Does this make sense- MBA AFTER a PhD in Business?

Randell,

Ask youself this...

Does a brain surgeon have too much education to know which cold medicine you should take?

Was Einstein too educated to be able to show people where the planets lay in the sky?

Is Bill Gates too rich to know that paying $0.50 for a candy bar is better than paying $5,000.00?

If you cannot apply what you know appropriately then either you do not know the subject as well as you think you do or you have not been taught the correct things. A PhD presupposes you understand the lower levels of education and can apply them.

 

Re: Re: Re: Does this make sense- MBA AFTER a PhD in Business?

This is true. I would argue that the quantitative level in finance (financial engineering) is probably higher than most other engineering fields.

The "softer" fields in business are seen as marketing and management etc.

 

I think you can learn some good techniques, but some are more natural at it than others. Like you, I was too demanding in my early days as a manager. I also assumed, incorrectly, that everyone I managed wanted to be managed the way I was managed - which was essentially "just leave me alone, and I'll come see you if I need help." I learned quickly that everyone is different (duh!), and that some want/need reassurance every day.

 

Randell,

You know, I'm getting my Phd at NCU in business as well. My background is an MPA, so I had the same concerns. Thus, I looked into an MBA. I think what I'll do though is get another Masters ina business-related field. A perfect step would be Capella's MS in Organization Management after the NCU PHD, but then I may be biased because I have 12 qtr hours from Capella already, making my journey an easy one.

 

JoAnn,

Quote for the day:

"Leadership is the art of getting somebody to do something you want done because they want to do it."

Don't know who to credit the quote to but day one in the Marines this thought (among others) was beat into us.

As for you being too demanding:

My thoughts:

Leadership is by example not exception. Place the greatest demands on yourself and always remember that nothing gets done without the lowest person on the ladder.

I worked in 4 man teams in the Marines and have never forgotten the benefit of having somebody to count on. Surround yourself with quality people.

Never forget the 7 "P's" and 2 "E's"

Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

Employment and Execution.

Mess up any of these in any environment and something is gonna hit the fan.

Learning management is not as important as not perpetuating bad management (the buck stops here). Once you evolve to management you can make the decision to treat folks as badly as you were or you can effect a change. I have always believed that there are other jobs available and no job is worth me treating people badly because of pressure from above.

My final thought. Always consider how you will be remembered after you leave. Despite making hard unpopular decisions I have always placed the employee and his/her family at the forefront of my concerns. Most jobs were there before us and will be there after, I have always believed that if I take care of people then the job will be taken care of by them. I have seldom been wrong.

 

A PhD is usually specialize din one area, and an MBA in general areas of business.

Secondly, an MBA might be usefull, if you need contacts, as it is a great place.

My friend just got accetpted into Haas (UC Berkley, ranked #1 and #2 depending on the year for MBA's) , the contct also are going to do him well.

 

An MBA from Harvard would certainly be more beneficial than a PhD from NCU or any other low tier university. Harvard MBA's make salaries in the order of 200K, this is a lot more than a typical community college position or low tier university professor salary.

 

I agree with Ian

A degree in the humanities/liberal arts would differentiate you as a scholar and lifelong learner. After a PhD I would say don't specialize further, nobody should really consider you anything less than an expert in business or IT.

I wish a doctorate was not for specialization, but breadth. But alas, that is not the way it works. I plan on transferring my leftover 12 SH in Troy State Intl relations credit to an Excelsior MLS or perhaps AMU poly sci degree after I get my "professional" M Ed degree, the required degree for a fully qualified school teacher or other education professional - where I want to go in a few years after my service to Uncle Sam is over.
The 2nd Masters would be for fun, scholarship, and perhaps adult teaching of some sort (online, CC, extension U, etc.)

 

here's a couple of interesting programs:

http://www.distancelearning.ufl.edu/programs.asp?id=26


Might do this down the road for fun....

 

Again, we agree, this is scary!

 

A doctoral degree in business is supposed to be higher then a masters degree in business. Consequently, I see no need to get a masters degree in your subject area after you have received a doctoral degree in your subject area. In fact, you can teach MBA students if you have a doctoral degree in business. At least in theory you can.

 

I find I often agree with Han and RFValue; however, on this issue I'll have to disagree. Getting an MBA from anywhere after getting a PhD in BA would seem to me to place a conspicuous shadow over your PhD. Why would you want to do this?

 

I don't see a point to get an MBA if you have a PhD. Our point is that the payoff to pursue an MBA from a top university is a lot more than a PhD from NCU. A PhD from NCU would not add too much to your present salary if ones desire is to stay in industry.

On the other hand, some PhDs tend to be very theoretical. I teach MIS, in our department we have people that have a PhD in MIS but have no programming or networking skills since you learn these skills in your undergrad or master's and not in your PhD. Some PhDs concentrate too much on theory and take the basics for granted. It is possible that after getting a PhD, one needs to sit in a basic course in order to able to teach it. This can be the case in MIS because some PhD programs would allow master's graduates from non MIS fields with very little make up course work to write a dissertation. Your dissertation can be non-technical and therefore your lack of non-technical background would not hurt your chances of completing it. Some PhDs in MIS teach web site design and never have taken a programming course or have developed one themselves.

 

I would think that a PhD is specialized, and if you would like the general ALL areas, (like if your phd was in finance, you may not have the knolwedge of the marketing area).

Lastly, I posted here about contacts. That is important too.

Would I do it, no, but does it make sense, perhaps, in the right situation.