Abstract
The MBA programme is critical in developing professional careers and managerial competencies in the business sphere. The programme positions the self-mad leaders near other MBA students at the global level who have different perspectives and work experience on the world’s economy. The MBA students have the capability of expanding the knowledge they have to other industries at the global level. Self-made leaders are supposed to be offered a chance to study the MBA since they already have practical management skills to enable them to perfect them without having to pursue an undergraduate degree that is not of help to them. The study considers a cost-benefit analysis that offers more relevance. The cost-benefit analysis can allow organizations such as NADA to evaluate their offer regarding their suitability. The study considers both qualitative and quantitative research designs. Multiple qualitative research methods are used in analyzing and collecting data that is non-numerical to understand the experiences, opinions, and concepts effectively. The essential qualitative methods include secondary research, surveys, focus groups, and interviews. The quantitative methods focus on numbers and figures to allow the data to be analyzed by statistical methods. The sample frame involves individuals working in managerial, executive, and high-level capacities managing about five employees.
Introduction
An MBA often prepares people to exploit management positions in multiple industries. The institutions specializing in offering the course usually emphasize motivation, professionalism and skills before education. The programs offer substantial career preparation focusing more on essential skills in the real world. The program is critical in developing professional careers and managerial competencies in the business sphere. Recently, the program has attracted criticism from multiple quarters regarding its value to the graduates who pursue it. However, the program presents itself as a viable avenue through which self-made leaders can substantially navigate the hierarchies that are socially based for prestige or dominance. The self-made leaders will realize prestige by allowing them to have values, traits and skills to allow others to follow the course. The prestige will involve the realization of admiration and respect. The strategy is not force related since it allows the individuals to be different from other self-made leaders based on the knowledge that can attract emulation and respect. Unfortunately, in the context of MBA, dominant women are often disliked though they are perceived to be competent and always assertive in accomplishing their duties (McClanahan, Maner & Cheng, 2022, 4). Thus, both men and women who are self-made leaders are appropriate to be Offred the MBA degree to allow them to be more dominant in their careers post the MBA degrees.
The MBA degree has multiple benefits. Completing an MBA programme illustrates a commitment to applying, improving and learning skills that can enable an organization to succeed. Individuals with the degree usually have high confidence levels regarding their marketability and the information they will bring to a particular enterprise. The degree has the capability of assisting self-made leaders in having a better understanding of how teams work. The degree’s knowledge demonstrates that everything is a negotiation. All the operations are made to be in line with the returns on investment that the commercial venture will be able to realize.
Similarly, the degree equips people studying it with an understanding of the factors that motivate people within the organization, how to have effective communication and how to show respect to the ideas and opinions of other people to ensure there is participatory leadership in the organizational settings. The programme positions the self-mad leaders near other MBA students at the global level who have different perspectives and work experience on the world’s economy. The MBA students have the capability of expanding the knowledge they have to other industries at the global level. Since, in most cases, individuals pursuing the MBA degree usually have at least five years’ experience, self-made leaders are the appropriate candidates for the degree due to their success in the business world without academic knowledge in their areas of practice.
Problem Statement
Most of the research studies have focused on the impact of the MBA program on human capital. The studies have found extensive evidence regarding the degree’s relevance to individuals’ professional engagements. The studies further find out that the program substantially affects crucial dimensions of human capital that involve social-cultural, intrinsic value and educational dimensions (Marino, Rivero & Dabos, 2019, 1). The program covers the essential functions necessary in business management, specifically for individuals with sufficient work experience that forms the basis of the learning process. It is estimated that about 500 000 individuals graduate from the program annually. The high number of people graduating from the course clearly shows that6 the program is relevant in managerial training. MBA intensifies the acquisition of skills and internalization of the business context essential in performing managerial functions in organizations. The primary management skills developed are teamwork, leadership and utilizing techniques such as practical applications, a combination of theory, technology management and statistical analysis.
