Is an M.B.A. a one-way ticket to management? Probably not in most cases. Is an M.B.A. necessary to pursue the management track? Not necessarily. Over the last few decades many organizations have continued to emphasize the M.B.A. degree for managers. There has been a proliferation of M.B.A. degrees to reflect the needs of various specialized disciplines like manufacturing, technology management, marketing, economics, public administration, and many other disciplines. Although these programs are directed at managers or those who plan on becoming involved in managing, they fail to teach the what, why, how, who, when, and where so essential to the manager. We can argue the value of these programs, but all they provide is some basic education about the discipline of management that is not necessarily relevant to the entry-level manager.
Learning about managing is no different than learning about any other profession. An artist masters the art by painting. Knowing how to mix various colors to achieve a particular impact can be learned, but becoming an artist requires practice. A golfer may study and learn about the stance and how to address the ball, but becomes a professional golfer only through dedication and practice. A manager learns to manage through practicing the art of managing.
As an entry-level manager you need some management basics and you’ll learn as your career progresses. You don’t need a semester’s course in financial management for nonfinancial managers if all you need to do is develop a return on investment (ROI) or learn how to put together a budget. You’re not the accountant or controller and you shouldn’t try to be one, but you need to learn enough about what an ROI is and what should be included so you can communicate with your accountant or controller. Provides a list of some modules that apply to (1) general management knowledge, (2) communications in its many forms, and (3) leadership at the entry managing levels that will help the newly appointed manager get on track more quickly.