MBA India

Once you decide to get an MBA degree, you must begin to get hold of some top listed books for that will sail you through the course. Generally, the full time MBA courses come with certain books that are included in the syllabus and you get them accordingly. Other distant learning courses have their own download material. Still, there are some well known titles suggested by premiere institutions and public figures that cover diverse sections of MBA and could be used for better results.

• Marketing Management by Philip Kotler: One of the most read book in Marketing Management with live situations and simple explanations.
• The Wetfeet Insider Guide to Industries and Careers for MBAs: A great handbook for the aspirants.
• Pepsi to Apple by John Sculley : It is a narration of Sculley’s journey from being the marketing head of Pepsi (A company reverred for its Marketing Prowess which sells sugared coloured water through its marketing strength) to becoming the CEO of Apple Computers (A Leader in PC Technology in the early 80s which demystified computers). You can have a great insight on the traditional and upcoming economic conditions through this one.
• Behind the Arches by John F. Love – The story of McDonalds, the largest fast food chain in the world.
• Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey (Simon & Schuster, 1994 book and video series): Great for effective problem solving.
• Beyond the Myths and Magic of Mentoring by Margot Murray with Marna A. Owen (1991).

Some more books on admission and Best MBA nonfiction and fiction collections:

• How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs by Richard Montauk
• Great Application Essays for Business School by Paul Bodine
• Your MBA Game Plan by Omari Bouknight and Scott Shrum
• The Best Business Schools’ Admissions Secrets by Chioma Isiadinso
• MBA Admissions Strategy by Avi Gordon
• The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt
• Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis
• Monkey Business by John Rolfe
• Ahead of the Curve by Philip Delves Broughton
• Beyond the MBA Hype by Sameer Kamat
• The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
• The Ten-Day MBA by Steven A. Silbiger
• Managers Not MBAs by Henry Mintzberg
• Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter
• Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne

An MBA degree has become a must for better job opportunities. It is the most “sort after” degree and is an essential ingredient for a great career.

Chasing an MBA degree in a normal environment does not create much hassle. But, when the times are not so good, like recession hitting the country and the world around, people tend to think whether choosing an MBA course will be just right for this particular moment or not! But if we do a quick reality check, we might prefer to do this particular course, right away.

All we need to do is accept the reality and believe that good times will certainly return. It can also be considered to fetch an MBA degree during recession as you can completely focus on your studies and gearing up and once the market is up, you will be all ready to soar. By the time you are over with your technical degree, the situation will surely be restructured for better. Companies will again visit your campus with bagful of job opportunities.

Recession may not be the best time for placements but remember that it will not come to a complete stop. Companies will still be coming to look for recruitment, though they will have limited offers.

It is also seen that students opt for shorter and cheaper courses during the bad times. But, we should understand the fact of getting a degree from an accredited university, in any which way!

Best way to be sane during recession would be by focussing on the future. You should also follow the basics despite of the good/bad times. There is never a best time to go for MBA. It only lessens in numbers after recession hit.
It is again a great time to get a study loan with comfortable interest rates. So, you can have an easy funding to your MBA course!

Hence, it is always about how we look at it! MBA during recession could not necessarily be that bad if we handle it well.

One of the fastest growing industries in the world, hospitality and travel & tourism are picking up recruits from various B schools that offer MBA programs in the relevant stream. An MBA program in hospitality and Tourism helps students to understand the basic trade, manage people, operational responsibilities, etc and adds a whole new aspect to your career. These programs create highly talented professionals who could conduct themselves quite responsibly in this world of hospitality. A right kind of foundation helps them to understand the industry needs and in turn deliver effectively.

Generally an MBA course in Hospitality and Tourism takes 2 to 4 years to be completed. One can opt for the Masters program with a bachelor’s degree in any or related field and his/her interest towards the specific area. The course covers following areas:

• Business Communication and Development
• Finance and Economics
• Luxury Services Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Food and Beverage Cost Control
• Front Office Operations
• Purchasing and Inventory Control
• Real Estate Finance and Investments
• Resort Development
• Hospitality Facilities Design
• Housekeeping Management
• Retail and Consumer Behaviour
• Sanitation and Safety

Hotels and restaurant management:

• hospitality management
• international hospitality management
• hotel and catering management

Travel and tourism:

• tourism management
• tourism studies
• travel and tourism

Also there are combined courses that include both the disciplines.

Today most of the institutions provide summer trainings/ on the job trainings around the end of the course that gives industry exposure to the students. The field projects help them to apply their learning to the practical situations under the guidance of their faculty or even managers from the companies.