Moreover, despite the significant prestige that often accompanies the degree relating to the ability to offer a systemic vision to the executives, the program is facing multiple criticism and objections. The relevance of skills and training quality is continuously being questioned. The students who are studying the course are, in most cases, being offered soft skills rather than the complex skills required to successfully conduct managerial operations. Other studies demonstrate that there is a wider gap between the reality in the typical organization and the curriculum structure of the program with more emphasis on the scientific nature of management (Marino, Rivero & Dabos, 2019, 2). The curriculum often needs more relevance in the managerial practice in organizations. Thus, the paper argues that self-made leaders have actively developed work-related skills and specializations in work settings. They have the necessary work experience that the MBA learning process can develop.
The costs involved in studying MBA ranges between $40000-$150000 relative to the school and programme one is interested in studying in. The graduate tuition for studying the MBA is relatively high relative to the undergraduate degree. Thus, the paper argues that when the costs of the two degrees are combined when self-made leaders want to further their education, they will be extremely high. Other costs will be attributed to the time in pursuing the two degrees. It will take about five to six years to complete the two degrees. Multiple direct and indirect costs will be incurred before the completion of the studies. The expenses accumulate relative to the way one considers their mitigation. Self-made leaders are supposed to be offered a chance to study the MBA since they already have practical management skills to enable them to perfect them without having to pursue an undergraduate degree that is not of help to them.
To some extent, there is a difference in cost benefits of studying an MBA by self-made leaders relative to when they would have studied for the Bachelor’s degree before they can pursue the MBA. The cost benefits are directly associated with the ROI, the actual value of the degree and the features of the individual MBA programmes pursued by the students. The ROI considers the programme’s suitability, the specialties and electives, networking opportunities and the career sacrifices associated with the programme. Moreover, self-made leaders will be better positioned to work with other MBA graduates to take their business to another level. They will have the same level of expertise and knowledge base that will allow them to share knowledge. Teamwork thinking will position the organization in a better place than other organizations in the same line of expertise.
Nevertheless, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has a fantastic offer that allows thousands of professionals who need a bachelor’s degree to enhance their experience without the expenses and time associated with the Bachelor’s degree. The organization seems to be facing multiple issues regarding its suitability in offering the particular master’s programmes to individuals not having a Bachelor’s degree. The paper argues the suitability of NADA regarding the factors it requires to be aware of, more so the costs involved in offering the courses. The organization should be aware of the available demand regarding pursuing the MBA by an individual not having a Bachelor’s degree. NADA has partnered with educational institutions, including Babson College, to offer MBA degrees directly associated with entrepreneurship, management and leadership to allow the leaders to survive the tough times. The institution has recently been ranked as one of the best educational institutions offering the course. Joining such institutions will allow business leaders to develop fresh ideas that will allow them leaders to take their businesses to the required levels. Most o the programmes offered by NADA are a blend of weeklong and online coursework that allows the students to meet with their professors to learn the key segments and information relating to their particular industries.
Research Questions and Objectives
Main Research Question
What is the effect of pursuing an MBA by self-made leaders before having a bachelor’s degree on their own and organizational financial returns?
Research Questions
- Do self-made professionals need to study the Bachelor’s degree before they can have the MBA course?
- What is the cost of disruption of allowing the self-made leaders have an MBA before they can have a Bachelor’s degree?
- What are the motivating theories propelling the self-made leaders to consider having MBA over the Bachelor’s degree?
- What is the cost suitability of National Automobile Dealers Association in offering the MBA to the self-made leaders in the US relative to its typical utilization of channels and relationships with other international universities to crack through the system to offer viable options to the individuals who do not see value in the current Bachelor’s system?
- What is the cost value of self-made leaders having an MBA relative to the cost benefits of having a Bachelor’s degree?
Research Objectives
- To find out if the self-made professionals need to study the Bachelor’s degree before they can have the MBA course
- To quantify the cost of disruption of allowing the self-made leaders have an MBA before they can have a Bachelor’s degree.
- To synthesize the motivating theories propelling the self-made leaders to consider having MBA over the Bachelor’s degree.
- To find out the cost suitability of National Automobile Dealers Association in offering the MBA to the self-made leaders in the US relative to its typical utilization of channels and relationships with other international universities to crack through the system to offer viable options to the individuals who do not see value in the current Bachelor’s system.
- To identify the cost value of self-made leaders having an MBA relative to the cost benefits of having a Bachelor’s degree.
