[utsav1303]

Originally Posted by bluevolt

I am confused which one to choose from.
PS - I have also appeared for regular MBA entrance exam of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi and result will be out next week. I am confused whether I should be doing regular MBA by leaving my current company in which I have joined recently but couldnt get the profile/domain of my choice,though salary offered by the company is ok when compared to what is mostly offered in service based IT companies.

Symbiosis does offer PGDBA in distance learning which is equivalent to MBA program (even IIMs degree are named as PGDBA). I did my PGDBA in Finance from Symbiosis only.

In addition to it, BITS, PILANI has started offering MBA in WILP (Work Integrated Learning Program). I have completed my M. Tech. in WILP mode this year. The pedagogy is much better compared to Symbiosis.

Apart from the above two, may check out Hughes learning program which offers PG degree and MBA in collaboration with IIMs, IIFT & foreign universities. Here, you might need to attend classes in evening.

Also, you can check MBA program offered by Dayalbagh Educational Institute (deemed University), my alma mater. It is rigorous but learning is immense and equivalent to regular course. Though, you need to check if it does have centre in your city or not?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by bluevolt

Next I checked with IGNOU and got to know that admission in IGNOU MBA requires 3 years of work experience. If someone can please confirm this.

The work experience is required for a very good reason. Please don't try to skirt around it. Full value of MBA can be realised only if it done after few years of work experience. I started after 11 years of work experience, and therefore received maximum benefit from it.

I suggest you wait for few years.

[Dieseltuned]

Guys,

Anybody has idea about the EBS DL ?

I have 8 years of IT experience mainly into s/w testing, so wanted to understand if this would help me in my career growth ?

Regards
Dieseltuned

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

Guys,

Anybody has idea about the EBS DL ?

Please read the thread from the first page, it is not that long.

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

I have 8 years of IT experience mainly into s/w testing, so wanted to understand if this would help me in my career growth ?

If you are planning to stay in IT and get to project management, operations management or even marketing side of it, then I would say definitely yes. The DL option is very useful for people trying to remain in the same domain.

If you want to switch domains and become a financial guy or something like that, then I would a say conditional yes. It will give you the knowledge for it, but not the networking required to enter a field in mid career. But if you already have sufficient networking, it might work for you.

[bluevolt]

Which one to go for - need to make a final call.

Sikkim Manipal university or Amity university for distance MBA degree?

Symbiosis offers diploma instead of degree.

IGNOU - I am having hard time understanding its process.

Also regarding the Amity MBA - they are having two variants in that - a general MBA program in which there will be no specialization electives subjects in 3rd and 4th sem - in 3rd and 4th sem only following subjects are there respectively - Business Policy & Strategic Management and Total Quality Management. Fees for this program is 70k.

In the specialization variant - there are electives subjects including hr, marketing, finance, IT etc. Fees for this program is 1.35 lacs.

I am confused how will be a MBA without a specialization subject!

Sikkim Manipal University offers MBA with specialisation subjects also but the fees is around 70k only like Amity's general MBA sans specialization.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by bluevolt

Symbiosis offers diploma instead of degree.

MBA is always a Post Graduate Diploma. I think even IIMs gives the same degree.

See this: http://www.iimb.ernet.in/programmes

Their main program which we all call the MBA (2 year program) is the PGP program. It gets you the post graduate diploma.

[scorpion_blore]

How is the scope for MBA through distance learning in India currently?

I have 9 years of experience in IT industry, and working as a technical architect in a product based organisation in Bangalore. I have done my BE (B.Tech) via normal course and M.Tech in BITS Pilani via distance learning.
How suitable would an MBA course be for my skillset? What kiind of career options would I be able to pursue further after MBA through distance learning?

Note: Full-time MBA is out of the equation since I'm the only earning member in the family, and it is not feasible to go without pay for 1-2 years.

Thanks in advance for your inputs.

[shifu]

Originally Posted by scorpion_blore

How suitable would an MBA course be for my skillset? What kiind of career options would I be able to pursue further after MBA through distance learning?

I did my MBA through IIM Cal (Executive program in global business management) in 2015 through its distance learning platform. Hence my 2 cents...

- IMHO (please don't mind), you are looking at the question from the wrong direction. You are asking how suitable would a MBA be for your skillset and what career options would you have. Instead, you need to understand what is the career that you want, and would a distance-MBA fit in the scheme of things to help you reach there. For example, if you are looking to get into a different stream altogether (in IT, but say Operations, or Finance, etc), then doing a distance-MBA doesn't help much. If you are already in some kind of managerial role, and you would like to get a holistic idea of how an organization works (say, understand Finance, Marketing, Organization Behavior, etc) then this course will probably help you get insights on how things function in your org.

