Life skills gained from the MBA : a South African perspective .
Date
2017
Authors
Chetty, Devina Preabruth
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Abstract
Background: The Masters of Business Administration degree is a much sought after management qualification globally. Most students pursue the MBA to enhance their knowledge of business, improve their managerial skills and employability and to earn more money. However despite its popularity, it has been noted in research that the MBA curricula adequately develop analytical skills such as accounting, strategy and statistics but fails to develop students’ problem solving, communication, critical, interpersonal and leadership skills. Life skills have become imperative in today’s fast paced, rapidly changing global business environment.
Purpose: This research aims to identify life skills gained by the South African MBA students and to match specific life skill development to specific courses, incidents or events that occurred during their studies.
Method: Qualified MBA graduates as well as MBA students in their final year of study were targeted for this study. The survey instrument was emailed to the target population. The research methodology used was quantitative in nature with a few open ended question.
Key Findings: Self-management, communication and emotional intelligence were identified as the three most important life skills. Sustainability orientation, life-long learning, cross-cultural sensitivity and networking skills were not viewed as important career-related skills. A correspondence analysis of the data that links the development of life skills to specific teaching methods shows that there is an association between teaching methods and life skills development. Subsequent to the analysis of the data, life skills were grouped according to skills that relate to one’s self or ‘intrinsic’ and skills that one uses when relating to others or ‘extrinsic’. Group activities are associated with the development of many life skills whilst field trips, international trips and social responsibility activities were perceived to be insignificant in the development of life skills.
Description
MBA Thesis
Keywords
Master of business administration degree -- South Africa,Management -- Study and teaching (Graduate),Life skills.