Justification Of Study
The study is critical for the self-made leaders. Getting the MBA degree is a logical step in enhancing their careers. The benefits of studying the relevance of the degree to them are applicable to them despite the professional and industry focus. The MBA will allow the self-made leaders to learn the principles of business and establish robust skills necessary in leadership. The MBA will offer bigger pay checks access to different job opportunities and a robust professional network that the self-made leaders will utilize to take their business to the next level. The benefits will manifest over time allowing them to be experts in the field who can be consulted for important issues.
The study considers a cost-benefit analysis that offers more relevance. The cost-benefit analysis has the capability of allowing organizations such as NADA to evaluate their offer regarding their suitability. The evidence-based and agnostic evaluation of the priorities is allowing the organization as a commercial venture to be logical and data-driven. The self-made leaders can easily uncover the hidden benefits and costs through the compelling nature of the technique to outline all the potential benefits and costs that will be associated with pursuing the MBA. Moreover, the stakeholders involved in the offering higher education will have simplicity in making decisions since they will have a scholarly knowledge. The simplicity in the decision-making process will decrease to potential costs and increase the potential benefits.
The study is contributing to the elimination in literature gaps. No study has been conducted focusing on the relevance of the MBA on the self-made leaders. It will offer critical information on the suitability of the programme on the self-mad ladders and how it will be necessary in their typica management operations. The studies that have been already conducted are characterized with conceptual, contextual and methodological limitations. The studies that are associated with the research topic are having flaws regarding their sampling, research approach, and research design. The study is set to have a better research design and sampling approach that will have sufficient sample size that can ensure generalization of the research findings across different industries and regions of the world. External factors have changed over time due to issues such as Covid-19 making the past studies relevance to be non-existence. The study is being conducted post the Covid-19 to understand how the self-made leaders can enhance their skills in the face of the regulations relating to the pandemic. Besides, the past studies have been mainly concerned with the criticism that the MBA faces they have failed to go further to identify the suitability of the MBA to special groups such as the self-mad leaders.
The study is important to professional development. The study has the capability of leading to self-sufficiency. It enhances the potential of ferreting out information relating to the research topic with an extensive functional analysis to have more understanding of the subject that is being evaluated. The current conversations relating to the topic are identified allowing the identification of the incongruity and congruity regarding the topic of different scholars that have studied it. The development of the basic library skills is a prerequisite of developing into an individual who is self-sufficient.
Bibliography
Marino, J., Rivero, A.G. and Dabos, G.E., 2019. MBAs and career development: a literature review from the human capital perspective. Cuadernos de Administración (Universidad del Valle), 35(64), pp.110-127.
McClanahan, K.J., Maner, J.K. and Cheng, J.T., 2022. Two ways to stay
at the top: Prestige and dominance are both viable strategies for
gaining and maintaining social rank over time. Personality and Social
Psychology Bulletin, 48(10), pp.1516-1528.
Review Of Civil Wars As Challenges To The Modern International System Sample Essay
Hendrik Spruyt gives an all-inclusive exploration of the effects of civil wars, especially on the current universal system. The writer maintains that most civil wars have resulted in the international system’s significant challenges. These challenges include human misery, displacement of people, worldwide insecurity issues, and political instability among countries. In his opening paragraph, Spruyt emphasizes the rise in civil wars over the past few decades and the devastation they have caused to societies, economies, and regional stability (Spruyt, 2017). The limitations of the Westphalian model of state sovereignty, which holds that states have exclusive use of force within their borders, are then discussed. The essay will therefore offer a dire analysis of the article.
Spruyt starts by investigating the past progression of the global structure and how it responded to the various civil wars. The writer is keen to note that in the preceding late 19th century, the global system was mainly fixated on the internal conflicts of a country. Nonetheless, with the increase of intra-state wars during the post-colonial period, international relations between countries have been challenged. These wars mainly occur due to ideological, religious, or ethnic differences.
Spruyt claims that these civil wars experienced in countries undermine countries even economically. Furthermore, the cohesiveness spirit amongst people is broken because people thrive on spreading extremism and violence (Kim, 2019). He further maintains that civil wars break the state institutions, giving rise to warlords who form gangs and spread criminal activities. In return, these warlords destabilize countries’ dominance, creating safety risks for the bordering regions and countries.
