investment banking and commercial banking.

Re: prospects after an MBA in the U.S. for you, you’ll certainly face keen competition for jobs because you won’t have work experience in the states… that being said, unlike may other countries, an MBA is still regarded as a premier qualification as long as you can show sufficient work experience… a lot depends upon which school you go to, and finally you can also increase your chances for employment by complementing your degree with industry endorsed qualifications… e.g. an MBA in Finance with a CFA Level I cleared would have a definite advantage over a plain MBA in Finance.

Hope this helps somewhat.

Ciao.

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Re: MBA advice 2

Thanks Umar. Your suggestion about CFA is worth looking into.

I have been looking into other financial programs as well. I found this one offered by Berkeley-Hass.

Master’s in Financial Engineering

What do the guppies think of this program? Anybody who is familiar with this and similar programs, please comment here.

Thanks.

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Re: MBA advice 2

Scratch, work backwards.. what do u want to do mid and long term, then figure out what is the best way to get there.

You have been very clear that you do not want to do what you are doing, but you have not stated is what you want to do.

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Re: MBA advice 2

Scratch, one thing is for sure..you don’t want to commit the same mistake you made earlier i.e. picking up a line which you are not excited about. I’d suggest that you don’t jump into the MBA bandwagon just yet. Time and money are important factors to consider.

I can relate to what you are saying since our educational background is the same..and I was very close to enrolling myself in a full time MBA too, but then it wasn’t for the love of business administration ..it was more out of the boredom of the techie world. What I did was..instead of making a major investment in a ‘degree’..I’ve been doing continuing education courses for the last few yrs..I did accounting, finance, project manage, supply chain mgmt and other business and operations related courses just to figure out what exactly is exciting and rewarding to me. So far I’ve liked Finance with my I.T background. I will continue taking some more courses and get the credits transferred to whichever degree I decide to pursue in the future…A degree is not important since you already have a decent job…what you want is the direction which helps you find your talent.

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Re: MBA advice 2

I agree with what both whay Fraudia and Fayz have said… although an MBA is often considered an icon of career advancement and high salaries and for the most part has also become synonymous with postgraduate education in the business sector, before committing yourself to postgraduate study, weigh up the options. Continuing education courses and postgraduate diploma options at various community colleges may well be the way to go if you want to explore other areas before you delve into full time studies again.

That being said, if your objective is really to transition to a new job, or have yourself considered for a job promotion, then a Masters degree is sure to catch the fancy of decision-markers and a demonstration of your knowledge and skills. This is not to say that an MBA is the only masters degree to consider though.

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Fraudia, you are right. But that is part of the problem. I don't have exposure to any field other than purely technical or project management in a technical environment. For example, even though I have an idea about what an Operations Manager or a Brand Manager is supposed to be doing, I can never know the exact details. That's why asked this question here of the experienced bunch.

The best I can do personally while making this decision is to guage my own skills, likes and dislikes at a generic level. For example, I am sure that I don't want a technical position anymore. From my experience on the current job, I would like to get a job that has more interaction with real people instead of the machine talk all day long. I am good with numbers if that counts for anything. On my current job, the couple of times I have been given responsibility of managing a couple engineers through a project or a process, I have enjoyed that and done ok ... and so on and so forth.

Fayz, you are right too. But continuing education courses are not a real option for me here. Firstly, none of the top schools are offering such courses in Lahore. Second and third string good-for-nothing schools welcome you with open arms but they are a waste of time. Secondly, lets say, if I have made up my mind on a career switch ... then would it be wise to be in a state of limbo for too long? I mean baal sufaid ho jaein ge yaar ... aadhi life tou guzaar di ab hor kitna sochein :--)

Umar, I think I am ready to take the plunge. Its not a bandwagon thing. I have been thinking about it for sometime. I skipped it last year to get more experience under my belt; in addition to continue looking for better opportunities in the tech field itself (nothing good came out of it though). My objective is indeed to transition into a new job. You mentioned another interesting point here: alternative Master degrees. What do you have in mind. The link that I posted in my previous post is to a Masters in Financial Engineering degree. Do you advise something similar for someone looking to get into finance?