BizAnalyst Network: CAN A "PERSONAL MBA" MATCH THE REAL MCCOY?

Thursday, April 06, 2006

CAN A "PERSONAL MBA" MATCH THE REAL MCCOY?

Proponents of self-learning say that B-schools are a waste of time
and money. Traditional MBAs say there's no substitute for the
Halls of Ivy Do you really need to spend upwards of $80,000 in
tuition and take two years off to become senior management
material? The supporters of an alternative method, the Personal
MBA (PMBA), say no, and it's an idea that's developing some traction.

According to the advocates of the Personal MBA, all you have to do
to measure up to the pricey MBAs turned out by B-schools is to
keep gaining work experience, read a series of books at your
leisure, and talk about them with an online community. The
organized B-school community, of course, maintains it's not so simple.

GRASSROOTS APPROACH. The PMBA, essentially an online list of
reading material and accompanying message boards, is part book
club and part online community, where participants tackle the
reading list one book at a time, then exchange thoughts and
insights on the Web site personalmba.com. There is no diploma,
dean, faculty -- or cost, other than whatever you pay for the
books or a library card.

http://newsletters.businessweek.com/c.asp?id=608042&c=22f6a904cf512287&l=3