Could your Company provide an in-house MBA Programme? – Part 1

Organisations have the capabilities to create and develop their own in-house Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programme.  Core elements of any MBA are to provide students with a broad range of business experiences.  Organisations with some or all of the functions like Marketing, Financial, Communications, Operations, Procurement, Human Resources etc. have the ability to utilise these resources much better by adding structured learning.  In addition using other business links where an organisation may lack experiences in house, like specialised topics for example, technology or legal services.  The required learning elements can be provided for by mutual cooperation with other companies. Organisations can provide deeper elements of a particular topic or function in house depending on the individual’s employee preference or business requirements.

Some suggest advantages to a business

• Improving employee’s knowledge across their own business
• Applying relevant teaching and learning to actual live work projects as against case studies.
• Supports retention of staff and can provide improved development opportunities
• Increase management commitment and focus on development of its employees
• Employees feel that their studies and learning is important and recognised by the Company
• Improved decisions making as employees have better overall understanding of their own Company’s operations.
• Student’s learning is focused on the Company rather than non related activities
• Better return on the Company’s training spend

Some questions to be addressed

1. What about the interactions with other students from different backgrounds or organisations which is important to a students’ overall learning?
2. What about the added value of the inputs of academic institutes?
3. What about a recognised accreditation?
4. Does your organisation have the appropriate commitment, skills to manage and deliver such a programme?
5. How does an organisation go about building an MBA and getting the commitment?

 These five questions will be addressed in the follow up post.