Sign up with GoogleThere is a article about doing a MBA on moneyweb,From about a week ago.As a old matie ,yes UCT does seem to have a good MBA but then again most of Sa's top richest people went to Stellenbosch and dont have MBA's except Koos Bekker.To me all depends if you want to climb the corporate ladder or be a true entrpreneur!
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MBA, UCT or Stellenbosch?, Is it worth it?, Is there demand in job market? Salary?
- Thread starter FibreOptic
- Start date
jambai, I'm currently reading the article on Stellenbuks in the finweek, yes they all come from Stellies but those are more entrepeneurs and visionaries.
if you are just an average joe which I'm guessing we are then it is no point looking to those people for inspiration. Its similiar to my argument about how to determine if you are genius "if you are going to varsity you are not a genius" so in a similiar vein if you are considering an MBA it most likely means you will never be one of those billionaires that came out of Stellies but that doesn't mean it won't benefit you (over and above the cost of obtaining it).
if you are just an average joe which I'm guessing we are then it is no point looking to those people for inspiration. Its similiar to my argument about how to determine if you are genius "if you are going to varsity you are not a genius" so in a similiar vein if you are considering an MBA it most likely means you will never be one of those billionaires that came out of Stellies but that doesn't mean it won't benefit you (over and above the cost of obtaining it).
@FibreOptic Before you even think of doing a MBA, decide what you want to do in your career. There is a huge illusion that a person will make millions if they have a MBA. If money is your primary driver to do a MBA, don't do it. You will be disappointed. If you do it to further a career into either consulting, management or start your own business, it might be worthwhile. A MBA is an extension of your primary degree, not a new degree.
Before even going for the MBA, ask the question, where do you want to go to in the next 10 years. Do you want to be a specialist or generalist. Or a bit of both.
Regarding the benefit of a MBA. You are taught a little about everything in business. I did mine because the role I was in required me to understand all aspects of corporate business, from HR to Strategy. I did mine purely for the knowledge.
The unintended benefits of my MBA was not job related. I was able to become a part-time lecturer, which is one of my passions and also start a business on the sideline.
EDIT: Forgot to mention. To try to connect an institution to the success of a person (e.g. Koos Bekker). Most of the time, it isn't the degree that makes someone successful, it is the person, who they associate with and a bit of luck.
Before even going for the MBA, ask the question, where do you want to go to in the next 10 years. Do you want to be a specialist or generalist. Or a bit of both.
Regarding the benefit of a MBA. You are taught a little about everything in business. I did mine because the role I was in required me to understand all aspects of corporate business, from HR to Strategy. I did mine purely for the knowledge.
The unintended benefits of my MBA was not job related. I was able to become a part-time lecturer, which is one of my passions and also start a business on the sideline.
EDIT: Forgot to mention. To try to connect an institution to the success of a person (e.g. Koos Bekker). Most of the time, it isn't the degree that makes someone successful, it is the person, who they associate with and a bit of luck.
Just finishing an MBA at UCT this year, an this is my take.
I have been running my own companies since 2000 so my interest in an MBA was from a self development point of view. I choose UCT because of the FM rankings and previous colleagues that had attended, I also have colleagues at USB.
Salary.. Getting an MBA lines you up from a pretty decent salary from my class mates and the job centre around the 1 bar mark. Things you must be prepared for.. these salaries are normally for international positions and for corporate climbers.
In terms of development I have about 15 business experience (2 X failed and 2 Successful) and I would say the MBA opened up my eyes to trends in the SME makes that I was oblivious to and would have probably taken a long time to recognize.
The class size is important most of you learning will be from you peers, the more the better.. spending time with many passionate individuals will change your mindset.
I Recommend sitting down with a previous student from your prospective course and finding out what the input is... UCT is about 1600 hours over 2 years, you can get by on much less, but that depends on your goals.
Bottom line for is.. it was one of the hardest experiences of my life, but probably the most rewarding.
I have been running my own companies since 2000 so my interest in an MBA was from a self development point of view. I choose UCT because of the FM rankings and previous colleagues that had attended, I also have colleagues at USB.
Salary.. Getting an MBA lines you up from a pretty decent salary from my class mates and the job centre around the 1 bar mark. Things you must be prepared for.. these salaries are normally for international positions and for corporate climbers.
In terms of development I have about 15 business experience (2 X failed and 2 Successful) and I would say the MBA opened up my eyes to trends in the SME makes that I was oblivious to and would have probably taken a long time to recognize.
The class size is important most of you learning will be from you peers, the more the better.. spending time with many passionate individuals will change your mindset.
I Recommend sitting down with a previous student from your prospective course and finding out what the input is... UCT is about 1600 hours over 2 years, you can get by on much less, but that depends on your goals.
Bottom line for is.. it was one of the hardest experiences of my life, but probably the most rewarding.
FibreOptic
Well-Known Member
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So according to your knowledge regarding the Corporate Climbers, how is the demand and employment opportunites for MBA graduates in the Cape Town area compared to to say Joburg and are there actually Local companies that are actively head-hunting MBA graduates?
