Gordon Pitts

Gordon Pitts

More MBA Schools 2009 Reports

• A BlackBerry in every hand
• Building reputations, brick by brick
• 'We're basically a dating agency'
• New test nips at goliath GMAT's heels
• Canadian schools building passages to India
• Two schools can be better than one
• It's a new game
• Love it or hate it, teamwork is here to stay
• Keep your job and learn from afar
• Other MBA information

The Report on MBA Schools, Fall 2009, may have answers to some of your questions.

You may have still others, such as:

- Given the increasing numbers of MBA grads, do employers still value the degree?

- How important is it to choose an institution that is ranked internationally?

- How valid is a distance-education model in getting an MBA?

Gordon Pitts, a senior Report on Business writer, took readers' questions.

Mr. Pitts writes feature stories and analytical articles on management issues and is renowned for his interviews with leading senior executives.

During his 17-year career with the Report on Business, he has also served as a features editor responsible for sections dealing with business change, strategy, entrepreneurship and leadership. As part of that mandate, he led the Globe and Mail's coverage of management education, including business schools, and continues to write about this area.

He is the author of several business books, the latest being Stampede!: The Rise of the West and Canada's New Power Elite (2008).

Because Gordon couldn't get to all readers' questions during the live discussion, he answered the ones he couldn't get to later. Here are the questions and his answers:

From Ray: I am thinking about going back to school to obtain an EMBA. Is it relevant to do so considering the economy? Does a business regard an EMBA in the same or better light as an MBA?

Gordon Pitts: I think an EMBA is getting more appreciation because it allows the student to tap into an interesting network of older, mid-career managers who bring their background and savvy to the program. But the price is very high in many cases, which means you have to measure carefully the potential gains against the very high costs in both dollars and time.

In terms of the economy, it WILL come back and it is good to take this lull to position yourself.

From Stan: Hello Gordon - is it possible to "rank" an MBA vs. other professional designations, or better to take a broader approach and look at a person's portfolio? Is there a risk of perceived redundancy (e.g. CFA + MBA with a Finance focus)?

GP: I think it is possible to become over-credentialed with a real risk of redundancy. But an MBA and CFA take quite different focuses. It all comes down to: Where do you want to take your career? What skills do you want to acquire to meet your career goals?

From David Demner: I don't want to sound cynical but it seems that the more people I meet with MBAs, the less value I put on someone having one (and the degree in general). Is this a common perception? Do you expect it to get worse over time? Is there a governing body that monitors these situations and certifies schools? Is there a point in going to an average [semi-affordable] school for an MBA or is that largely pointless? How can you tell if a school is 'good' or not; surely not by the name alone but maybe so? Thanks!

GP: Whew! You do ask the right questions, and I don't have all the answers. There are governing bodies and AACSB accreditation is one guide to schools that meet certain qualifications. I might start there. But we are talking about a global MBA school universe. so it is often difficult to establish common frameworks to assess them all. There are 10s of thousands of MBA schools in the world _ far too many. Also, look at the ratings by publications such as Financial Times, BusinessWeek, Wall Street Journal and the Economist. These are good benchmarks but they comprise only the high profile programs. The big test is who are the alumni and how are they doing. Go and talk to some of them. Do they understand the broader society beyond the financial numbers? If you are still unimpressed, you might be right to be cynical.

From Horus: I was advised by a friend that MBAs are like generalist degrees. They are important but , he stated that specialty skills will become more important in the future as teams are pulled together through technology to work on their specialty parts of a bigger project. My ? is: Will it be better for me to pursue a specialty like accounting or finance versus spending money on a MBA? Will a BCom or a CA get me further than an MBA?

GP: I think you're probably right. I might go after a CA or CFA first, and then see if you need the generalist and strategic skills that an MBA can provide. It is always good to build on a strong specialist credential. if that is your career path.

From Lynn: In your opinion, is taking part in MBA exchange program (a year or semester at an MBA program abroad) worth the extra expense?

GP: I think more young Canadians should do this, if they can swing it.

From Darrell: Is there any internationally recognized EMBA schools in Canada that offer online learning formats for international students?

GP: Hmm, you might check out what the people at Athabasca University say. Also, Queen's. They can guide you on this topic.

From Alex: Given the growing popularity of sustainability issues and interest in working with NGO's, do you think a Master's of Public Administration (MPA) is a better alternative than an MBA if one wants to enter the non-profit sector?

