Comments on: The obsession of Indians with the MBA degree http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417 Indian startups | Entrepreneurship | India Internet Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:59:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jameel Iqbal http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19406 Jameel Iqbal Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:18:16 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19406 If not from salary, they definately look forward for the dowry it is able to fetch If not from salary, they definately look forward for the dowry it is able to fetch

]]> By: sushant http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19322 sushant Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:56:43 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19322 totally agree with you.The way a person writes speaks loads about his/her personality.We Indians think that to write and speak in slang is the "American" way, but little do we know that Americans only when writing do not write in slang language.So called advancement in India is all trash.And also i agree with the fact that Indian B-schools have a misguided approach taking in freshers each year rather than experienced candidates.Getting to know how business is done real time is a different experience .US Schools have a minimum range of 4-5 years when accepting a candidate.Our policy is still 40 years old and shows in the way business is done in India. totally agree with you.The way a person writes speaks loads about his/her personality.We Indians think that to write and speak in slang is the “American” way, but little do we know that Americans only when writing do not write in slang language.So called advancement in India is all trash.And also i agree with the fact that Indian B-schools have a misguided approach taking in freshers each year rather than experienced candidates.Getting to know how business is done real time is a different experience .US Schools have a minimum range of 4-5 years when accepting a candidate.Our policy is still 40 years old and shows in the way business is done in India.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="701937318">Ragav Vendra</fb:name> http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19311 Ragav Vendra Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:40:02 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19311 I have a genuine question. Why do students in India do their BE or B.tech. in the first place when they know they're not going to work in that area? And why don't they directly go for an undergraduate course in "Business Administration"? Why BE and *then* a MBA? They aren't even compatible together! Someone please enlighten me!

I have a genuine question.

Why do students in India do their BE or B.tech. in the first place when they know they’re not going to work in that area? And why don’t they directly go for an undergraduate course in “Business Administration”? Why BE and *then* a MBA? They aren’t even compatible together!

Someone please enlighten me!

]]> By: rajatgarg http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19309 rajatgarg Wed, 26 May 2010 20:53:02 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19309 Stupid blog. Misses the entire point. Indians are obsessed with the MBA degree, because the market is obsessed with the same. When the market decides to place a b-grade mba with 0-1 yr of work ex to boss a team of 4 IIT engineers who have toiled for 2 yrs, what do the IITians do? Crack CAT and get into an IIM. The point about entre. Speak to a few VCs. Pose as an mba, show them the plan. Do the same without saying that you have an mba. Find out for yourselves how easy it is to get funding once you have that degree with you. Stupid blog. Misses the entire point. Indians are obsessed with the MBA degree, because the market is obsessed with the same.
When the market decides to place a b-grade mba with 0-1 yr of work ex to boss a team of 4 IIT engineers who have toiled for 2 yrs, what do the IITians do? Crack CAT and get into an IIM.
The point about entre. Speak to a few VCs. Pose as an mba, show them the plan. Do the same without saying that you have an mba. Find out for yourselves how easy it is to get funding once you have that degree with you.

]]> By: Rahul Jawale http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19298 Rahul Jawale Tue, 18 May 2010 15:49:48 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19298 Your thoughts totally make sense. I had been in this dilemma for quite a long time. I had sustained this parental and peer pressure myself and tried convicing myself and parents that doing MBA does not a prove a thing. All that matters is the passion for something, hardwork and some luck. And ofcourse, MBA is one of those courses which can be done at anytime in your life when you really think that expanding a perspective is going to help. Your thoughts totally make sense.

I had been in this dilemma for quite a long time. I had sustained this parental and peer pressure myself and tried convicing myself and parents that doing MBA does not a prove a thing. All that matters is the passion for something, hardwork and some luck.

And ofcourse, MBA is one of those courses which can be done at anytime in your life when you really think that expanding a perspective is going to help.