OMB
Mountain Man
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usually your big consultancies look for MBA grads, it's less of a prerequisite for corporates although many of them are happy to sponsor employees who wish to attain one, just go and look at positions advertised at senior management level on career junction or some of the other recruitment sites and see how many of them specify an MBA (not many)
For MBA Grad's there are job offer's left right and centre, but you have to know what you are in for and what you want to do most of them are with consulting companies and for most MBA grade after two years of learning, you see the world throught very different eyes,
Most of the University will find you a job is you want one. If you get a first in some of the courses you are pretty much offered a job by the lecturer on the spot.
Most of the University will find you a job is you want one. If you get a first in some of the courses you are pretty much offered a job by the lecturer on the spot.
FibreOptic, if you are in the CBD I can give you my copy of last week's Financial Mail, its cover story is about MBAs in South Africa and it addresses the issues you have raised in this thread.
I'm a bit more protective about my Economist subscription so I'm a bit hesistant to give you the issues that have recently covered MBAs.
I'm a bit more protective about my Economist subscription so I'm a bit hesistant to give you the issues that have recently covered MBAs.
Lol, I am still freeloading on the UCT GSB's Library, next year I will have to pay my own way.
https://www.saica.co.za/News/NewsAr...d/695/itemid/2916/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Become a CA if you want to be the bigshot
Become a CA if you want to be the bigshot
https://www.saica.co.za/News/NewsAr...d/695/itemid/2916/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Become a CA if you want to be the bigshot
hmmmm, in my personal opinion I would rather study Economics, than CA..
from the perspective of a would-be entrepreneur, I've asked myself about the value of doing an MBA. For me I personally think I'd only consider the GIBS MBA, but I'm more interested in the trade-off with the cost. It costs around R140K+ depending on where you go. Is it really worthwhile putting that into an MBA as opposed to into your own business? Personally, I'm thinking the latter if you want to be an entrepreneur. I don't think it would hurt having it at all, but I think you can put the money and time to better use sooner.
I have known people with MBA's who are "Senior Business Analysts", and "Architechts" and I have seldom been able to really differentiate between them and other people in similair roles who dont have MBA's. I guess thats because the MBA isn't focussed on either of those roles too greatly, which I think does demonstrate that for most people, it seems like a fashionable thing to do and be able to put after your name.
I have known people with MBA's who are "Senior Business Analysts", and "Architechts" and I have seldom been able to really differentiate between them and other people in similair roles who dont have MBA's. I guess thats because the MBA isn't focussed on either of those roles too greatly, which I think does demonstrate that for most people, it seems like a fashionable thing to do and be able to put after your name.
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From an entrepreneurial point of view, I can only comment on the UCT program, but the focus in very much on emerging markets and innovation.(checkout workshop 17, R. A Centre) and while the there is a focus on culture and big business finance. Many of the candidates are starting new venture and there are electives dedicated to it.. from sources of finance, to pitching to investors, to business plan writing.
To me the most important part of the MBA was it changed the way I thought and my perception of values creation and measurement, while at the same time force me to view the world on a more global scale.
I think the question is not which to finance for me its a no brainer - MBA. The question do you have the time for an MBA and a successful start up, because both individual demand huge amounts of time. it is doable but I wouldn't advise it.
My schedule (Monday to Friday)
05:30 - 16:30 - Work( own business)
17:00 - 20:00 - Time with Wife, kids, dinner
20:00 - 22:00 - Reading, Projects, MBA
Sat
08:00 - 17:00 - Reading, Projects, MBA
Sun
Family Day
This does not include crunch time which always adds some all nighters... you will notice that there is not social time in there.. your friends will hate you
As I said, it gives you a nice framework to make strategic decisions in an uncertain world. But if you already are making sound strategic decisions then it is not really necessary to formaly recognise this ability in a degree.
GIBS Entrepreneurial MBA is a good one, but you have to do it full time. I would recommend the modular, but be prepared to eat, sleep and breath MBA. Regarding the differentiation, on an analyst level, not that much, but if you decide to go into strategy and/or business architecture, it benefits you a lot.
When I did my MBA, what I observed is the people that do it purely for a salary increase or for the 'fad' of it. They were the people complaining the most, did the least amount of work and some of them didn't even complete it. The people that was dedicated in improving themselves were the people that did really well.
this is an article I think I may have read in which I referred to earlier
http://www.economist.com/news/brief...management?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/pe/changemanagement
http://www.economist.com/news/brief...management?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/pe/changemanagement
HavocXphere
Honorary Master
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How so? Don't get me wrong - economics is cool, but it never struck me as a particularly useful direction in practice. It seems a little too fuzzy to me to be of any real world consequence.
the CEO of FNB is an economist, Mbeki is an Economist, Wenger is an economist and I can mention other economists as well
economics is probably the most useful direction in practice since it equips you with the necessary skills to make real life decisions in an uncertain environment.
https://www.saica.co.za/News/NewsAr...d/695/itemid/2916/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Become a CA if you want to be the bigshot
A CA qualification is a very good one to have BUT this does not really give you a free pass.... neither does anything else. If you want to become a "Bigshot" you have to commit and have some other driving forces that exceeds the people around you.
Also a bit of luck is needed to make it in the real world.