Is an MBA Just for Show? Five Myths Surrounding MBA Programs

The Faculty of Business Administration is the only higher-education institution in the Czech Republic to hold the coveted “Triple Crown” accreditation awarded to the world’s top schools offering MBA programs. The excellence of our faculty often shines through in the words of applicants to this demanding education—time and again we hear variations on, “I’m not after the title; I want to learn something.”

Yet we still find that many companies regard this form of education as little more than superficial glitter. To understand what underlies that attitude, we surveyed several hundred HR professionals.

With a few honorable exceptions—those who see a high-quality MBA as a means to support their key talent and boost the company’s competitiveness—the prevailing reactions were neutral at best, and often negative. From dozens of responses gathered from mid-sized and large Czech and multinational companies, we distilled the five most frequent myths surrounding MBAs. Alongside each myth, we offer our perspective on the nature and true value of a quality MBA delivered by a respected, accredited institution.

‎ ‎

Myth 1: An MBA is just theoretical study like any other university degree

A top-tier MBA is built on practical application.
Seminar papers, team presentations, and final projects all focus on real-world challenges.
Lectures emphasize not the breadth of theory but the ability to apply what you’ve learned within your own teams and companies.
Moreover, seasoned students—often in senior management roles—ground discussions in practical context and share their insights with classmates.
A quality MBA marries theory with practice and leverages students’ collective experience to shape them into genuine agents of change.

Myth 2: An MBA is just a title anyone can buy

Indeed, there are programs on the market that promise an MBA “in 15 minutes per day” for a few thousand crowns.
A reputable program, by contrast, demands substantial ongoing effort—both individual and team-based.
To push students beyond their comfort zones, high standards are rigorously maintained, covering a wide spectrum of subjects and involving numerous instructors: academicians with a practical orientation alongside seasoned industry experts.
Sustaining such quality is also mandated by Czech and international accreditation bodies.
That’s why a quality MBA is neither cheap nor easy to complete successfully.

Myth 3: An MBA is just a useless piece of paper; real experience and skills are what matter

It’s true that people, not their degrees, do the good work.
But in a strong MBA cohort, you’ll meet experienced managers from diverse industries, educational backgrounds, and roles in medium and large companies.
Through applying theory both to your own organization and to peers’ companies, you gain insights far more rapidly than you would on the job alone.
Regular feedback from instructors—many of whom have entrepreneurial experience themselves—further accelerates your development.
Rigorous MBA programs also hone your ability to absorb new knowledge quickly, manage time effectively, work in teams, and perform under pressure.
In short, a quality MBA is a demanding yet rewarding fast-track to new skills and capabilities.

Myth 4: An MBA might be interesting for individuals, but it’s not for the company

Individual motivation is, of course, the foundation for mastering demanding studies alongside professional—and often family—responsibilities.
A well-designed program, however, encourages students to apply their new knowledge and skills immediately to benefit their teams and organizations.
Company support not only reinforces current talent but also sends a powerful signal to prospective managerial candidates, both internally and externally.
For that reason, a quality MBA should always feature among the development opportunities offered to a firm’s key talent.

Myth 5: An MBA is just a shortcut for those without a university degree

A rigorous MBA is anything but a shortcut.
One of the prerequisites for admission to reputable MBA programs is a university degree coupled with significant professional—and typically managerial—experience.
Our MBA students come from varied academic backgrounds—economics, engineering, medicine, architecture, and the arts.
In exceptional cases, extensive business experience (for example, founding and growing one’s own company) can compensate for the absence of a university degree.
Thus, a good MBA is not a substitute for missing higher-education credentials but rather the next step for degree-holders who, after years in the field, wish to broaden their horizons and accelerate their personal and professional growth.

‎ ‎

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of high-quality business education or about our program and students, please contact us. We’ll be happy to involve you in a discussion on how to foster employee development and enhance corporate competitiveness in the Czech Republic.

Vojtěch Opleštil
Executive Director of the Executive MBA Program
t: (420) 739 685 930, e: vojtech.oplestil@vse.cz