]]> By: Indian http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19254 Indian Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:57:45 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19254 @Ashish -- Well I had to stop reading your post past the first few lines! Learn to write in English the way it is meant to be written, without the use of slangs and by using correct spellings. What makes you think an MBA will take you any further in your career if you cannot articulate your thoughts maturely by constructing readable sentences? I'm an Indian living in the US, but I see too many people like you from India who have never been outside the country think that writing "dat" for "that", and "u" for "you" is something every one in west does. NO! Unless you're a 15 year old teenager no one writes like that here! So before you have big aspirations about completing that MBA and thinking that you'll be managing a bunch of people, learn to write correctly! @Ashish — Well I had to stop reading your post past the first few lines! Learn to write in English the way it is meant to be written, without the use of slangs and by using correct spellings. What makes you think an MBA will take you any further in your career if you cannot articulate your thoughts maturely by constructing readable sentences? I’m an Indian living in the US, but I see too many people like you from India who have never been outside the country think that writing “dat” for “that”, and “u” for “you” is something every one in west does. NO! Unless you’re a 15 year old teenager no one writes like that here! So before you have big aspirations about completing that MBA and thinking that you’ll be managing a bunch of people, learn to write correctly!

]]> By: rohit http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19233 rohit Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:20:21 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19233 I totally agree with the content and the point of view put forth in the write up. But somewhere down the line the market currrently is asking for management graduates, and hence there is a need for doing mba. To climb the ladder its has become a necessity. And ofcourse with elevation in the designation, comes higher pay packets. So what is the harm in thinking that MBA will give higher pay packets. I totally agree with the content and the point of view put forth in the write up. But somewhere down the line the market currrently is asking for management graduates, and hence there is a need for doing mba. To climb the ladder its has become a necessity. And ofcourse with elevation in the designation, comes higher pay packets. So what is the harm in thinking that MBA will give higher pay packets.

]]> By: Vicky Pradhan http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19205 Vicky Pradhan Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:55:39 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19205 Indians are famous about being obsessed by one profession or another. Earlier it was IAS, doctor, lawyer, engineer, currently it is MBA. Well considering the chronological events i think this MBA fascination will also fade soon. For me MBA is done by 2 types of people, A – These are the majority, who want a good life, nice salary so that they can buy a good house and afford the EMI’s, get a nice wife or husband (probably a handsome dowry in case of few), nice position in the company with subordinates and possibly getting a window office in the future. B – People for whom MBA schools are the place to understand actual business, learn the tricks, empower yourself in becoming the Ambani’s and TATA’s of the world. To talk about MBA for me personally and Type B people like me, it is the most overrated degree in the world. Not much practical knowledge imparted, just analysing past events and prodding the success and running down the failure. I believe much more can be learnt by someone if he or she puts in that money to start their new venture. Trust me, i have done both, so i know. It’s like if you want to swim, why sit by the shore for two years and then probably lose the zeal to swim. If you want to start your own business, start it don't waste the money and 2 years of your life just to get a degree. Off course you will make lots of mistakes, well who hasn’t. And for the Type A kind, i believe one should treat it as an investment, and make a wise decision. Considering job market is getting filled with MBA, with large supply leading to drop in salaries. Vicky Pradhan Founding Member, bharatbuy.com Indians are famous about being obsessed by one profession or another. Earlier it was IAS, doctor, lawyer, engineer, currently it is MBA. Well considering the chronological events i think this MBA fascination will also fade soon.

For me MBA is done by 2 types of people,

A – These are the majority, who want a good life, nice salary so that they can buy a good house and afford the EMI’s, get a nice wife or husband (probably a handsome dowry in case of few), nice position in the company with subordinates and possibly getting a window office in the future.

B – People for whom MBA schools are the place to understand actual business, learn the tricks, empower yourself in becoming the Ambani’s and TATA’s of the world.

To talk about MBA for me personally and Type B people like me, it is the most overrated degree in the world. Not much practical knowledge imparted, just analysing past events and prodding the success and running down the failure.

I believe much more can be learnt by someone if he or she puts in that money to start their new venture. Trust me, i have done both, so i know.

It’s like if you want to swim, why sit by the shore for two years and then probably lose the zeal to swim.

If you want to start your own business, start it don’t waste the money and 2 years of your life just to get a degree. Off course you will make lots of mistakes, well who hasn’t.

And for the Type A kind, i believe one should treat it as an investment, and make a wise decision. Considering job market is getting filled with MBA, with large supply leading to drop in salaries.