- In my view, and personal experience - the distance MBA course doesn't help much with actually changing the direction of the career. It provides helpful insights on things that you already know or have experienced. And it gives you a brand (provided you do it from a branded college).

[bluevolt]

Originally Posted by shifu

I did my MBA through IIM Cal (Executive program in global business management) in 2015 through its distance learning platform. Hence my 2 cents...

I would like to know how beneficial these Executive Programs provided by IIMs are? I believe these programs require IIM Calcutta visit twice in the course tenure, rest lectures are delivered through IIM study centres?

Do these programs add advantage to your existing MBA degrees?

[mohansrides]

Greetings BHPians,

I am considering investing in a business education as a mid-career jump start. The whole objective is to add academic creds in business on my resume. After 25 years of working, I have no delusions of becoming a CXO anywhere anytime through this business education. All I am aiming for is continued employment until my kids are independent; which is another 20 years or so.

Moving on to the choices before me; in my mid forties, I have no appetite for hugely expensive full time programs. After much search, I have narrowed down these four choices -

1.) Distance MBA from Narsee Monjee -

Pluses -

• Economical at 1.5 lacs.
• An actual MBA degree at the end of it I think.
• Super flexible with online and recorded lectures and plenty of exam centers; plus flexibility in exam dates.

Minuses -

• NM may not be a great brand. But, people here can educate me if I am wrong.
• Takes a full 2 years in distance mode.

2.) Advanced Programme in Strategic Management for Corporate Leaders (APSMCL) from IIM C

Pluses -

• IIM stamp and brand recognition hopefully. It obviously would not equal in recognition to their regular flagship MBA program which most people do. But, I am hoping that it does add some value in terms of getting new jobs in the market.
• Only 6 months. Super short.

Minuses -

• Uncertainty in industry recognition.
• Relatively expensive at some 5 lacs (including GST and other expenses)
• Requires on campus travel and attendance for about two to three weeks; which will cost time, money and inconvenience.
• No MBA degree or diploma
• No admission to IIM alumni network; only to their executive education network, which frankly isn't the same thing.

3.) Executive Programme in Growth Strategies for Business Leaders (EPGSBL) from IIM C.

Pluses -

• IIM stamp and brand recognition hopefully. It obviously would not equal in recognition to their regular flagship MBA program which most people do. But, I am hoping that it does add some value in terms of getting new jobs in the market.
• 1 year programme. Shorter than NM. But, longer than the other certificate program in option 2.

Minuses -

• Uncertainty in industry recognition.
• More expensive at 6.2 lacs (including GST and other expenses).
• Requires on campus travel and attendance for about two to three weeks; which will cost time, money and inconvenience.
• No MBA degree or diploma. Just a certificate.
• No admission to IIM alumni network; only to their executive education network, which frankly isn't the same thing.

4.) General Management Programme from IIM B.

Pluses -

• IIM stamp and brand recognition hopefully. It obviously would not equal in recognition to their regular flagship MBA program which most people do. But, I am hoping that it does add some value in terms of getting new jobs in the market.
• 10 month programme.
• General Management in the title makes it quite flexible.
• Bangalore is closer to me than Calcutta.

Minuses -

• Uncertainty in industry recognition.
• Most expensive at 8 lacs (including GST and other expenses).
• Requires on campus travel and attendance for about two to three weeks; which will cost time, money and inconvenience.
• No MBA degree or diploma. Just a certificate.
• No admission to IIM alumni network; only to their executive education network, which frankly isn't the same thing.

On the face of it, it looks like NM would be my choice because of its cheaper cost. It is 1/3rd to 1/4th the cost of the IIM programmes and it is an MBA degree while the IIMs are offering only a certificate. NM's less cost would likely translate to a greater ROI.

But, I am also wondering if the IIM certificates would be more valuable in the short and long term. Unfortunately, certificate programs aren't provided full access to the IIM network. Plus, even if certificate program members are allowed full access to the IIM alumni network, there are still the individual biases to overcome. I am sure that there is a fair amount of exclusivity in mindshare reserved for their CAT based MBA students that certificate members would never be able to enjoy.

Would really appreciate some input as to how I should go about making a choice. Looking forward to hearing from members about my blind spots, of which I have many I am sure.

P. S.
Before you ask, let me say that I will likely get no financial help or incentive from my employers to do this. So, it will be out of my pocket only.