The writer also denotes how civil wars lead to a humanitarian crisis. When there are wars in countries, many people tend to migrate, displacing people. Some become refugees and frequently lack basic survival needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and good healthcare. Furthermore, civil wars make people’s lives even harder because there is massive destruction of property like infrastructure, houses, and technology that simplifies human life.
Moreover, Spruyt maintains that civil wars result in worldwide security issues. Many terrorist groups are formed during the civil war period spreading tension among people. During civil wars, state institutions and governments break, creating an authority vacuum that is, in most cases, exploited by terrorist groups. When these groups get an ambiance to carry out their illegal activities, they create laws and enforce their philosophical agendas. Spruyt denotes that an example of an aftermath of civil wars is in Syria and Iraq, where the Islamic extremist group rose and has had an adverse effect, especially on security issues in these countries (Kim, 2019).
Spruyt stresses the significance of resolving the fundamental issues that lead to civil wars, such as identity-based disputes, political and economic exclusion, and resource access complaints. He contends that resolving these fundamental problems is essential for establishing lasting peace and stability and that the international community should seek to support regional efforts to do so. He talks about how civil wars might be resolved and how new technology, including social media and other digital communication methods, might affect this (Spruyt, 2017). He contends that while these technologies may present new chances for mitigating and avoiding conflict, they also bring new risks and difficulties that demand attention.
The connection between civil conflicts and globalization is another topic in Spruyt’s article. He contends that globalization has made accessing financial support, communication technology, and weapons easier for conflict actors. As a result, more actors are now involved in civil wars, increasing the complexity and likelihood of outside meddling.
Besides, Spruyt maintains that the native background limits the efficacy of overseas involvement in every post-conflict setting. The native background can include social and political aspects and worldwide assistance (Sisk, 2022). The author claims that an active post-war restoration and a new restructured state require careful consideration of the native setting and the aptitude to speak out all the roots of conflicts.
Moreover, Spruyt underscores some of the obstacles linked to the state restructuring. These challenges are crucial because they help maintain stability and long-term peace, especially in all areas prone to these civil wars. He further continues to highlight that international organizations and responsible governments play a significant role in promoting peace and curbing all manner of violence (Sisk, 2022). In addition, Spruyt stresses the necessity of a different contextualized methodology that ensures all the social and political issues countries face are addressed.
In conclusion, the writer interrogates the conformist knowledge of a state-centric method to global affairs and further highlights the implication of an extra-discussed and adaptive tactic that prevents conflicts and solves conflicts by highlighting all the modern-day conflicts through the multifaceted ideology (Spruyt, 2017). Therefore Spruyt offers a thorough study of the problems that civil wars cause for the international order and offers intuitive facts concerning the complex changing aspects of these civil wars. He has provided clear responsiveness of the primary glitches and the importance of acknowledging new technology as it significantly prevents conflicts. He further recommends digitalizing the international system mandated to tackle international conflicts to address all war-related issues.
References
Kim, S. S. (2019). Taiwan and the international system: the challenge of legitimation. In Taiwan in world affairs (pp. 145–189). Routledge.
Sisk, T. D. (2022). Power sharing after civil wars: matching problems to solutions (pp. 407–425). Springer International Publishing.
Spruyt, H. (2017). Civil wars as challenges to the modern international system. Dædalus, 146(4), 112-125.
Risk Control And Quality Writing Sample
Introduction
Project management, a multifaceted discipline encompassing planning, organizing, and executing projects across a wide range of industries, demands acute attention to risk control and quality management for ensuring successful project completion (Xie & Yang, 2021). The interdependency between these two knowledge domains induces diverse impacts on each other. This study will investigate the link between the two domains of knowledge and evaluate the strategic implications of their work in project management.
Risk control, a crucial aspect of project management, entails identifying, analyzing, and mitigating or avoiding potential risks. Risks can manifest in diverse categories, including but not limited to technical, organizational, financial, and external risks, and can have varying degrees of likelihood and impact (Utne et al., 2020). Deploying strategies such as contingency planning, risk transfer, risk avoidance, or risk acceptance, among others, can be integral in managing these risks effectively.