Vicky Pradhan

Founding Member,

bharatbuy.com

]]> By: Ravi Bhalla http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19203 Ravi Bhalla Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:35:57 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19203 Good Artical. It has made me think. Good Artical. It has made me think.

]]> By: Amit http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19202 Amit Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:47:14 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19202 Hmm go for 'Better Living' than 'Better Earning' hmmmm... hw do you think that der can be Better Living without Better Earning...Can a hardcore software programmer fit into a role of getting business for a company without any knowledge of Business or d other way rnd can a Business fellow sell a product without knowing the basics.. this is where B.E + MBA comes in picture, it aint useless.. u hv to agree on this.. MBA is for u2 polish ur skills..personality and approach. Mayb nt all d B-schools teach u dis..If you by our education standards den even B.E is useless.. it hardly teaches you anythin which is practically going on.. its all outdated. I think the way we look at MBA should be changed rather than thinkin if it useless or no Hmm go for ‘Better Living’ than ‘Better Earning’ hmmmm… hw do you think that der can be Better Living without Better Earning…Can a hardcore software programmer fit into a role of getting business for a company without any knowledge of Business or d other way rnd can a Business fellow sell a product without knowing the basics.. this is where B.E + MBA comes in picture, it aint useless.. u hv to agree on this.. MBA is for u2 polish ur skills..personality and approach. Mayb nt all d B-schools teach u dis..If you by our education standards den even B.E is useless.. it hardly teaches you anythin which is practically going on.. its all outdated. I think the way we look at MBA should be changed rather than thinkin if it useless or no

]]> By: Sunder http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19150 Sunder Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:07:44 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19150 I think an MBA is not the end of an education. Its just the beginning of a thought-process. A better pay package is not an end. Its just the result of achieving an end-result. I think the MBA degree helps you understand business better. It develops a thought-process wherein you will see a change in the way you approach businesses and problems than you did when just as a Graduate. I think that is what helps you solve these problems much better, saving loads of money for your organization which is precisely why, companies are ready to compensate an MBA with fat pay packets... I think an MBA is not the end of an education. Its just the beginning of a thought-process. A better pay package is not an end. Its just the result of achieving an end-result. I think the MBA degree helps you understand business better.
It develops a thought-process wherein you will see a change in the way you approach businesses and problems than you did when just as a Graduate. I think that is what helps you solve these problems much better, saving loads of money for your organization which is precisely why, companies are ready to compensate an MBA with fat pay packets…

]]> By: Puneet http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19134 Puneet Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:04:23 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19134 I think this trend of acquiring so called degrees has cropped up from the fact that our Indian education system is more job oriented rather than knowledge, skills oriented... How many of us were told back in our school days that we should pursue what we are interested in and build on to our natural skills... ?? So getting into MBA or engineering for that matter is probably a part of the bigger issue of misunderstanding the whole concept of education for a means to making money... ! I think this trend of acquiring so called degrees has cropped up from the fact that our Indian education system is more job oriented rather than knowledge, skills oriented… How many of us were told back in our school days that we should pursue what we are interested in and build on to our natural skills… ?? So getting into MBA or engineering for that matter is probably a part of the bigger issue of misunderstanding the whole concept of education for a means to making money… !

]]> By: Sushant @ Techooze http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19122 Sushant @ Techooze Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:12:12 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19122 B. E + MBA is done not for entrepreneur spirit but because of high salary factor. I bet 99% of B. Tech graduates dont know anything about their field. They just have to complete there course cramming anything which comes in their way and no regard to the practical education. The same goes for MBA, people do MBA because their neighbour have done so and getting a good salary package. B. E + MBA is done not for entrepreneur spirit but because of high salary factor. I bet 99% of B. Tech graduates dont know anything about their field. They just have to complete there course cramming anything which comes in their way and no regard to the practical education. The same goes for MBA, people do MBA because their neighbour have done so and getting a good salary package.