GP: Good point. I am hearing that government and non-profits actually like the business skills of Commerce and MBA students. Many schools have MBAs with a sustainability, non-profit emphasis. You might also consider a place like Dalhousie that blends a public and private sector focus in the same management faculty.

From D. Ludvig: May I please have your opinion regarding Dalhousie University in general? In particular, the MBA Financial Services - distance learning program. Thank you.

GP: It sounds like it has strong acceptance in the financial sector, but I have not talked to graduates.

From Hilary: Look long, look hard, and interview the profs before you spend a dime on graduate studies at Queen's. Tired programs based on a refusal to move forward and change organically with the world have left their Master's degrees stale.

GP: True. Due diligence is imperative.

From Brian: I have an english degree but have still managed to work myself up into a senior business development manager role. I want to get an MBA to give myself some formal business education and the MBA 'check mark' on my resume. Given my professional and personal commitments I am looking at getting an MBA at a less recognized school due to the location, weekend schedule, and lower cost. Is a less recognized school still going to meet my goal, or should I invest double the cash and travel time getting an MBA at a more recognized school?

GP: Look closely at the local school. Every school has a different focus and core competence. Does the school around the corner meet your needs? If it does, it is probably the place you should start shopping. But talk to a number of graduates. Did the program meet their needs? Can you connect with an alumni network that will provide support and guidance in years to come?

From John: Hi Gordon, Excellent chat. I have a bcomm degree and have worked full time for 5 years. I have a passion for sports but currently not in the sports field. Would enrolling in a MBA Sports Mgmt degree program help in a career move? My current field is banking and making the jump into sports is difficult. Thanks again for your guidance.

GP: I'd look very carefully at the sports management market. The extra qualification will look good on a resume, but will it really deliver the income and satisfaction you require, given your investment of time and money? But again, it may be a risk worth taking. When you are young, these are the times to follow your passion.

From Rick: Do you know of an MBA program that has a strong focus on e-commerce? Thanks.

GP: I can't think of one right now that stands above the rest. I'm sure there is one, but I am reluctrant to single one out, in case I have forgotten other contendors. Can someone else suggest something?

From Aparna Verma: Gordon, I was fortunate enough to meet you in 2007 (?) in Fort McMurray. I was part of the U of A cohort MBA program. I saw your discussion on MBA's and thought I would throw my two cents in. I have no regrets doing the program. However, I did have to leave Fort McMurray to make the most of the degree. Having the work experience behind me enhanced the MBA's value. One commenter noted that universities were marketing MBA's as the ticket to higher salaries. I have found in my experience that sought-after skill and vision are the ticket to a higher salary. An MBA can get one there faster if one is willing to go out and look for opportunities. There are few companies these days with training programs specifically for new-grad-no-work-experience MBA's. An MBA is no longer an automatic ticket to management either. Prospective students need to stop focusing on salaries and looking at what skills they should enhance. I think that's the path to better money.

I am now working for Marathon Oil in Calgary (and running between Calgary and Fort Saskatchewan) if you'd like to keep in touch. Cheers! Aparna Verma

GP: Great to hear from you, Aparna. Very insightful, as usual. I will be in touch.

From Erin: Hi Gordon, What is the best way to assess all my options before deciding which MBA program to apply to? Is there comprehensive information available in one place about program requirements and details, tuition fees, study options (full-time, part-time, weekends, etc) and program ranking for MBAs in Canada? - Erin

GP: That is a tough challenge. There are some international rankings (such as FT) but few Canadian schools apply or get rated. There is no one-stop shopping, and some publications have quit ranking schools because the schools themselves refused to co-operate. Check the comments above from Aparna Verma. The best guide is talking to people like her.

Editor's Note: globeandmail.com editors will read and allow or reject each question/comment. Comments/questions may be edited for length or clarity. HTML is not allowed. We will not publish questions/comments that include personal attacks on participants in these discussions or Globe journalists, that make false or unsubstantiated allegations, that purport to quote people or reports where the purported quote or fact cannot be easily verified, or questions/comments that include pointless vulgar language or libellous statements. Preference will be given to readers who submit questions/comments using their full name and home town, rather than a pseudonym. Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of The Globe and Mail, but only of the comment-writer. Find more information on our community guidelines here.