MBA knowledge is a mile wide, but an inch deep

Manoj Jain

My MBA taught me important business tools "" analysis, strategy, innovation and solving complex business problems. So instead of focusing on the cliche "" "what they don't teach you at B-school" "" I've listed where B-schools excel and where they fall short.

B-schools underscore teamwork and networking over the core curriculum. They develop interpersonal competency, teamwork and leadership skills in students. Besides helping find excellent career opportunities, management institutes help their students build invaluable professional networks, which helps to advance careers, promote ideas and even improve sales.

Case studies, group discussions and company visits impart technical skills. But they can't substitute for on-the-job training in the real world or as they say "getting into the trenches". Typical MBA degrees provide business knowledge that's "a mile wide but an inch deep". For instance, finance courses could not help me secure optimal financing.

B-schools don't teach you to deal with the workplace and its politics. People have to learn on their own how to recover from mistakes and learn from them. You have to be the best vendor, and deal with vendors, lead a team and simultaneously be led by a leader and work in a team and get a team to work for you too.

You need to mentor, motivate and inspire others to create sustainable competitive advantages. B-schools cannot teach such important leadership skills.

Manoj Jain is CEO, Pipal Research Corporation. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1994.