]]> By: VLSI Training Institute http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19083 VLSI Training Institute Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:19:06 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19083 We personally feel that the value of MBA is highly compromised. With the mushrooming of all small MBA institutes who even do not have any experienced faculty it do not have any weight anymore in resume. Still if you are doing it from top 20 institutes it does give you an edge but not otherwise. This is even reflected in salary scales which you can find in market. People dream that by doing MBA even from small institute will fetch them 6lac plus salary but in reality they will end up in sales job with start-up of 5K+ per month salary. We personally feel that the value of MBA is highly compromised. With the mushrooming of all small MBA institutes who even do not have any experienced faculty it do not have any weight anymore in resume. Still if you are doing it from top 20 institutes it does give you an edge but not otherwise.

This is even reflected in salary scales which you can find in market. People dream that by doing MBA even from small institute will fetch them 6lac plus salary but in reality they will end up in sales job with start-up of 5K+ per month salary.

]]> By: Yuva http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-19052 Yuva Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:20:48 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-19052 I totally agree..that may be because i am not a MBA. but did manage cross over from techi to banker (business operations) to consulting. OK. having side that will you hire me...without 'qualifications'!?? probably that why people want to do.because it will get your CV shortlisted. I totally agree..that may be because i am not a MBA. but did manage cross over from techi to banker (business operations) to consulting.

OK. having side that will you hire me…without ‘qualifications’!?? probably that why people want to do.because it will get your CV shortlisted.

]]> By: Sunil Shenoy http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-18931 Sunil Shenoy Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:59:44 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-18931 I just wrote a similar post myself. Quite agree with what you have to say. I just wrote a similar post myself. Quite agree with what you have to say.

]]> By: Talal Khaliq http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-18759 Talal Khaliq Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:34:29 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-18759 its damn money and nothing else! its damn money and nothing else!

]]> By: Viveck http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-18675 Viveck Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:46:04 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-18675 Hey, Good article. Here is my take on that http://blogsofvivek.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/myth-of-business-administration-a-paradox/ Hey,

Good article. Here is my take on that
http://blogsofvivek.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/myth-of-business-administration-a-paradox/

]]> By: amit http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-18648 amit Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:28:46 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-18648 Actually indians are obsessed with any degree be it MBA or Mtech.. They spend 10 lahks to get job of not more than 20 k per month. Illogical decision. Actually indians are obsessed with any degree be it MBA or Mtech.. They spend 10 lahks to get job of not more than 20 k per month. Illogical decision.

]]> By: Gopal Sharma http://www.startupdunia.com/entrepreneurship/the-obsession-of-indians-with-the-mba-degree-2417#comment-18638 Gopal Sharma Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:20:55 +0000 http://www.startupdunia.com/?p=2417#comment-18638 You are missing a point when you say this: "I actually find it quite ironic, because Indian B-schools are shifting into overdrive when it comes to B-plan competitions (just look at the increase in the number of b-plan competitions being held across b-school campuses) – implicitly encouraging graduates to start their own businesses and become entrepreneurs. So, its like you joined a b-school, the b-school encourages you to become an entrepreneur when you could have completely skipped b-school and gone into entrepreneurship directly." You are assuming that all that a business school does is to encourage entrepreneurship. Mind it you just don't need a brilliant idea to become an entrepreneur but you also need specific business skills to become one. That where MBA degree should help you get an overall business skill development in a short period. Just imagine a hardcore techy deciding to open an IT Services firm just because he thinks he can code well..... I think doing an MBA is required to accelerate your learnings on business side. Whether you decide to apply what you learn by working for someone else or use it to start your own venture is a different matter. You are missing a point when you say this:

“I actually find it quite ironic, because Indian B-schools are shifting into overdrive when it comes to B-plan competitions (just look at the increase in the number of b-plan competitions being held across b-school campuses) – implicitly encouraging graduates to start their own businesses and become entrepreneurs. So, its like you joined a b-school, the b-school encourages you to become an entrepreneur when you could have completely skipped b-school and gone into entrepreneurship directly.”

You are assuming that all that a business school does is to encourage entrepreneurship. Mind it you just don’t need a brilliant idea to become an entrepreneur but you also need specific business skills to become one. That where MBA degree should help you get an overall business skill development in a short period. Just imagine a hardcore techy deciding to open an IT Services firm just because he thinks he can code well…..

I think doing an MBA is required to accelerate your learnings on business side. Whether you decide to apply what you learn by working for someone else or use it to start your own venture is a different matter.

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