MBA's bleak future? Why art graduates and designers transform the workplace
Do you love this or is this frightening?
The first article of the last issue of the Harvard Business Review (February 2004) presented a list of breakthrough management ideas 2004. And what we always thought would happen comes true: MBA’s are somewhat out in the professional world while creative arts is in. The article states the following facts
· Admission to UCLA's fine arts graduate school is 3%, while Harvard admits 10% of the applications. Apparently, corporate recruiters have begun visiting top arts grad schools - places such as the Rhode Island School of Design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Michigan Cranbook Academy of Art - in search of talent.
· Even the bluest of the blue consulting firms – McKinsey - hires outside their traditional domain. It is stated that in 1993, 61% of McKinsey 's hires had MBA degrees and that around now this ratio is down to 43%. They state that McKinsey says other disciplines are just as valuable in helping new hires perform well at the firm.
Amazing? How come you ask?
Well, a function of demand and supply is one thing. There are just too many MBA’s in the world – when everybody studies the same, salaries drop, at least for those who are not able to distinguish themselves. However, companies demand an MBA – and as such, such a degree might just become the entry ticket to the working world anyway. And if there is someone living on the other side of the world (from the US, so to speak), whose salary is small compared to his or her American colleagues, well, corporations go for it!
But this doesn’t quite explain everything.
The basic is that in a world, where products, services companies and probably employees look the same and think the same, where consumers are flooded with offerings and advertisements play the same card over and over again – what does a company need from its employees?
Over the last couple of years, an increased number of studies indicate that design and innovation becomes crucial – but how to get it from same-looking, same-thinking, same-developing employees that are coming out from universities? Well, look for someone who stands out from the crowd. Someone, who is different, has done something different and is able to bring the "Difference" to the table. To enhance the thinking in your company.
And to create great products.
Just listen to auto industry legend Robert Lutz. When Lutz took over as chairman of General Motors North America, a journalist asked him how his approach would differ from his predecessor's.
Here's what he said: "It's more right brain.... I see us as being in the art business. Art, entertainment, and mobile sculpture, which, coincidentally, also happens to provide transportation." General Motors-General Motors!-is in the art business. So, now, are we all."
Design is everything in the Brand New World
(By Asia Business Consulting)
The first article of the last issue of the Harvard Business Review (February 2004) presented a list of breakthrough management ideas 2004. And what we always thought would happen comes true: MBA’s are somewhat out in the professional world while creative arts is in. The article states the following facts
· Admission to UCLA's fine arts graduate school is 3%, while Harvard admits 10% of the applications. Apparently, corporate recruiters have begun visiting top arts grad schools - places such as the Rhode Island School of Design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Michigan Cranbook Academy of Art - in search of talent.
· Even the bluest of the blue consulting firms – McKinsey - hires outside their traditional domain. It is stated that in 1993, 61% of McKinsey 's hires had MBA degrees and that around now this ratio is down to 43%. They state that McKinsey says other disciplines are just as valuable in helping new hires perform well at the firm.
Amazing? How come you ask?
Well, a function of demand and supply is one thing. There are just too many MBA’s in the world – when everybody studies the same, salaries drop, at least for those who are not able to distinguish themselves. However, companies demand an MBA – and as such, such a degree might just become the entry ticket to the working world anyway. And if there is someone living on the other side of the world (from the US, so to speak), whose salary is small compared to his or her American colleagues, well, corporations go for it!
But this doesn’t quite explain everything.
The basic is that in a world, where products, services companies and probably employees look the same and think the same, where consumers are flooded with offerings and advertisements play the same card over and over again – what does a company need from its employees?
Over the last couple of years, an increased number of studies indicate that design and innovation becomes crucial – but how to get it from same-looking, same-thinking, same-developing employees that are coming out from universities? Well, look for someone who stands out from the crowd. Someone, who is different, has done something different and is able to bring the "Difference" to the table. To enhance the thinking in your company.
And to create great products.
Just listen to auto industry legend Robert Lutz. When Lutz took over as chairman of General Motors North America, a journalist asked him how his approach would differ from his predecessor's.
Here's what he said: "It's more right brain.... I see us as being in the art business. Art, entertainment, and mobile sculpture, which, coincidentally, also happens to provide transportation." General Motors-General Motors!-is in the art business. So, now, are we all."
Design is everything in the Brand New World
(By Asia Business Consulting)
posted by Andreas @ 8:28 pm
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