P.P.S
There is a fifth choice in distance learning from Symbiosis, Pune. But, I have not listed it here because it would likely be the same brand value as NM (though Symbiosis is cheaper). Plus, I am in Mumbai. So, NM possibly makes more sense between the two. Incidentally, I googled distance MBA Symbiosis and got so many results using the term 'Symbiosis' that I got thoroughly confused as to which one of them is the real Symbiosis. So, dropped it altogether.

Cheers

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by mohansrides

I am considering investing in a business education as a mid-career jump start. The whole objective is to add academic creds in business on my resume. After 25 years of working, I have no delusions of becoming a CXO anywhere anytime through this business education. All I am aiming for is continued employment until my kids are independent; which is another 20 years or so.

You have to ask yourself a question, why are you doing this?

1) Pedigree : You want a stamp of IIM or such institute on resume. I am afraid that may not be available if you take any other route but CAT+PGDBA from IIM. Certificates don't give pedigree. Distance MBA doesn't give pedigree either.

2) Networking: Networking is a door opener. However, that happens by building personal relationships while studying in campus environments. You can't really build lasting relationships in distance learning. Exceptions may exist, but they are not the norm. Just getting login access to some alumni network doesn't mean you have networking. That you can achieve in Linkedin itself. However, since you have worked for 25 years, you already have a network of people who worked with you over the years.

3) Knowledge: If you are seeking knowledge in areas of finance, economics, accounting, HR, marketing, sales, strategic planning, etc., then distance education with good pedagogy will give you that.

When I considered doing MBA at age 32 after 11 years of experience, I chose knowledge since distance MBA was the only option I could take while working full time. I chose EBS-MBA since they didn't have GMAT/TOEFL nonsense, lot cheaper than US B-schools, and they did have a branch in NYC which was 50miles from where I lived. However, Osama demolished the building where the branch office was located just months after I registered. So the next 2 years we had to write exams in different places in NYC. I actually wrote my economics exam right on Wall Street.

I am very glad I chose knowledge, because that has greatly helped me since then. May be because my UG degree was also from a 4th tier college, I never really relied on pedigree or networking in my career. But without knowledge, I would have been lot less effective in my various roles since then.

[mohansrides]

Originally Posted by Samurai

You have to ask yourself a question, why are you doing this?...

Some good points raised. Let me just lay out my thoughts on each of the aspects that you have raised.

• Knowledge - This thread began in 2010; and even at that time, knowledge was pervasive through the internet. Now, 12 years on, the availability of free knowledge has only gotten better. An MBA program does give you a syllabus that organizes the learning pathway. Truth be told, if one had access to that syllabus and readings list, one would not even need to enroll in the program as most materials can be found online for free, or for very little money. So, knowledge alone is NOT the goal for me. I can get that anytime and anywhere if I invest time. Plus with 25 years of work ex, I have quite a bit of knowledge already (albeit with plenty of blind spots).

• Network - Till date, my networks have done absolutely NOTHING for me. For sure I value the people in my network as friends and acquaintances; and we have helped each other a lot in our personal lives. But, as far as professional opportunities go, my networks are as good as that of a fresher out of college - non-existent and useless. Point of fact, I have invested lots of time on Linkedin and have nothing to show for it. Not even one interview in a decade. On top of all that, Linkedin has devolved into a cesspool; but that is a conversation for another time.

• Pedigree - Yes, I am fully aware that only a full-time CAT based MBA from the IIMs carry any weight. But, that train left the station long ago for many of us. It is just not realistic to think that we will be able to get any kind of ROI if we were to go through that rigour again. Also out of the question is to take an year or two off and then spend 15 or 20 lacs in an executive MBA hoping to recoup that money and lost wages down the line. Way too risky for most of us.

• Career - I have read this thread (and other threads) from top to bottom. There are some lovely posts about how one needs to form a vision of the career one wants and then seek choices that will shape that reality. That is a very fine notion. I too subscribed to it at one point. Today, I have no delusions that I control anything in my life. Really the only proof all around us is to reinforce the fact that we control nothing. People who still believe that they determine their lives' trajectories are.. well, they have my admiration. Frankly at this point, I have zero notion of what I want my next job to be. All I know is what money I need for my family. So, if someone were to offer me 50 or 60 LPA to serve as a doorman in their office, I would do it without a second thought.

So, why am I doing this?

Ans: To get a better job and make more money. That is it. I have no notions of having a stellar and storied career. So, the question is within the limited scope of recognition that DL MBAs offer, which would be the best choice if one needed legitimacy of an MBA on one's resume to seek a better job.

