MLM- Path to glory?

At a recent GSB study orientation evening I was asked to explain the difference between the MLM and MBA to prospective students. As a recent graduate I could only speak from my experiences of the curriculum and what would attract others to the MLM and not the MBA. Both courses share 4 core units out of 12. And that’s about as obvious as the resemblances go.

Unlike many of fellow students I followed the pathway as it was suggested in the consecutive order of the units as they appear in the MLM brochure. The course prerequisites made sense to me but I know a lot of students did some of the more advanced units first and later struggled with the effectiveness of their learning.

In the first units you learn about yourself (self-reflection is as effective as you let it happen). Then you learn about yourself in conjunction with teams and in the last units you put all this together in the context of organisations.

Along the way there are heaps of things to think about actual business methods and models in the context of leadership and management.The MLM is challenging if you are only after that piece of graduation paper for the title on your business card.

If you need to learn more technical business skills but are not phased or worried about your interaction with others, of course, go, do as the majority of managers do- get a solid administrative degree, the MBA. MBA’s think MLM’s are a different breed of people because they do ‘frufru touchy feely group hug stuff’ (I can’t remember hugging people all the time, but i do remember having breakthrough ideas and forging genuine and lasting networks).

On the flipside, if you question your long-standing career path, experience ongoing office turf wars and think there’s got to be a better way to do things, then you will find the MLM a toolbox for answers and actions.

I know the MLM is always under threat to be taken out of Curtin courses as it is not a generic crowd pleaser and economically not as viable for Curtin than the MBA. We know from the academic literature and business practitioners, that education is challenged to come up with courses designed to support managers in today’s high-pressure economies to respond differently to global business issues.

It may not be the finite remedy to all our problems, but at least the MLM begins, where most people stop to look for answers: in themselves.

To me the MLM is the foundation to inspire people to be self-directed and equipped with tacit and explicit knowledge.