MBA Systems - Have done MBA in Systems and is rocking today...

[Anks_Aggz]

i am really confused over MBA specializtion. B tech in Computers, I have two year work ex with infosys as a S\W Engg. My institute offers dual specialization. im currently in final year

which is good:
MBA IT + fin
MBA IT + mktg
MBA fin + mktg

I know every field and combo can offer good career prospects. My dilemma is that i am quite comfortable with both finance and mktg. I equally enjoy IT. Dont know which way to go....

Which combo offers more growth is my question... to be very specific. Since i have done Computers in grad and have related workex wont it be better if i go for the last combo as i wud broaden my scope and also bcos IT firms dnt give any special preference to IT majors while recruiting. Shall i stick to IT field atall or move on to some other sector. If i had a certain liking i wud have followed my heart but right now i equally like all. Please help.

I have gone through the whole thread. What roles can Fin + IT fetch apart from a Business analyst.

[anuragxp]

Originally Posted by akash11111

Hi Anurag,

Thought this thread was dead. Glad that you are still responding to posters.
I asked this question in another bschool thread.this thread is more relevant.
I believe a major chunk if IT grads doing mba are predominantly from the app dev/testing group. what are the kinds of profiles offered to them post mba? since many would not have ERP/CRM/Consulting experience, do companies train mba grads on a certain ERP system or is it biz dev/project management kind of roles offered to them? I was wondering if I, coming from a non ERP background, will be able to move into ERP(as a consultant).
In general, if you an explain the roles available in IT consulting that would give me more clarity on how exactly an MBA is going to help me(on the short-medium term. I feel in the long run, an mba IS valuable).

ps:i've got a few more questions. i do not want to spam this thread(will probably PM you).Please reply when you find time.

Hi Akash,

This thread is not dead yet, people like my friend Aditya keep checking the queries and respond wherever possible Your job profile post MBA would depend on your interest - people with Development/Testing background can go back into a managerial role (Project Manager/Lead, Testing Manager etc.), designation may vary depending upon the level of experience and company policies. I have noticed that people who have spent a considerable amount of time in Dev./Testing tend to get bored with those roles and want to experiment with new roles such as Marketing/Sales/Business Analysis or ERP.

However, for those kind of profiles you need not have a specialization in Systems and you should go for a Marketing/Finance specialization instead. The best combination for people with technical background and a decent work experience is Finance/Marketing Major with Minor specialization in Systems where you pick up subjects that add value to your skillset. IT Companies have thousands of people who understand technology but very few who have the Business Domain knowledge and the ability to link technology with Business.

Most IT Companies would give you an option of choosing your desired area of work at the time of campus placements (and the selection procedure is different for different profiles). Then, if you get selected, you are made to undergo a rigorous training - depending upon the profile - for instance if you become an ERP consultant, you would specialize in a particular module of an ERP product (say SAP FICO Module) and the company would invest in your training. IT Consulting would have different meanings for different organisations, but generally (in "Good" companies) for an MBA with technical background it involves things like IT Strategy formulation, Application Portfolio Optimization, Information Security Audit, SOX Consulting etc. (for details on these jargon, please feel free to refer to Google and Wikipedia ) - the good thing is that you don't need to go into the IT Industry for this profile

Hope it helps

Cheers!
Anurag

[akash11111]

Boy! you did explain in some detail. Thanks a ton buddy!

As you said, im actually not interested in proj management. I want to move into the sales/ biz development side. But ERP consultancy seems to be equally attractive. and I understand, MBAs grow as functional consultants.

Also, can u post your pre and post mba profiles(if that is ok with you).

My profile, in brief...
2.5 years in app development in a huge MNC(literally!) with an okish presence in India(worked on open source as well as proprietory tech.)
zero exposure to erp, crm etc.
currently managing a team of ten.

Im doing a bit of soul searching as to what I really want to do a few years down the line and whether an mba is really going to help me get there.

[Anks_Aggz]

Hi Anurag,

I request you t address my concern as well. I have posted myquery above. I need to take a decision and want to take an informed one. U already said that guys with IT backgroud should take mar/fin as major and IT as minor. Shall we not take Marktng and Finance and leave out it all together.

What wud be a more potent combo.

Plz advise.

[anuragxp]

Originally Posted by Anks_Aggz

Hi Anurag,

I request you t address my concern as well. I have posted myquery above. I need to take a decision and want to take an informed one. U already said that guys with IT backgroud should take mar/fin as major and IT as minor. Shall we not take Marktng and Finance and leave out it all together.

What wud be a more potent combo.

