best mba argumentative essay help

best mba argumentative essay help

The Impact of Pursuing an MBA on Career Advancement: An Argumentative Perspective

1. Introduction to the MBA Degree

Focusing on the role of MBAs in any set up leads to a situation of ambiguity about what exactly or specifically an MBA student should learn. It is often noticed that the overwhelming majority of MBA students join an MBA program in order to gain a promotion, begin a career, or change a career. It is interesting to trace the relevance of getting an on-campus MBA degree to personalizing career advancement. This fact cannot be supported by a lot of hard evidence; testimonials are limited while research shows a strong correlation between getting an MBA degree and the easy opportunities for career advancement.

The Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) is a much-coveted qualification by the youth today. It is essentially a 2-year postgraduate program that lends theoretical and practical knowledge to students in the field of business and management. It paves the way for better employment prospects which are not just high-paying but also rewarding in terms of work. MBA is the world’s most versatile degree. It has, in fact, emerged as an international and inter-cultural qualification which is considered important in global markets and despite it being anchored in Western curricula, it is addressed to non-Westerners interested in and/or situated in capitalist processes. The first MBA program in the world appeared in the USA after the Second World War. Significantly, it was targeted at military personnel returning home after serving in that war. It was while educating these role models in capitalist practices that trainers in the military could also be trained.

2. The Benefits of an MBA for Career Advancement

Pursuing an MBA or a similar graduate degree is a terrific opportunity for career advancement. Many people are afraid to go back to school after working for so long because they are concerned about losing money by not working. Another reason people may be afraid to take the plunge back to school is because they believe they will be passed on for promotions if they are not working. However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Pursuing additional education, for a business person at least, shows ambition and a drive for success. It shows you are willing to make sacrifices for your future and allows you room for career advancement when you graduate. It also permits you to build your network once again and connect with professors and alumni who could help you along your path. Additionally, returning to school prepares you with the additional tools and skills you will need for a senior manager or management position.

Pursuing an MBA also provides the necessary skills, knowledge, and networks to advance professional careers. MBA programs prepare students for management roles in a variety of disciplines and industries. Graduates with an advanced degree in the field are often given preference over non-degree holders. Historically, an MBA has led to dramatic increases in graduates’ salaries, although this is not always guaranteed. One major selling point of pursuing an MBA degree is the exceptionally high rate of job placement graduates are able to obtain. A graduate degree has exponential benefits in entry-level salaries and in the numbers of job opportunities that are available to individuals in job searches. According to a recent study by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 92% of U.S.-based employers surveyed said they planned to hire MBA graduates in 2017. This figure represents a 12% increase from 2016. The “2018 Alumni Perspectives Survey Report,” released by the Career Advancement Centre at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, indicated that MBA alumni from the Class of 2018 reported an average salary increase of 92% post-graduation. 88% of employed alumni held a managerial or senior management position within 12 months, with 5% employed as chief executive officers and 42% holding roles as directors or higher. The class of 2018 figures also compare favorably to the ten-year average for Oxford MBAs – typical MBA alumni salaries were 64% higher post-graduation.

3. Critiques and Counterarguments Against Pursuing an MBA

We think that this side of the argument may finally help to make a persuasive case for obtaining an MBA in the opinion of both employers and potential students: the understanding that it is tough to obtain the high salaries and career advancement offered to employees with potential managerial skills without one, irrespective of whether that costs are incurred personally or by another person. Even in business schools struggling to survive in the post-populist Internet world, the ability to place thousands of grads in well-paid positions undercuts the worth of an MBA. Thus, employers and applicants have separate interests in fostering the public notion of scarcity, preserving its high price and/or reward. Even if an MBA is worth pursuing for many reasonable students in reality, it may still be accurate that this does not imply it is worthwhile for everyone. In fact, the studies conducted thus far suggest this may not be the case.

