In work places past, some people with an MBA from Cracker Jack U seemed to be on the management track. I debate this back and forth; in the end, I agree that networking with people who know your work is the best alternative to blowing money on an MBA, cracker jack or not. Do it if you really want to learn and have the confidence it might bring you that you have covered all the bases. However, I would cringe if I had an MBA that was advertising on daytime television, (“drive the big rigs” , remember that?) and this is what worries me most about “The Jack Welch Institute.” Currenlty I see no sign of them except on the internet.
I completed a 1 year Marketing Certificate program at a prestigious university; it gave me the tools I needed when I needed them. But no one has a clue what it was or how rigorous it really was.
So what I am actually doing while I make up my mind is teach myself what I want to know. Do what you are most interested in! Follow your passion! There is a huge amount of material out there: MIT has free online class presentations from some very cool classes on operations and so forth. Did I mention they are Free? I downloaded a pile of material from an operations class and the only drawback was that it really made me want to BE in the class, taking notes and asking questions.

I may not have that particular piece of paper, but I always have felt that the quality of one’s work speaks for itself. Getting the work in the first place is the hard part these days. I suspect that for me, getting a Master’s in Engineering would help more than an MBA. FWIW, I have been a hi-tech marketer for more than a decade. I am not a student of, nor a paid promoter of the Jack Welch Institute.

Good point, Greg, and in terms of adding value with stars-on-the-shoulder and “features” that makes sense. The question I’d ask, though, is about the cost/benefit. If you were a product, is this the most cost effective way to add value? Consider this: is the likely increase in revenue going to offset the up-front investment plus the opportunity cost of getting the MBA if you amortize over the remainder of your career? Barring specific quid pro quo promotions (i.e. we don’t promote people that don’t have MBAs) there is reason to be skeptical.

1 – Steve mentions the primary motivator and that’s “show me the money”. Like it or not, the number of stars on your shoulder impact the initial perception you make with others and it all goes up or down from there.

2 – I want to remove a potential career roadblock. You know, kind of like arming your salesforce with arguments to counter potential sales blocking of customers? Well, I’m selling myself and I want to have all the “features” so I can focus on my true value.