After the completion of the course in the hospitality and tourism management, you could be employed by Catering Companies, Airlines, Amusement Parks, Cruise Lines, Convention Centers, Associations, Conference Centers, Hotels/Motels/Restaurants, Resorts, Lodging Corporations, Tourism Companies, Country/City Clubs, Bridal Establishments, Special Events/Promoters ,Colleges/Universities, and Travel Agencies. Following could be your positions:

• Banquet Director
• Club Manager
• Catering Director
• Conference Coordinator
• Food/Beverage Manager
• Food Cost Accountant
• Lodging/Resort Manager
• Tourism Director
• Sales Manager
• Event Planner
• Purchasing Agent
• University Food Service Manager

A distant learning course or an online MBA is the perfect choice for the aspirants who wish to pursue higher studies irrespective of their geographical location. Students can also attend their classes according to their comfort.
Most of the accredited universities provide Online MBA, these days. All you need is to pick up a B school, get an online connection at home, choose your specialization and get going. You can choose from the specialties; Finance Planning, Information Technology Management, Human Resources, Marketing and Sales, and many others. All you have to do is do a bit of research on the credibility of the universities offering the courses, since you are opting for a distant learning course, in this case.

Recently, with the use of Web Cameras and Voice chat, it has become far easier and interesting for the candidates as it gives a feel of classroom teaching. There are online tutors to guide you, solve problems and take your tests. In online courses, you also have an opportunity to interact with your fellow students through emails and live chats.
An online MBA course is lot beneficial for those who already have a job and are working full time. They can easily take up an Online Course without making any change to their present jobs. You get a better flexibility in terms of choosing your study time and also, it does not depend on where you are located. Another advantage of online courses is that they are cheaper than the full time courses. And you need not spend money after buying textbooks as most of the study materials are found online or could be downloaded.

With fast moving technology, Online MBA courses have become very popular among people. Especially those, who would like to continue with their present jobs and yet opt for an MBA degree. Online courses also give them a space of their own to maintain sanity at work and studies. It is also great in achieving better results to be exposed to the corporate world and simultaneously learning the theories out of the course.

Can there be a right or perfect age for pursuing an MBA program! Is it really dependant on our age! These questions might have come to the minds of various MBA aspirants and they generally look for a suitable answer to it.

To take or not to take up an MBA course does not necessarily depends on one’s age, rather other factors that influence it. The factors like what exactly do we need out of an MBA course/ the objective, how well are we exposed to the specialization of the course that we intend to choose, what are our long term goals in terms of our career, is it a PhD or an MBA that we are actually looking at etc.

Embarking an MBA degree can happen as early as a fresh graduate (21 to 23 years) where the applicants usually do not have any work experience attached to their CVs. Or, like the basic trend of getting into an MBA program after some job experience, the person could get into the age group of 24 to 30 years. So, opting for a work experience before the MBA program decides on how early or late you become an MBA, which completely depends on the candidate’s will. And there are situations, where an applicant wishes to apply for some other higher studies, before taking a plunge on MBA. That too becomes a factor in an early or late management degree.

It is however, advisable to have a grip of the outside corporate world before you take a dip into this management program called MBA. It makes life easier for the students as they can actually relate to the theories/ management skills taught. It becomes smoother for the person to handle the corporate jolts in an easier and effective way. One can also opt for an executive MBA program in case he wishes to continue his job, especially if he/she is doing it post 24.
There are various specializations to choose from in an MBA program. More than your age, your capability and interest area would help you to understand, which one is going to be the right choice for you.

So, it is not so much about the age than your objectives that pushes you for an MBA degree.

One-Year MBA Program

One-year programs are dramatically different from their two-year counterparts. They usually have very strict prerequisites for either work background or academic training.

One-Year MBA Advantages:

One-year programs offer several advantages, particularly for career enhancers These advantages include the following:

• A very specialized program can make full use of your current career or industry specialty and save your time in completing an MBA.
• You may be able to customize your course work through electives and concentrations, if the program reduces core curriculum requirements rather than elective content in order to decrease the duration of the program.
• Full-time exposure helps to develop a cohesive network of MBA colleagues in your chosen field.

One-Year MBA Limitations:

A one-year MBA program does present some limitations you should consider:

• Internship opportunities are limited because there are no extended breaks between semesters, which could especially hurt career switchers.
• Some employers who require an MBA for career advancement may not consider a one-year program a favorable option for earning the degree.

Two Year MBA Program

Two-year programs are usually four semesters, spread over two academic years, with a three- or four-month break for an internship. The first year includes core courses required of all MBAs. The second year allows for functional specialization.

Two-Year MBA Advantages:

Two-year, full-time programs have several advantages for both career switchers and career enhancers. These programs provide an opportunity to develop knowledge in a specific discipline, leading to new job skills and prospects. You can customize course work through electives and concentrations.

• Two-year programs accept the widest variety of academic backgrounds, usually with the basic requirement that you have an undergraduate degree that meets the business school’s standards (usually, this means a four-year college equivalent).
• In an MBA internship, you can learn and practice new skills and enhance your résumé for post-MBA employment.
• The summer break allows for further networking in the business world.
• You can develop a cohesive network of MBA colleagues, because the entering class takes core courses together.