Plz advise.
.
.
.

i am really confused over MBA specializtion. B tech in Computers, I have two year work ex with infosys as a S\W Engg. My institute offers dual specialization. im currently in final year

which is good:
MBA IT + fin
MBA IT + mktg
MBA fin + mktg

I know every field and combo can offer good career prospects. My dilemma is that i am quite comfortable with both finance and mktg. I equally enjoy IT. Dont know which way to go....

Which combo offers more growth is my question... to be very specific. Since i have done Computers in grad and have related workex wont it be better if i go for the last combo as i wud broaden my scope and also bcos IT firms dnt give any special preference to IT majors while recruiting. Shall i stick to IT field atall or move on to some other sector. If i had a certain liking i wud have followed my heart but right now i equally like all. Please help.

I have gone through the whole thread. What roles can Fin + IT fetch apart from a Business analyst.

Hi!

I can only offer a typical Consultant's response - "It Depends" Which Combo offers more growth depends on a lot of things - your Aptitude, Industry, Profile etc. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend any Combo to you at this stage - just go through the description of profiles posted on this thread and make a selection, then see what combination would be best suited for the chosen profile. Even I was in a similar position some time back - decided to do a Fin+Sys initially then I found Fin. too boring and at the same time Marketing too fascinating.... finally decided that I would pick and choose subjects that interest me and add value..ultimately ended up specializing in Marketing & Systems Just forget the specializations for a second and pick up subjects that you like, growth will automatically follow!

Originally Posted by Akash

Boy! you did explain in some detail. Thanks a ton buddy!

As you said, im actually not interested in proj management. I want to move into the sales/ biz development side. But ERP consultancy seems to be equally attractive. and I understand, MBAs grow as functional consultants.

Also, can u post your pre and post mba profiles(if that is ok with you).

My profile, in brief...
2.5 years in app development in a huge MNC(literally!) with an okish presence in India(worked on open source as well as proprietory tech.)
zero exposure to erp, crm etc.
currently managing a team of ten.

Im doing a bit of soul searching as to what I really want to do a few years down the line and whether an mba is really going to help me get there.

Let's not get into personal discussions here yaar There is nothing great about my profile - completed my MBA and joined the IT Industry as a fresher, worked with a Big 5 IT company in a role that was mix of Business Analysis & Business Development...enjoyed the role, now joined a Big 4 Consulting organisation. For any personal discussions, please feel free to PM me - let's use this thread for general discussion only

Cheers!
Anurag

[Wynand]

Hi Anurag.

You seem to be the competent authority on MBA Systems who I wish will address my doubts satisfactorily. Please look into my query. Thanks in advance

[anuragxp]

Originally Posted by Wynand

A query on similar lines I am an IT prof working in a remote infrastructure management/app. support kind of role. So are my avenues post MBA defined by my experience ? Or will I fall into the general s/w engg-MBA placement category for laterals ? Thanks in advance !

To answer the question in short, there is no reason why you will not get the same opportunities as any other candidate Remote Infrastructure Management itself is one of the fastest growing areas (growing at over 100% for some companies) and you can easily get into a management role in any of the companies present in this domain - growth would be exponential since there are very few professionals available here. Also, Apps support is not too different from Development - especially if you look at the kind (quality) of projects executed by the Indian IT companies Ultimately, it's all about marketing yourself

Cheers!
Anurag

[rupesh.bhosle]

Hi There,
Thanks for sharing all this information.
I'm interested in an MBA in System. Is online degree as good as a classroom one? Can you please tell me which colleges provide online MBA in systems or IT?
Also my grad percent are under 50. Am I eligible for it?
Can you please tell me which institutes provide MBA in IT/Systems for under 50's?

Regards,
Rupesh Bhosle

[misra.vaibhav]

Hi
Am so no Frequent visitor to the Thread,

Wanna have feedback on the Verticals & Pay Packs specifically that could be achieved by doing: SYS+FIN by Symbi. Telco.(GD/PI call-Yet to Convert) ;
A brief Summary of Mine:
2004-B.Tech-ECE,
W.Ex=3.5+campused includes telco gaints for instance Tata(SE)/Reliance(Dy.Mngr.)/another IT Gaint(Analyst)
Package a decent..........

Give an I/P of the Lateral Placements in the Inti. in Question--------->

[matty2008]

hi seniors,
I have done my b-tech in cs (2007 passout). Now aiming for cat 2008. I am a fresher . Pls tell me which is better for me:
1) systems (major specialization)+ marketing(minor specialization)

2)systems (major specialization)+finance(minor specialization)

is it true that finance people with C.A or ACCOUNTANTS are given much preferance in IT firms. Will i have to go back to coding if i opt for systems (major specialization)+ marketing(minor specialization).
Pls give me your idea .