| This is a decision I would make before even joining | | | | What are the Employment opportunities? |
| MBA program. If you have a choice between one or | | | | Generally the type of jobs marketing guys end up |
| two schools then your option should depend on the | | | | with after MBA are in Sales, Brand Management, |
| school that is known and good for the specialization. | | | | Business Development, Marketing Research, |
| The potential employers also may decide the same | | | | Distribution and logistics management, Marketing |
| way - that is the marketing jobs will be going to the | | | | controller and jobs in Advertising Though experience |
| schools where marketing is strong. I can understand | | | | in sales is good it is not the only route to ascend to |
| that because if I were to get a marketing guy sharp | | | | Marketing Director position, which in turn can be a |
| enough to handle the present intensive competition, | | | | spring board for further jump in the organization. |
| someone with a lot of new ideas, I would look for | | | | However,, it is highly desirable to get your hands |
| them in a school which is very strong in marketing. | | | | dirty with sales and get the feel of the market. It is |
| Also, most programs include projects - at the end of | | | | therefore good if you have in your cart the brand |
| the first year then you need to select a marketing | | | | management, sales management, marketing research |
| project so that you have something to talk about to | | | | and may be strategic marketing. You can add others |
| your potential employers and get some idea of the | | | | like advertising if you like. Consumer behavior should |
| realities in marketing before you go out of the school. | | | | come some where or other. Consumer behavior is |
| What is the meaning of specialization? | | | | also a very good and very interesting course. But |
| Actually the term specialization should not be | | | | because the students feel it is too basic they avoid it |
| misunderstood at the MBA level. It simply means that | | | | sometimes, and schools seem to slowly stop teaching |
| a student has done more marketing courses than | | | | this subject. |
| others and also has done project work in this area. | | | | There is no dearth of opportunities for finance |
| How many of these courses would depend on the | | | | specialists. Banks, Insurance companies, Investment |
| school and its program structure. Frequently, within | | | | companies, manufacturing, you can say finance gives |
| the specialization there could be courses that are | | | | you the potential for omnipresence. In recent years |
| compulsory like the global marketing in marketing or | | | | the banks and investment companies have been |
| international marketing course and the others are | | | | making very attractive offers to finance specialists. |
| chosen by the student. Same holds true for other | | | | Who Can ascend to the Top? |
| subjects too. | | | | My personal experience (which is open to debate) is |
| Marketing, Finance, Human resource Management, | | | | that the Marketing and Finance guys have a better |
| Operations Management, IT and General Management | | | | chance of being Chief Executives for the simple |
| which are very functional in nature are generally | | | | reason that these two hold the main threads to the |
| offered by most business schools. Each of these | | | | organizational performance. I noticed that when the |
| functionally organized specializations structure an | | | | market or the firm is in a growth path heading |
| appropriate mix of courses which are contemporary | | | | towards leadership and dominance in the market, the |
| in nature and embedded with current issues. | | | | marketing guys would have a good chance. Further, |
| The demand for Marketing and Finance | | | | the nature of business also determines the preferred |
| specialiazations is high compared to the others | | | | background for CEO. In times when the company |
| because of the recruitment potential. Together, most | | | | needs financial revamp or in companies/banks where |
| of the time, about 45-50 percent of the jobs are in | | | | the products are mainly financial product and require |
| this area with peak salary offers and the rest spread | | | | a good understanding of finance a finance person |
| into other areas. | | | | would do well. However, these days we find a |
| What should be the factors to consider? | | | | marketing push being given in financial institutions also. |
| Students often struggle to make this decision. Again, | | | | Human Resource management is good too and finds |
| one should not get into any specialization without | | | | a prominent role in the organization. It is about |
| giving due consideration for the kind of jobs they will | | | | handling people and also the development of the |
| get into in future. One should not get into | | | | people, personnel policies, development of people, |
| specialization because that person is not comfortable | | | | recruiting people, finding talent, learning centre |
| with the other alternative. I hate to see some | | | | administration, salaries, promotions and industrial |
| student get into marketing because he is scared or | | | | relations as well. |
| does not like finance, but is not really interested in | | | | Operation Management provides understanding of the |
| marketing either. He is just there because that is | | | | manufacturing, planning production, optimization, |
| specialization that gets him a good job as an | | | | inventory management, supply chain management, |
| alternate to finance. I really would not want such | | | | logistics and physical distribution optimization and |
| students in a marketing classes. | | | | similar aspects. |
| You also need to make choice of the courses you | | | | IT is known to many. It does not deal with software |
| will take with in your specialization. For this there is | | | | but more like the technology, technology marketing |
| time but it will be known by the end of year one. | | | | and the issues related IT infrastructure and perhaps |
| Students can also request the school to offer some | | | | marketing IT products. |
| special courses they want. I would not restrict myself | | | | One must remember that these are not strictly |
| to the number required but would take as many | | | | drawn chambers and to be on the top one must |
| good courses as possible, at least audit some, as I | | | | finally be familiar with all areas. |
| could to get a good 360 degree view of the function. | | | | |