On the contrary, quality management guarantees that the project’s output aligns with, if not surpasses, the client’s anticipated levels of functionality, reliability, and usability. Diverse processes come into play when enforcing quality management, including quality planning, quality assurance, and quality control. Quality planning sets the groundwork for defining quality standards and metrics, while quality assurance maintains compliance with these benchmarks throughout the project’s lifecycle (Afrin et al., 2019). Finally, quality control flags deviations and malfunctions, spurring corrective action toward rectification.
The interplay between risk control and quality management is apparent. Well-executed risk control strategies aid in minimizing threats to project quality. A noteworthy illustration of this concept is the early identification and resolution of technical risks, which prevent undesired delays and rework that can adversely impact the quality of deliverables (Pertusa-Ortega et al., 2021). Moreover, quality management practices serve to uncover risks that could have detrimental consequences on the project’s overall prosperity. An example is the use of quality control measures to pinpoint defects that may give rise to project delays or cost overruns (Jasti et al., 2021).
From a strategic vantage point, risk control and quality management emerge as quintessential cogs in the wheel of project management. These two epistemological spheres bear witness to the realization of the client’s quality, time, and cost-oriented aspirations. Effective risk control measures prove instrumental in curbing the project’s exposure to uncertainties and contingencies, mitigating the odds of undesirable outcomes. Moreover, the implementation of quality management processes espouses the client’s expectations, ensuring the deliverables are immaculate and potentially surpassing their expectations, ultimately leading to amplified customer satisfaction.
The intricate interplay between risk control and quality management is evinced in their shared need for resource allocation. Both knowledge domains necessitate the allocation of resources, encompassing time, funds, and personnel. Effective risk control mechanisms may require augmenting the resource allocation, for instance, contingency planning or risk transfer. Similarly, quality management procedures may warrant additional resource allocation, such as quality assurance or quality control. Ergo, project managers must tread cautiously and balance the allocation of resources between these two knowledge domains to culminate in the project’s successful realization (Urrohmah & Riandadari, 2019).
The interplay between risk control and quality management manifests through the identification and management of project stakeholders. Stakeholders, whether individuals or groups, have a vested interest in the project’s outcome or its deliverables’ impact. The efficacy of risk control measures is contingent on an acute understanding of project stakeholders, enabling the identification and management of potential risks (Myhill & Hohl, 2019). In parallel, quality management processes necessitate a concerted effort toward engaging project stakeholders, thereby ensuring that their expectations are surpassed.
Conclusion
The convoluted interdependency of risk control and quality management knowledge areas in project management must be balanced. Their dynamic relationship is multifaceted and permeates through various facets. By implementing effective risk control measures, one can proactively avert risks that may compromise project quality, whereas adept quality management can help identify potential hazards that could undermine the project’s triumph. In a larger sense, both these knowledge areas are indispensable in project management, and a project manager’s adroitness lies in striking a balance between these domains to guarantee that project goals are accomplished.
References
Afrin, A. B., Islam, R., Fontaine, R. A. H., Ali, M. Y., & Rahman, M. (2019). A new model of continuous improvement in total quality management from an islamic perspective. The Asian Academy of Management Journal (AAMJ).
Jasti, N. V. K., Venkateswaran, V., Kota, S., & Sangwan, K. S. (2022). A literature review on total quality management (models, frameworks, and tools and techniques) in higher education. The TQM Journal, 34(5), 1298-1319.
Myhill, A., & Hohl, K. (2019). The “golden thread”: Coercive control and risk assessment for domestic violence. Journal of interpersonal violence, 34(21-22), 4477-4497.
Pertusa-Ortega, E. M., Tarí, J. J., Pereira-Moliner, J., Molina-Azorín, J. F., & López-Gamero, M. D. (2021). Developing ambidexterity through quality management and their effects on performance. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 92, 102720.
Urrohmah, D. S., & Riandadari, D. (2019). Identifikasi Bahaya Dengan Metode Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (Hirarc) Dalam Upaya Memperkecil Risiko Kecelakaan Kerja Di Pt. Pal Indonesia. Jurnal Pendidikan Teknik Mesin, 8(1).
Utne, I. B., Rokseth, B., Sørensen, A. J., & Vinnem, J. E. (2020). Towards supervisory risk control of autonomous ships. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 196, 106757.
Xie, H., & Yang, Z. (2021). The Risk Management Mode of Construction Project Management in the Multimedia Environment of Internet of Things. Mobile Information Systems, 2021, 1-8.