Perceptions of MBA preparation : new Master of Business Administration graduates, their employers, and higher education faculty

This qualitative study compares perceptions of Master of Business Administration (MBA) students and recent MBA graduates with those of employers of recent MBA graduates and MBA faculty regarding the skills, competencies, and experiences needed to be successful in their new graduate jobs. The researcher gathered stakeholder perspectives of the skills, competencies and experiences needed to create successful new MBA graduates through surveys and archival data. Stakeholders included recent MBA graduates, MBA students, MBA faculty, and employers of recent MBA graduates. Analysis included MBA graduates, MBA employers, MBA faculty, and higher education practices. Results suggest that critical thinking, communication, teamwork, leadership along with data analysis are the necessary skills, competencies, and experiences needed to be successful in a recent MBA graduate position. This research further validates the extant research of DiMartino and Castaneda (2007), which indicated that the skills new job entrants most need for success in the workplace include oral and written communication, time management, critical thinking, problem solving, personal accountability, and the ability to work effectively with others. Implications of this research are to advance the academic preparation of MBA students; to improve their oral and written communications skills, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, and data analysis.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational leadership and policy analysis (MU)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Columbia

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Whitlow, Jan H.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Edmonds, Carole A., 1952-

Statement dc:rights

• OpenAccess.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/63739

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/63739