Online MBA Forum

So why haven't I got an MBA? Well, interestingly there are times when I wish I had, but actually I gained a Masters in Computing Science, and then considered studying for an online MBA. However, at the time I was asked to write and teach on the manangement information systems course for an MBA in my institution.

I actually sat in on most of the classes for the MBA as I needed to be really familiar with the material that was being taught in order to be able to teach my part of the program. The need for integration in an MBA program is a major priority, and so it's necessary for lecturers to work together and become aware of all the subjects being studied.

However, I never had time to take the exams, and although I was involved in the joint assignments, it was as a lecturer. So it was not appropriate for me to gain the qualification.

However, I have since run my own business, and I find that I draw on the materials that we developed on the MBA, and in particular the way in which we had to think in order to be able to teach our students.

OK, so what is taught on an MBA as tactical thinking? Well, this is about the operations of a company - how the everyday tasks get done. For instance, tactical work will include the usual functions of the company, such as HR, accounting and production. The kinds of tactical decisions that need to be made on an everyday level include maintenance and functioning of the production plant, replacing staff who leave, making sure that the statutory accounting procedures are complied with.

I suppose the way that you could relatively easily distinguish between tactical and strategic thinking is by looking at the kinds of decisions that are made. If the decisions affect the company as a whole, or the direction of a particular part of the company, then that is a strategic decision. If the decision is one that simply allows business as usual, then it is likely that it is a tactical decision.

I had a student ask me what I meant by strategic thinking as opposed to tactical thinking - they commented that they always thought of military battles when these two terms were used. Actually they probably started as military, but they apply to business very well.

Tactics are the every day operations of a business - how things get done in order for the business to be able to produce the goods or services that they sell in order to make a profit. Strategy is about what the business is, and where it is going in the future. For instance, if a product ceases to make a profit, it would be a strategic decision to change the product, or even change the kinds of products that the company produces.

These two kinds of thinking are different but linked. It is possible to learn how to deal with these different kinds of thinking, and study programs such as MBAs aim to teach these different kinds of processes and how to deal with them.

So why are MBA graduates seen as being so effective? Well, in part this is a self-selecting process. The people who are motivated to study for an MBA are self-motivating, and can motivate themselves to achieve for their business as well as for themselves.

But the learning process of an MBA also helps. An MBA is counted as a professional degree rather than as an academic degree, implying training in skills as well as the acquision of knowledge. An MBA will help you to think strategically as well as tactically, to work as a leader and to think for the future.