There are many limitations in terms of career advancement and salary potential when it comes to life WITHOUT an MBA. An MBA is viewed as a universally recognized management qualification, one that increases the holder’s market value and opens doors to lucrative careers. Not having an MBA puts one at a distinct advantage in terms of competing for jobs, especially in light of increasing numbers of MBA graduates. According to Miles, “the range of MBAs on offer grows and the number of students mushrooms” (33). As more MBAs become available, those without the advanced degree face stiff competition in terms of hiring, career advancement, and salary potential.

Another limitation from NOT having an MBA is the lack of valuable experience gained by many MBAs as they pursue their degree. Many business schools like MBA candidates to have had real-world experience

Despite the unquestioned value of holding an MBA, there are still negative features associated with it. Some of these include the fact that many companies are averse to hiring MBAs because of cost and/or attitude problems, and many question the values MBAs bring to the organization. Nevertheless, in today’s global, competitive business environment, it is unlikely those without MBAs will, on average, succeed at the level of those with MBAs. There are a few reasons for this. One is the fact that most organizations trust MBA graduates from top business schools like Harvard and Wharton despite any inadequacies. Another is the fact that higher salaries are often justified as a return on investment paid by the MBA holder as a student. A third reason is the valuable skills from sharing with a diverse group of students that MBAs acquire is viewed as highly desirable in today’s global, diverse marketplace. Finally, many top level positions that are available require an MBA degree. Because of these and other reasons, I believe that acquiring an MBA is a worthwhile pursuit for career advancement. It will pay off in terms of personal skills development, increased appreciation of diversity, greater career advancement, and higher salaries. However, the MBA candidate should keep in mind the alternatives that are available, from investing one’s MBA tuition to taking some form of alternative to an MBA for career advancement. Many similar but lesser business management degrees are available at accredited universities worldwide. Nevertheless, this research demonstrates that an MBA may not be the right course for all those interested in a business career. As a result of this analysis, I believe anyone considering taking the MBA route should address the following considerations:

Johnson, L. How useful is an MBA? The Sunday Telegraph, Nov 25, 2001: 4.

There are some advantages to not having an MBA in the modern business environme