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This book addresses the thorny question of What is an MBA really about? It does this by describing a personal journey through the degree programme at one of the most successful Business Schools.
There is no doubt that the MBA is an unusual educational event and there has been some debate as to whether it should really be considered a Masters degree. There has been no simple answer to this and neither is there likely to be one. But maybe there is an even more interesting question to ask which is What can be learnt from an MBA?
In my case I learnt that I could work 80 hours a week or more, week-in and week-out; I learnt that I could produce a report with zero errors and I could submit it on time when it was necessary; I learnt that I could survive a draconian regime by keeping my head down and getting on with the job at hand; I learnt that 08.00 does not mean 08.01; I learnt that group work can be essential, but I also learnt that a group can also waste a lot of time if it is not focused on the job in the right way; I learnt that I could hold my own in a group of 86 people who were supposed to be special and were expected to become the future leaders of South African industry.
A question then is, Would you do this degree again if you knew what you now know? The answer in my case is "Yes" but I would like to have known about the draconian culture of the institution before signing up. I could have been emotionally better prepared for what was an ordeal.
