Skills Needed to Successfully Complete

Skills Needed to Successfully Complete the MBA Program

When an individual applies for admission to an MBA program, there is, at the outset, the assumption that the applicant has the intellectual ability and maturity, plus the motivation, the time and the discipline to be able to complete the out-of-class work as assigned. And, too, the individual must possess the "big picture" vision of how the future will be positively impacted by completion of the courses and requirements.

Meantime, there are several key questions that need to be addressed by the applicant. "How do I expect to be successful in an MBA Program?" is a prime question, and my answer is, I will address all questions as to the MBA program's requirements, and answer them honestly, as a first step towards success in this MBA program.

Another pivotal question is, what skills, experiences and attributes will the individual bring to the MBA program in question, that will help the person achieve the stated goal of achieving the MBA diploma? Another question is important: what level of effort and what specific abilities does one need to reach the goal of an MBA?

According to Inside Yahoo Education, which provides information from Kaplan Test Prep, 2004, there are certain basic quantitative skills that may well be necessary: some MBA programs require experience in the study of statistics, algebra, and calculus; others ask for less mathematics knowledge and are in fact "moving away from the analytical approaches" of a few years ago. Still, one should expect to be comfortable with -- and have hands-on experience in -- general fields of mathematics.

Once enrolled in an MBA program, it will be necessary for a student to have the aptitude and appetite for the following disciplines: accounting, finance, organizational behavior, marketing, statistics, and organization, the Yahoo article explains.

One also must be technologically adroit, and have a comfort level with computers and all digital technology. "Word processing, spreadsheets, and databases" are areas of computer technology that an MBA student must have polished, working skills in, the Yahoo article points out.

Further, it is a well-known fact today that many corporations use the concept of "teambuilding" in their management structure, and hence, MBA programs "have converted an increased share of course work from individual work to team work," according to the Yahoo article. One must have good interpersonal skills to team up with colleagues and classmates -- and that is clearly a pivotal attribute within the MBA genre.

Meanwhile, according to an in-depth survey of employers conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council ("Employer Assessment of MBA Students" 2004), some of the most important attributes that a person completing an MBA should possess include: a) "strong communication/interpersonal skills"; b) "proven ability to perform"; c) "cultural fit with company"; d) "evidence of adaptability"; e) "quantitative knowledge" and "technical skills acquired in MBA program"; f) "management knowledge/skills acquired in MBA program"; also listed by employers as fundamentally important is a prior work record that is positive and a "history of increased job responsibility."

In that survey, employers in the field of "Health Care and Pharmaceutical" were queried as to the "Top Five Skills That Are Attractive in MBA Graduates." Since my concentration is Healthcare Management, this portion of the survey is of keen interest. Those top five skills, which I believe I possess, include: 1) "ability to think analytically"; 2) "ability to think strategically"; 3) "leadership skills"; 4) "oral communication skills"; 5) and "interpersonal skills."

Moreover, among the Healthcare/Pharmaceutical skills that employers in this survey believe should "be strengthened" through MBA programs, are: "ability to make decisions with imperfect information"; "ability to think strategically"; and "written communication skills."

In conclusion, I wish to address another question which was posed for this essay, "What are your concerns about your ability to be successful in an MBA program?" My concerns are related to how high I can go in my MBA program scholastic achievement -- to what level of excellence I will achieve -- not whether or not I can succeed. I already have a positive track record in success and achievement in all jobs and responsibilities I have embraced, and I am confident in my ability to do well academically.