MBA for IT professionals

[Leena Sawant]

Hi ,

I am a s/w professional based in Mumbai ,India with 4.6 yrs experience.I want to know whether doing an executive MBA program will be of any help in my career?f yes , then whether to specialize in IT or some other stream like Finance/Operations?I am more interested in technical work rather than Managerial job.Can any1 suggest what is the best move career wise.Thanx in advance.

regards,
Leena

[Mohd Ali Advani]

Try to do MBA in Information Systems.You will have MBA and you are in technical work.

[kayal cox]

I hold a MBA in Information Systems, and I find it of no use to me

In fact, when I was a fresher, all the techie companies rejected me because I was not a pure techie, and all the managerial jobs did not click because I did not have enough knowledge of Finance or Mktg or whatever. I saw myself neither here nor there.

Now, it is different. I work as a techie, and I never have any need to apply any of what I learnt during my MBA in my line of work.
But if you badly want to do an MBA, then specializing in Information Systems is probably the best bet, but I would see it adding value to someone wanting to eventually get onto Project Managerial roles.

Hope this helps!
[ June 07, 2005: Message edited by: kayal cox ]

[soniya saxena]

Leena,
The Indian IT industry as I understand is dominated by service based companies as opposed to product companies. In service based companies, beyond the first few years, I don't see any great value for techy people. If you want to progress in this industry, the trick is to try and move up as quickly as possible in the hierarchy. Which essentially means, you will have to take on leadership/managerial roles. Again, as I understand, after a while in these roles, there comes a point when you cannot move further up unless you have knowledge in finance. I have 8.5 yrs experience and I find myself at this juncture. Hence, I feel that an MBA is important at this point and I am thinking of doing it in finance. And I am thinking distance learning through ICFAI cuz I don't have time to attend even any part-time classes. Would be curious to know what other people feel.

Originally posted by Leena Sawant:
Hi ,

I am a s/w professional based in Mumbai ,India with 4.6 yrs experience.I want to know whether doing an executive MBA program will be of any help in my career?f yes , then whether to specialize in IT or some other stream like Finance/Operations?I am more interested in technical work rather than Managerial job.Can any1 suggest what is the best move career wise.Thanx in advance.

regards,
Leena

[Varun Khanna]

I have often seen freshers doing MBA from biggies institues like IIMs and later finding it tough to get into a Managerial jobs due to lack of experience, and ultimately landing up doing html/jsp programming similar to what any B.Tech./B.E. etc. is doing.
But I feel they will get an advantage may be aftet 10-15 yrs. of experience unless one is determined to be a programmer for rest of his career which is, sadly, pretty tough in Indian IT industry.

IMHO, best option is to go for an MBA after 5+ years of experience and then you can easily enter into the "executive-chain".

But I am not sure which all institues is worth going after 5+ years of experience.
- ISB is the only option that instantly flashes to me, their course structure is good. 1 year course duration is also good. Fees sucks big time.
- IIMs, well after 5+ years of experience go only if you want a brand. Two years is also a big time.
- Executive MBA from IIMs, XLRI ... well I am not sure
- Corrspondence courses from ICFAI, Symbiosis etc. ... do they help?
Can it help you getting into a VP position, which otherwise you
might have missed ?

[soniya saxena]

- ISB is the only option that instantly flashes to me, their course structure is good. 1 year course duration is also good. Fees sucks big time.
I just checked it out and wowwwww ....the fees ....

- Executive MBA from IIMs, XLRI ... well I am not sure
Is their syllabus really comprehensive. I checked out NM and SP Jain and I dont think the syllabus was worth the price.

- Corrspondence courses from ICFAI, Symbiosis etc. ... do they help?
I find the ICFAI syllabus to be pretty comprehensive. With 8.5 yrs experience and being a Project Manager, I don't think I have to be really worried about brand name of the institute. I don't really need to worry abt the institute's placement capabilities since I am already well placed and earning good. What I am looking for is knowledge, and once I have that I don't think there should be a problem rising to a higher position.

This is my current thinking and again I would be interested to know if others think I am right/wrong about my thoughts.

Can it help you getting into a VP position, which otherwise you
might have missed ?
Varun, I would want to know as to what you feel would be a hindrance here.

[Varun Khanna]

- ISB is the only option that instantly flashes to me, their course structure is good. 1 year course duration is also good. Fees sucks big time.
I just checked it out and wowwwww ....the fees ....

---> After listening to what my (ISB graduated) friends have shared, it's worth. They don't emphasize on bookish study. It's nicely designed "interactive" course. IIMs are bookish in my opinion.

- Corrspondence courses from ICFAI, Symbiosis etc. ... do they help?
I find the ICFAI syllabus to be pretty comprehensive. With 8.5 yrs experience and being a Project Manager, I don't think I have to be really worried about brand name of the institute. I don't really need to worry abt the institute's placement capabilities since I am already well placed and earning good. What I am looking for is knowledge, and once I have that I don't think there should be a problem rising to a higher position.

This is my current thinking and again I would be interested to know if others think I am right/wrong about my thoughts.

---> If brand name isn't your criteria, why to go for an correspondance MBA course in India at the first place? Most of the people, I feel, are smart enough to learn on job itself and well if they can't, I doubt an "Indian" correspondance course is gonna help them
I personally feel the need for an MBA just for the sake of brand It will give me a better bargaining power.
A friend of mine,with same experience and making twice the salary, is facing tough time in getting a bride because the company where he is in has just 20 employees He is getting rejected since he isn't the part of Infy/ Tcs brigade. This is just an example of a wide-spreaded mentality.
I am not sure if it's wrong. Perhaps it's debatable.