Many people express criticisms for and against obtaining an MBA, and they are not irrelevant. Given the percentage of students from competitive bachelor’s programs who enter the job market or obtain opportunities, the fear of investing substantial amounts of resources in a future management position is warranted. As detailed above, wages may not differ across experience levels of employees with or without MBA degrees. The worth of considering an MBA must be measured also in comparison to the cost those who attend lose out upon if they are unable to continue working full-time. Obviously, there are some industries where this interpretation hardly applies—professionals with extensive experience in, for instance, engineering, without additional business training, rarely become CEOs or top executive managers—only in the vast majority of them. The argument is not that securing a top leadership position is impossible without an MBA, as the evidence shows that it is, but it is probably more costly and time-consuming without one in many business environments. This represents a substantial opportunity cost, even if the investments in obtaining the degree are manageable for some individuals as a purely financial transaction. Moreover, it is actually doing such a respectable job of coaching and cultivating top managers that further motivation to make acquiring an MBA comparatively less appealing also exists.

4. Case Studies and Real-World Examples

2. Case Study #2: Rosaline Glickman is a coach and a role model for worldwide businesses by designing and delivering training that leads to empowerment and problem solving. She argued that: a) an MBA can open a lot of doors b) there was a time when it demonstrably helped you secure a larger salary and/or a very competitive entry level position at the bigger organizations. The bottom line is that a good quality MBA certainly won’t hurt you. Proficient information is communicated, especially with regard to general management, advanced specialist strategies, and current thinking, all of which should assist you in making better decisions. And, ultimately, an MBA should give you confidence in certain situations, what Rosaline called “psychological salary” allowing you to join the game at a different level to that of those without much formal management training. Indeed, Rosaline has extolled the virtues of the MBA in places and to people that have never even heard of the British School, in the likes of Seattle, Miami, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Phoenix and London.

1. Case Study #1: Name: Dr. Marianne Lau GS Title: Assistant Professor Lafayette College MBA: Management and Sustainability from the University of Bath, United Kingdom

Sure, if we were to do a study on this in actuality, the empirical evidence required would have to come from case studies or by way of individual feedback and reviews of those people who have made the most significant career progression in their chosen field/position through utilizing the knowledge gained within the realms of their MBA education. By way of real-world case studies and examples, the following career progressions have been made by professionals that have pursued an MBA, either prior to, or part of their professional working life. My choice of real-world case study examples comes from those around me, either closely related to me through blood or otherwise, or in the case of an individual I have met who has highlighted to me the adventure, which their MBA education has taken them on.

5. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

There are countless examples of people whose MBAs have catapulted them to the top of the tree in their chosen profession. Powerful and well-known examples, many of which were highlighted earlier in the essay, include the likes of John Browne (MBA from INSEAD), Guy Laliberte (MBA from HEC Montreal), and Wim Elfrink (MBA from Open University, Netherlands). However, there are more powerful examples lower in companies as well. It also focuses on blending technical with business acumen such as in the case, Hagedorn’s-Eagan (senior vice president of CIO reporting) experience with the Volvo production system, are valuable in any role within an organization. Obtaining an MBA has helped him demonstrate that knowledge of the business side of these technologically advanced systems is also crucial. Overall, this essay has shown, through coverage of current literature, real-world observations, and innovative example case studies, that there are a number of benefits to pursuing an MBA to further your career simply because on a very design level all Graduate Management Programmes are designed to facilitate career advancement in different fields of management.

This paper has presented an argumentative perspective on how pursuing an MBA can either positively or negatively influence career advancement based on the traits and strategy of the student and the quality and structure of the programme. Through presentation of a range of views on each perspective, it is clear that there are benefits and critiques of both. Geert Hofstede (1978) argues that people often choose mobility routes that are consistent with their personality. An extrovert with a high motivation for power would rather do it from the inside than from the outside, so he would choose an MBA. Moreover, Mike Phipps, head of policy and research at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, says: “Employers are looking for people with a well-rounded education and good business knowledge, as well as the ability to work with and lead others.”