Editorial
teamwork
Working long hours?
Sort your teamwork out.
The MBA makes already hard workers work even harder. But teaching teamwork helps MBA
graduates manage their workload better. By ross Geraghty and Jamie donald
A
n estimated 22% of the global workforce, or and what value within the career paths and
614.2 million workers, are working more organizations they choose to work for. Of course
than 48 hours per week on average according the majority expect to work hard but they
to the International Labour Office (ILO). In the increasingly also expect time for friends/family and
UK, 2008 statistics show, Brits work an average of life in general.”
1.8 hours per day more than the European average. Interestingly, and deliberately, while
In Japanese culture, being in the office for 12 hours providing students with too much work, business
a day is common. In the USA, with a basic two-week school provides a series of frameworks to look at
annual holiday allowance, the daily average is not issues and problems. “This helps you to get to the
so long but the annual amount remains high. root of a problem or to find an opportunity very
For most MBA candidates, according to the quickly,” says Downs. “You learn to prioritize so
QS TopMBA Applicant Survey 2008, a 50-hour you can sort out the urgent from the important,
week seems a luxury; 55.4% of international MBA which enables you to work more effectively.
candidates expect to work over 50 hours a week Basically, the MBA gives you more tools in your
and almost 9% think they will work over 70 (see toolkit.”
table 1).
richard Downs
Rebecca Joffrey, associate director of career
Table 1: How many hours do you expect to However the MBA experience provided help in development at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of
work each week post-MBA? his time management and organizational skills. Business, agrees: “Tuck definitely prepares
2008 2007
“The MBA is designed to stretch you and encourage students to manage heavy workloads. Professors
you to prioritise and summarise. It is up to each purposefully give you too much to do which forces
Up to 40 7.7% 8.7%
individual to learn to manage their time and their you to work in teams. It’s not possible to get
40-50 36.8% 38.2%
workload. I found that preparation for the class was everything done by working alone.”
50-60 31.2% 30.6%
the most important thing and although it sounds Aldous says that learning teamwork is an
clichéd, the more you put in to this preparation, the essential aspect of business school. “MBA
60-70 15.6% 14.6%
more you got out of it.” programs are designed to prepare participants for
Over 70 8.8% 7.9%
working in teams, in terms of delegating and
Work/life balance leading varied cultural and functional groups.
Source: topmBa.com applicant Survey 2008
London Business School has a very strong culture The case study methodology relies heavily on
of playing hard according to Downs, which helps multi-functional groups working together to solve
Gaining an MBA and working long hours go hand develop strategies of coping with the stress of different elements of the case, so individuals who
in hand. Most MBA candidates will already working hard and maintaining a healthy work/life have a focus on marketing are equally reliant on
have a strong work ethic from their professional balance. “In reality it was more challenging than someone with highly developed skills in finance
backgrounds and most are under no illusion I imagined, mentally and physically. When you to successfully bring these elements together.
that the work load required on an MBA will are on the ride you can’t think of anything else. It This is excellent preparation for dealing efficiently
differ; it immediately sets a precedent for is all consuming.” with the problems and challenges faced in the
working long hours. Michael Aldous, of IE Business School in work place, placing a premium on collaboration
Richard Downs, CEO and founder of online Spain, has noticed the shift on work/life balance and seeking efficient, team-based solutions.”
travel company iglu.com, graduated with his MBA among the MBA population. “The importance of Teamwork
from the London Business School in 1998. He still good work/life balance is noticeable among Back in the business world, MBA graduates find
works from 8.30am to 7.00pm (approximately a current MBA students and graduates. It is their new-found skills and experience of teamwork
50-hour week) unless something major comes up. manifested in the career choices they are taking of immense value in the workplace, including
34 TopMBA CAreer Guide www.topmba.com
MBA_FALL_08_pp_002-065.indd 34 11/8/08 18:19:01
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