Can it help you getting into a VP position, which otherwise you
might have missed ?
Varun, I would want to know as to what you feel would be a hindrance here.

--> I guess an extra "enter" key press screwed what I intended What I wrote was " Corrspondence courses from ICFAI, Symbiosis etc. ... do they help? Can it (Corrspondence courses) help you getting into a VP position, which otherwise you might have missed ? "
[ June 08, 2005: Message edited by: Varun Khanna ]

[Anand Rao]

I feel its more valuable to prepare for CFA from CFA Institute(formerly known as AIMR) than doing MBA from ICFAI. It requires 3 yrs investment bank experience.

[Anand Rao]

Oops CFA Institute changed work experience requirement from 3 to 4 years.

[R K Parulekar]

Hi Leena,
What is ur basic qualification ? You said you are interested more in tech work, does it mean writing programmes, designing arch/framework etc..
If yes, then my suggestion is do not do MBA..rather u can do BE ME/M Tech etc along with some cert. cources

I've seen in most of the companies, your growth as a tech expert is not based on degree (may be BE or MSc is enough) rather its based on the depth of knowledge u gain over the period by work experience.
I've seen ppl done BSc or B Com but very good techies are earning and holding better position more than those done ME / M Tech.

Also I find very little growth as a tech expert. As in most of the organization there will be very few members in R&D or Arch design team..

If you really want to go to management side then do MBA. MBA is basically a management of project/people/end user communities etc..

Hope, it will make you clear ..

Ravi...

[Sachin Mehra]

Originally posted by soniya saxena:

- Corrspondence courses from ICFAI, Symbiosis etc. ... do they help?
I find the ICFAI syllabus to be pretty comprehensive. With 8.5 yrs experience and being a Project Manager, I don't think I have to be really worried about brand name of the institute. I don't really need to worry abt the institute's placement capabilities since I am already well placed and earning good. What I am looking for is knowledge, and once I have that I don't think there should be a problem rising to a higher position.

This is my current thinking and again I would be interested to know if others think I am right/wrong about my thoughts.

In my opinion, correspondence courses are no good especially if you are looking to move up in the ladder. I am not sure how many company would value the MBA from distance learning....where everybody can get in. people with close to >7-8 yrs of exp and in services industry are facing this issue. They have moved to PM roles and don't know how to move up. If products companies interest you then one of the alternatives could be to move into a good techy role, earn better than services company and perhaps wld have more challenges
[ June 13, 2005: Message edited by: Sachin Mehra ]

[S.L.Narayanan]

Hi guys

Its a good discussion going on...Let me tell about myself...I am a B.Tech-IT from a good institute and working for a billion $ now as a techie...almost 1 year experience and I am planning to take MBA after completing 3 years here..either in ISB or in abroad...So could anyone tell me which one will be better for me?...Information Systems / Finance... Rightnow my plan is to do MBA-Information Systems because since I worked a s a techie and not as a Project manager or leader...what do u say?

[Manick Batcha]

Does the brand name of the company has any effect on the admission procedure..I have got an offer from a small start up with just only 25 people..so if i want to go for an Mba will it affect my prospectus..I am asking this specifically with regard to US B-schools??
Ranchers what do you feel??

[Leena Sawant]

Hi All,

Sorry for delay in replying.I have done BE in computers & have 4+ yrs experience.As said earlier m more interested in Technical stuff like Designing Architecture n framework.But for better career growth i feel doing an MBA will be a plus.Coz domain expertise adds value to ines profile.Plus will prepare me for a managerial kinda position.i wud like to know whether doing an MBA will be a good idea.If MBA then wat subjects shd i take for specialization.or else shd pursue some technical certification.Thankx in advance.

regds,
Leena

[soniya saxena]

Yes, do your MBA, and do it in Finance.

Originally posted by Leena Sawant:
Hi All,

Sorry for delay in replying.I have done BE in computers & have 4+ yrs experience.As said earlier m more interested in Technical stuff like Designing Architecture n framework.But for better career growth i feel doing an MBA will be a plus.Coz domain expertise adds value to ines profile.Plus will prepare me for a managerial kinda position.i wud like to know whether doing an MBA will be a good idea.If MBA then wat subjects shd i take for specialization.or else shd pursue some technical certification.Thankx in advance.

regds,
Leena

[Arun Prasath]

Did you try to look into M.S. in software systems from BITS, pilani? or some other institutes?
If you are interested in technical stuff, this might be of a great choice.
But I hope this doesnt help you in growing into managerial level. But will help if you want to become a technical architect.

Originally posted by Leena Sawant:
Hi All,

Sorry for delay in replying.I have done BE in computers & have 4+ yrs experience.As said earlier m more interested in Technical stuff like Designing Architecture n framework.But for better career growth i feel doing an MBA will be a plus.Coz domain expertise adds value to ines profile.Plus will prepare me for a managerial kinda position.i wud like to know whether doing an MBA will be a good idea.If MBA then wat subjects shd i take for specialization.or else shd pursue some technical certification.Thankx in advance.

regds,
Leena

[Billy Tsai]

what about doing a Master Of Commerce degree in Information Management after having several years of technical experience?

[soniya saxena]

Originally posted by Sachin Mehra:
If products companies interest you then one of the alternatives could be to move into a good techy role, earn better than services company and perhaps wld have more challenges
Well, I have been in product companies for a major portion of my career, and I have just made the shift to services companies.