Two-Year, Full-Time Limitations:

Two-year, full-time programs can be a wonderful experience for people who have well-defined career goals, are ready to spend an extended period of time out of the workforce, and have the resources to pay for such a program. If you do not meet this description, a two-year, full-time program may not be for you. It is a very expensive and time-consuming way to explore what you want to do in the future.

So, depending on the future goals, one has to make a choice between One year or Two year MBA Program.

As you decide to have an MBA degree – a full time Master of Business Administration programme, deciding where to study is mostly the first question in mind. The decision could not be taken lightly or hastily as it will have a major impact on your future.
If we decide on following factors, the BIG question becomes a lot easier to answer.

The Goal

One has to think of a long term goal. Where exactly you want to be in 10years time? Which sector you would prefer to work in? Do you wish to stick to your own city or take that big leap to change your destination or country to achieve bigger heights. Understanding these factors will at least help you in figuring out where you should join.

The Degree

You need to understand the kind of degree the institute will provide. Nowadays there are many different options. You can now choose from two-year MBA programs, one-year MBA programs, Executive MBA programs, part-time MBA programs, and distance education MBA programs. So, choose the right degree and in turn the B School providing it.
Cost
Nowadays, most the the B Schools are very expensive. So, enquire about the fees structure, first and see if you can fit in well in that parameter. Other than Tuition Fees, there are other costs involved too. So, you need to understand the entire Fees Structure well.

Accreditation of the Business School/ Reputation

You must find out if the school is accredited. An accredited school gives a guarantee of a certain quality, brand recognition and programme standard. It later adds a mileage to you CV too.

Information

Personally visit the shortlisted schools and take down necessary information. You could interact with the students/alumni or even management about the institute. Learn about the internship and other programs they offer. Enquire about their infrastructure and training method. Few other information to be taken are to understand value for money, teacher/pupil ratio, quality of faculty, research strength, curriculum strengths and weaknesses, range of electives and employment statistics after the degree. It is very important to know the kind of placement assistance the school will provide.

MBA is the most demanded and recognized degree in the present day competitive world. The high-end competition in the business world is enforcing many students to venture into the huge MBA gateway that offers massive number of lucrative career opportunities.

With this increasing demand, the admission procedures and requirements by business schools have also become competitive. One of the key essentials when gaining acceptance in business schools is the work experience. Studies and researches have proved that a quality experience seems to be a critical factor for the success of any MBA programs. This is mainly because during the work tenure a candidate goes through varied learning environments like interaction with people from different backgrounds and team work. All these add on to the learning ability of the student and also to the overall success of MBA programs.

MBA programs mainly comprise of case studies, group discussions, group assignments, and interactivity with people of different cultures and professional backgrounds. According to B-schools work experience provides individuals an excellent opportunity to work well in teams and demonstrate people’s skills. It also makes an individual aware of the cultural diversity and delivers a vision to win the hard core competition. Furthermore a quality work experience helps to resolve issues effectively, give prompt response, and think out of the box to bring ultimate success.

In the present day there are compulsions and strict policies with regards to getting admissions but still exceptions always rule. But in case when two students with the same graduation degree apply for an admission in a reputed business school there are chances that the one with a good work experience is preferred over the one without any kind of experience. In such cases exceptions are often over ruled.

Going through a job is a simple yet competitive way to adjust all types of situations and deal with all types of individuals irrespective of culture, creed, caste, language, character, and professional backgrounds. This is why management institutes prefer students with a work experience so that they can better behold the learning power in all degree, diploma, and certificate MBA courses.

This post confirms my ownership of the site and that this site adheres to Google AdSense program policies and Terms and Conditions

In today’s world where every sector and every industry faces cut throat competition, MBA entrance examinations and student selection processes are not averse to this. Each institute in India want to select the best of students who are already equipped with some kind of basic skill sets and work experience in the relevant industry. Hence students who have more than a year’s experience are at a gain than the freshers who are just out of college and do not have hands-on industry experience.

Since MBA as a career option itself is highly competitive and greatly value as well, it is wise enough for the college or the institute to select students who have work experience. Most colleges demand students who have the capability and skills to become an asset for the institution rather than a liability for them. Students with relevant industry experience surely become an asset for these MBA schools. However, this surely does not mean that the freshers are a disadvantaged group. Students with excellent academic record, entrance exam scores, group discussion and interview points are surely selected over a student having work experience but low entrance exam scores and poor academic record.

Hence to show competency in two or three evaluation criteria is an absolute necessity to be able to be selected for the course.
For specialized courses like executive MBA which is just meant for working executives, prior relevant work experience is at least three years. Here a student cannot get entry to the course if he or she does not have a minimum of three year work experience. Some institutes now-a-days also allow a two year work experience as well. Executive MBAs are spread over a year’s duration.