small business professionals and the MBA

If you've worked for small to medium-sized businesses all of your career, what would you really get out of an MBA?

The more important skills such as marketing, accounting/bookkeeping, leadership...seem to be second nature to most people who lead or help lead small businesses.

I have never worked for a large company and so I have worn many hats. I don't see the utility of the MBA except as a resume bullet.

Just asking. Maybe I missed something. MBA's just seem like fluff compared to real life.

 

You will find some MBAs that will have new venture and entreprenuership components to it. This may be of help if you will ever go out on your own or partener with someone else to do the same.

Also, it may help you move over to a larger company if you ever chose to do that.

 

I have just read a comment by Professor Bob Jensen the Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Professor of Business at Trinity University
San Antonio wherein he said "...MBA programs are already analogous to the "90 Day Wonder" program the army used in World War II to create military officers in a 90 day cram program...MBAs without former undergraduate business degrees are the equivalent of 90-Day Wonders..."

His web page at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/ is well worth the visit.

 

Earning a higher degree now might prove to be of use later in your life. There are obvious reasons like you may be forced into a job change, or you may want to do part time teaching at a CC, I have found that a higher degree helps after retirement, in getting accepted for volunteer jobs at museums and sporting events. If you ever run for a political office a RA or DETC MBA could be an advantage.

If you feel you already have knowledge equivalent to an MBA then perhaps your best approach is to pursue the Excelsior or Edinburgh MBA.

Or maybe another graduate degree might fit your situation better.

 

Depends. There are programs that are clearly worth the time and expense. Useful analytical and synthetical methodologies you won't learn in large or small companies.

E.g. The MIT/Sloan program teaches Systems Dynamics. A mental model that helps you understand and solve very difficult problems. Applies to medicine, literature, biology, mathematics, organizations, etc.

E.g. The HBS program teaches SVA. A decomposition process that identifies defects in the performance anatomy of a business and guides the user to non-linear solutions that have no proximity in time or space to the problem.

E.g. Wharton (Ackoff) started the whole Systems Thinking approach. How do you take data and go to information to knowledge to wisdom.

Don't casually dismiss the MBA. A Sloan student would say you have a committment to a paradigm that limits growth: "I know what I'm doing." A Wharton student would say you are trying to answer the "Why?" question (wisdom) by seeking "what, when, who, where" (information).

Clear as mud?

 

Okay, points well taken.

Now...

which combination has more utility for a small business person:

• JD + MBA
• JD + CPA
• MBA + BS Comp Sci/Engineering
• MBA + CPA
  

These options are for a person in their late thirties/early forties, plenty of free time, no children, can move across the country at the drop of a hat.

Assume the person has 10 years of small business experience in software development and has an interest in building their own business on their own intellectual property/product.

The CPA is included because I'm thinking maybe, just maybe, accounting is a better body of knowledge for a small business person than generic MBA knowledge. Maybe.

The JD is included as support for intellectual property issues that will inevitably come up.

Of course, one could and should hire for these specialties for one's own business, but if you were just thrown this knowledge on a silver platter...

 

I would definately think that an MBA with New Venture Managment or entreprenuership would be extremely helpful.

I would also consider DBA over a JD.

I can't see having that much Law knowledge helping in business unless your business is specializing in Law somehow.

With a DBA you can have plenty of research (this could include market research) in your field. I don't think it is something that is really needed but, if you feel strong about continuing I would take advantage of it by going deeper in your field.

 

Based on my experience in the software business, I would rather hire qualified people with regard to legal and accounting issues. Become familiar with what they do, but let the experts be the experts. That's why they get paid hundreds of dollars an hour for just thinking about us.

 

What about preparing for the end of a software career?

Wouldn't you rather hire a JD or CPA with software business experience?

 

Why would anyone even consider leaving such a low stress environment? Long hours, high risk, always looking over your shoulder for the next 22-year old genius who will work for pizza and a place to lay a sleeping bag?

If you are planning to leave the business, there will always be the need for qualified legal representation. Having someone who has the software experience would certainly be an asset. The above mentioned 22-year may get made and try to walk off with some if not all of someone's source code.

Kevin

p.s. A JD is in my long term plans. I just haven't figured out a good path to qualify for the bar exam in my state. (Using DL, of course)