The MFA is the New MBA | HBR IdeaCast

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  1

  Claire D.

  05/13/08 | Report as spam

  Right Brain--Left Brain

  There is some valid, good thought leadership behind these ideas. My client, who is a design firm principal, published an article on this topic on the Marketing Profs site in 2006. BNET readers may wish to check the article out at this link:
  https://www.marketingprofs.com/login/join.asp?adref=rdblk&source=%2F6%2Fmininni4%2Easp
  
  "Left Brain, Right Brain: Creating a New Business Model" gives business owners real food for thought.

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  silveag

  05/14/08 | Report as spam

  RE: The MFA is the New MBA | HBR IdeaCast

  TI security in some companies, like mine, veto podcasts so that??s a public that you cannot reach, unfortunately.

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  charles.duncan01@...

  05/14/08 | Report as spam

  RE: The MFA is the New MBA | HBR IdeaCast

  Great piece. We have finally come of age, "The MFA is the New MBA" endorses
  the argument for liberal arts and full-range thinking. Specialization has been
  the rule for the past decades, now empathy to the client, customer, reader,
  patient is back. Remember "bedside manner"?

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  tlandonmatteson

  05/19/08 | Report as spam

  This doesn't make sense

  Even as a liberal arts major with no graduate experience, it seems to me that the people who chose to do an MFA over an MBA would likely be successful because of their creativity, regardless of their degree. And just because you have an MFA on your resume doesn't mean that you are creative or that you can contribute with what creativity you have. These articles (I haven't read the book, nor do I intend to) are trying to find a rubber stamp for something that is pretty much intangible.

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  JaaronAndersoncom

  05/20/08 | Report as spam

  balance of mind power

  As a professional artist (rightbrain) and application specialist (leftbrain) the writing Ms. Bell speaks of can also directly reflect to how to approach innovation in programming and providing solutions for your clients...
  
  best,
  JAaronAnderson.com

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  coomer.org

  05/20/08 | Report as spam

  RE: The MFA is the New MBA | HBR IdeaCast

  I agree. Having a balance is key and most often unheard of.
  
  In my experience, the most successful managers, leaders and entrepreneurs have been able to understand creative or at least really "get it" and how it transcends into packaged, corporate professionalism.
  
  Fluid, Inventive business models are not born from static, one-way mindsets. It's vital to understand creative talent and how to leverage it's power and potential as we are in an age of invention.
  
  Just another day at the office.
  
  David Coomer
  www.coomer.org

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  mtalantikite

  08/13/08 | Report as spam

  RE: The MFA is the New MBA | HBR IdeaCast

  I agree that creativity is crucial for business success; however, does an MFA really teach you creativity? Creativity is something that can be encouraged and grown, but taught?
  
  I feel that studying literature, art, music, history,etc is something one can do on their own at a library. Just like I don't think having a business undergraduate degree followed by an MBA necessarily shows ability, a liberal arts degree followed by an MFA doesn't give you the skill set to lead a global corporation.
  
  In fact, I don't think having either an MFA or an MBA really should give you any entitlement to lead a company -- does Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, George Soros, Larry Ellison, Paul Allen, Michael Dell, Steve Ballmer, Carl Icahn, etc have graduate degrees? Most don't even have bachelors. A teacher helps, but when it comes down to it you are in charge of your own intellect and creativity.

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  cyberpundit

  10/30/08 | Report as spam

  RE: The MFA is the New MBA | HBR IdeaCast

  It is an interesting take, but as already suggested by some comments, an MFA is no guarantee of creativity. Top consulting firms such as McKinsey or BCG or other "innovation" focused firms such as IDEO and Frog Design already recruit from the liberal arts programs, so this is nothing new.
  
  Perhaps this adds some perspective to the marketing din of business schools, which in recent years has become a very profitable racket selling untenable dreams to youngsters who learn more about the quickest way to make a buck than any sustainable strategies. What I read from this article is that an MBA is not a magical "transformational" experience.
  
  That said, I think schools such as Stanford and MIT do offer electives to students. Creativity is a very individual thing and just because you can paint like Picasso doesn't necessarily make you good for business. Balance is good. MFA/MBA schools should consider offering cross-registration for their students, as I know top schools already do.