It’s quite likely that your boss has an MBA. CIO.com’s executive career counselors are pretty unanimous in recommending that path for any upwardly mobile IT worker. Two years ago, however, a Stanford University study suggested that MBAs were overrated. Since then, prominent guys like Guy Kawasaki (an MBA and the CEO of venture capital outfit Garage Technology Ventures) have told outlets like Forbes the same thing. The Graduate Management Admission Council (an association of business schools) begs to differ (naturally). Its Global MBA Graduate Survey 2004 says the MBA class of 2004 rates the value of their MBA high, relative to the cost of the degree. Fifty-eight percent rate their MBA’s value as excellent or outstanding, and 30 percent rate it as good. Of course, they were all still on a graduation high when surveyed, but we won’t nitpick. If you want to pursue an MBA, talk it over with your CEO, who might either get misty-eyed or suspicious if she’s read that recent GMAC study and remembers the highlight: 54 percent of graduating MBAs surveyed said they were using the MBA as a means of changing career tracks. That’s backed up by comments from Electronic Arts co-founder William Gordon in the September issue of American Airlines’ in-flight magazine American Way. In To MBA or Not to MBA, That Is the Question, which discusses the MBA experience with seven top-level executives from publicly traded U.S. companies, Gordon says, “It’s a very hefty investment of money and opportunity for anyone who already loves their job. But it’s a great way to change tracks for someone who is bored or dead-ended.” [Italics ours.] A sidebar lists some famous (and famously wealthy) IT folks who skipped the MBA: namely Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. And, an aside: The in-flight mag also features a review of new laptops and they all sound spiffy. If your CEO flies American, don’t be surprised by queries about the Sharp Actius MM20 (for the workaholic), the Sony Vaio X505 (for the style-conscious) or the Panasonic Toughbook CF-73 (for the military or bungee-jumping boss). Related content brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software Why data virtualization is critical for business success Data is your most valuable resource—but only if you can access it fast enough to address present challenges. Data virtualization is the key. By Milan Shetti, CEO of Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software The hybrid approach: Get the best of both mainframe and cloud Cloud computing and modernization often go hand in hand, but that doesn’t mean the mainframe should be left behind. A hybrid approach offers the most value, enabling businesses to get the best of both worlds. By Milan Shetti, CEO Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street Dear Oracle Cloud…I need my own space Access results from a recent Rimini Street survey about why enterprises are rethinking their Oracle relationship and cloud strategy. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 5 mins Cloud Computing brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street How to evolve IT systems into innovation engines Today’s IT leaders are more than eager to modernize with best-fit cloud solutions that drive innovation and rapid business impact, but they need to do so with ROI-based solutions. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe