Does an MBA degree really help engineers?

NEW DELHI: At the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), year after year, more than 90% of their students are engineers. That they are more adept at cracking the tough entrance exams with their mathematical bent of mind is a different story altogether.

So much so, today it is has become commonplace for an engineer from even the lowliest of colleges to display a masters in business management (MBA) tag.

So is an MBA a must for an engineer? Or is it just herd mentality?

“It’s all about money as it ups your stakes in the job market. It’s also about mental tweaking,” says Siddharth K, an engineer turned entrepreneur. His engineer-MBA brother-in-law Niraj Bhatt who is a market analyst says that he “never wanted to work as an engineer just like chartered accountants don’t want to work as accountants”. 

Snob value apart, while engineering helps them keep abreast of today’s cutting-edge technology, an MBA fine-tunes their interpersonal, information and decision-making skills.

“Engineers already possess a technological understanding, but an MBA gives them a commercial orientation and hones their business acumen,” says E. Balaji, chief operating officer, Ma Foi management consultants. 

Agrees Rajanish Dass, a professor at IIM, Ahmedabad. “The choice to go for a management course is market-driven as business houses in India are trying to go global. Management studies help engineers strategise their corporate skill and move into other verticals like investment banking, sales and marketing where a lot of number crunching is required.”

Now consider the options before an engineer. He either did his Masters or hunted for a job. Agreed that today with growing opportunities, engineering companies like Larsen & Toubro are talking about a paucity of engineers.

This wasn’t the case a few years ago. With India churning out more engineers than any other professional course, supply outstripped demand. This saw engineers take on any jobs. And those who could afford it went for an MBA to add value to their job prospects.

Today, in a post-liberalised India, an MBA is the ticket to ride.  “It opens doors to several industries. The promise of a hefty pay package and career challenges, drive engineers to MBA institutes,” points out Sharad Vaid, product marketing manager, washing machines, LG Electronics.

Making a difference here are the companies. Today’s employers hunt for more than just academic achievers. They seek highly adaptable individuals equipped with a deep understanding of their chosen field and possessing the knowledge and skill to operate on a national and global scale.

“Though engineering forms the backbone of a product, an understanding of the managerial aspects help in comprehending the production, maturity and death of a product,” says Gaurav Banga, regional merchandising manager with Home Solutions Retail India, a subsidiary of Pantaloon Retail.

Earning an MBA degree demonstrates a willingness and commitment to updating skills and professional development. This helps prospective employers to zero in on people who are technically sound as well as market oriented, feel head hunters.