Comments for Thom's Guided Tour

Comment on The Babson MBA – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Thom

Thom — Tue, 28 May 2013 12:49:51 +0000

Addi, I think the Babson MBA is good for many things, consulting included. The entrepreneurial focus combines breadth of knowledge with a bias towards action and decision making. And Babson is definitely open to international students – I’d say 25% to 30% of my class received their undergraduate degree from a college or university outside the United States.

My recommendations as always is to contact the admissions office. They are better equipped to answer your questions. Good luck in your studies no matter where you choose to go.

Comment on The Babson MBA – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Addi

Addi — Sat, 11 May 2013 09:28:50 +0000

Hi Thom,

great article and interesting comments. According to your experience, is Babson a good MBA for career in consulting? Is the Mba open to international students?
Many thanks in advance for your help,
Addi

Comment on Familiarity vs Knowledge by Thom

Thom — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:19:04 +0000

Dave, an interesting perspective. Words evolve over time and if someone tells me they are familiar with something – I take it to mean they know about it but aren’t subject matter experts in it or on it. But if they say they are knowledgeable – I would understand that they have a significant level of expertise.

While the definitions of the words and their current use in the vernacular may be up for debate, I think the larger point still stands.

There is a significant difference between have a cursory level of information about something and being deeply aware of something capabilities or configuration. And the point I was trying to make is far too many people are making decisions with outdated information or information that is insufficient. This is especially true with consultants who may know a lot about something but may not know as much about your business, and therefore their recommendations should be considered in that spirit.

Comment on Familiarity vs Knowledge by dave

dave — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:37:04 +0000

Having this discussion with colleagues, I suggest your article is based on a false premise – and that is the understanding of the word “familiarity”, which seems to have been bastardised by loose usage to mean “a cursory understanding”. It is the complete opposite. Knowledge is just knowledge. Familiarity, is an extensive knowledge, an intimate knowledge, and even implies a long standing applied knowledge of a topic, person or thing. I can get knowledge from a book, the web, another person. I can only attain familiarity, through a longstanding and diligent study or application of knowledge. A student may gain knowledge of a subject, a teacher or professor has familiarity, which is defined as a close relationship or intimacy with something (or someone). From the word roots, we can see that Knowledge and Familiarity essentially mean the SAME thing, however the modern definition would place Familiarity as something more substantial than knowledge – not less. However, many see it as the opposite, so perhaps the definition needs changing…..

If you re-read your article above and substitute knowledge of for familiarity with and vice-verse, then see how it sounds?

Too many people and companies mistake knowledge for familiarity. A while back I was working with a CIO, whom I’ll call Ray, and realized that while he had knowledge of several technologies, he had no familiarity with them or how they could help transform the business.

Being knowing about a product is one thing – but actually being familiar with its true capabilities and how it can or can’t help your organization is another thing altogether. There has never been more information so readily available to so many people. Literally any piece of information is now a few keystrokes or finger swipes away. But information so easily gleaned doesn’t give familiarity.

etc.
Remember acquiring familiarity takes both time and a willingness to learn and ask questions, as well as a spirit of openness for new things. Listen to experts, but don’t let their familiarity (or mere knowledge) of a product or technology combined with only a passing knowledge of your business become confused with familiarity of how a product or technology might best be used for you and your company.

Comment on What’s a Babson MBA Worth? by Thom

Thom — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:29:09 +0000

Adam, yes the evening program is a part-time program, while the Fast Track program is a cohort based program. Typically it takes a student roughly 3-4 years to finish their MBA in the part-time program, although some students are able to complete it in two years. The Fast Track program is a fixed length program with a very controlled schedule and timeline requiring a commitment to the program and you go through the program with the same 80-90 students. The Part-time program allows students to step away from for a semester if work or family commitments won’t allow for taking classes, this option isn’t really available for the Fast Track program.

I know people who found value in both programs – I’d recommend speaking with the admissions office to see which might be a better fit for your situation. Good luck.