P.S.
Not really interested in foreign MBAs. Already have 2 Masters degrees from the US which I would trade in in a heartbeat if I could get back those years for work experience in India. If I had known what I know today, I would have closed my eyes and busted it out to get IIT B.Tech and IIM MBA. Really no other degree is even worth the paper its written on in India. Conversely, those 2 qualifications are so valuable that they will provide the candidate with a perennial umbrella of protection from all sorts of adversities through a 50 year career. I suppose we could debate this point. But, it would be pointless.

[One]

Originally Posted by mohansrides

I am considering investing in a business education as a mid-career jump start. The whole objective is to add academic creds in business on my resume.

Have seen a few people who achieved the latter by investing time/ effort and being sincere which didn't help with the former.

Don't have an opinion on which course to opt for but based on the career stage, would prioritise building a network over anything else. The learning part can happen on the side and in parallel but in a more focused manner as compared to the courses you mentioned. These courses will have content which may not be relevant for what is needed.


Have seen that people (around me) often took the easy route of being holed up in an academic environment thinking learning in a structured environment will significantly bump up the career instead of going out and putting themselves in a non familiar environment (here "easy" does not imply that effort is not needed for studying, it just implies that they did what was the relatively easiest next step instead of the uncomfortable but apt next step).

This is what I would suggest:

1. Build a networking muscle and a (proper) network. You did mention your network didn't help you much but that implies it is not a network, there's a "work" in network which should work for you and you have to in turn work towards it.
2. Build an online reputation for a skill you want to help you with (blogging regularly for 24 months in a focused manner is an example)
3. Focus on learning only those skills which are relevant and the ability to display those via (2.)

All the best

[sushil_n79]

Originally Posted by mohansrides

Greetings BHPians,

I am considering investing in a business education as a mid-career jump start. The whole objective is to add academic creds in business on my resume. After 25 years of working, I have no delusions of becoming a CXO anywhere anytime through this business education. All I am aiming for is continued employment until my kids are independent; which is another 20 years or so.

Moving on to the choices before me; in my mid forties, I have no appetite for hugely expensive full time programs. After much search, I have narrowed down these four choices -

1.) Distance MBA from Narsee Monjee -[indent] Pluses -[list][*]
Cheers

Hi Mohansrides

Good day

First of all Congratulations on taking this decision of adding value to your profile for career progression. I went through the information and was happy to know that at 40+ that we all are in, though it takes effort to focus and study, gaining knowledge is something which is amazing. Coming to distance education, any particular reason why you are looking at Narsee monjee?
Just to share my experience I did my MBA in E business from Annamalai University in 2008. However as I needed something to add value to my profile in the field of instructional design and adult learning theories I found limitation there.
So I decided to start MA in distance education from IGNOU. which is recognized very well. The reason I took this step is because UGC had issued a directive as per which all the universities which were providing PG earlier were supposed to adhere to certain guidelines. Sadly When I checked in 2022 Annamalai university did not meet the criteria Hence did not opt for the same.

So would request you to reconfiorm the same before you go ahead.

If you are interested the PG program is available in online and offline mode. I have opted for online mode for which the admissions close tomorrow which is 9/7/2022. For more information you can visit the website : ignou.ac.in.

Attaching MBA URL for your benefit just in case required.
http://ignou.ac.in/ignou/studentzone...ent/Management

Wish you all the Best. Do let me know if anything else is required.

P.S: This is only my experience that is being shared but not a promotion of the university as per one of the governing rules of team bhp.

regards
Sushil Narayanan

[hothatchaway]

Hi Mohan,

The NM distance program, in practical terms would not be of much value to you. You have loads of work ex and a recruiter will not place much value on a correspondence degree, even if it is an MBA.

For you, at this juncture of your career, the best bet will be a/any program which has solid placement credentials. IIM C offers a PGDM on computer applications IIRC. Check if they offer an executive PGDM, if not full time then at least one with some classroom component. Research the typical class composition/alumni base of that program and check if graduates have been able to land jobs with decent pay. BTW all IIMs award a PG Dip at the end of their programs, even the flagship ones. In the practical world it makes no difference whatsoever. An MBA in a literal sense if awarded only by full fledged universities like DU, CU etc. It is just a technicality. The flagship IIM A course will anyday knock the stuffing out of any MBA anywhere in the world in terms of both rigour and what grads get out of it in their careers.

A left field proposition will be the one year FT MBA at ISB Hyderabad/Mohali. Costs a ton at 40l but do your research and see if you can come out ahead and in what time after getting placed.

B Schools are all about the network and the opportunities that graduates get after passing out. Some of the leading IIMs/XLRI/FMS programs are also bloody gruelling, but that it more for freshers and not so much for experienced folks