Apjarss 2018 007
Apjarss 2018 007
Apjarss 2018 007
3, November 2018
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Impact of Master in Business Administration Asia Pacific Journal of
Academic Research in
Program to its Graduates’ Job Performance Social Sciences
Vol. 3, 51-60
Hadge A. Encio, Rey Fernan G. Refozar, and Jake M. Laguador November 2018
College of Business Administration, Lyceum of the Philippines University, ISSN 2545-904X
Batangas City, Philippines
Date Received: August 10, 2018; Date Revised: November 11, 2018
Abstract - Taking graduate studies is a lifelong learning commitment that brings more opportunities
for personal growth and professional development. It is not just a status symbol but rather an obligation
that builds greater responsibility to improve performance. This study aims to identify the employment status
of the MBA graduates from one Philippine Higher Education Institution. It is also the focus of this study to
describe the impact of MBA program after graduation in terms of job performance. Descriptive type of
research method was utilized in the study with 61 MBA graduates. Result showed that all surveyed MBA
graduates or 100 percent are presently employed locally during the data gathering. The MBA degree
program gives them better opportunity to get new jobs, to be in a regular or permanent status and be
considered for a job promotion. Furthermore, salaries and benefits as well as career challenge are some
of the common reasons of MBA graduates for staying in their current jobs. They see themselves in five-
years time as productive employees with higher responsibility who contribute to the attainment of
company’s vision. They believed that the MBA program improves the way they perform their respective
work assignments in relation to personal and professional growth. It enhances their job performance and
interest to further commit their time and effort to better serve all the stakeholders. The finding of the study
is an evidence that improving one’s knowledge is one way of breaking mediocrity. Understanding how
people will benefit from graduate studies is an edge to see clearly the full potential in continuously
improving the performance.
Keywords: commitment, competence, credibility and collaboration
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Table 6. Impact of MBA Program to Present Job Performance
Competence WM VI Rank
MBA Program improves my job performance in…
1. providing accomplished volume of work that exceeds the expected output within the
desired time frame 2.95 HI 3.5
2. performing tasks using appropriate application of technology with very little
supervision 2.79 HI 5
3. applying sound reasoning and good judgment 3.00 HI 2
4. recommending new ideas, methods or improvisation to make the work better 2.95 HI 3.5
5. keeping orderly and up-to-date records and submits ahead of time accurate, reliable,
complete and presentable reports 3.05 HI 1
Composite Mean 2.95 HI
Commitment
1. accepting willingly and performing leadership roles in various activities with an
exceptional sense of duty and dependability 3.05 HI 1
2. providing necessary support, service and assistance for the welfare of the organization 2.84 HI 3
3. demonstrating passion for execution and sense of urgency in all tasks 2.68 HI 4
4. transcending personal needs when organizational concerns need to be attended to 2.63 HI 5
5. participating in making decisions and implementing the activities based on strategic
plans. 3.00 HI 2
Composite Mean 2.84 HI
Caring
1. Fostering the sense of family in the workplace by helping co-employees with difficulty
in completing some tasks 2.84 HI 5
2. Maintaining harmonious and friendly relations with superior, peers and subordinates
through respecting their individual differences 3.16 HI 1.5
3. Showing marked interest and pride in the present job by completing tasks on time 3.05 HI 3.5
4. Promoting positive image of the department through serving customers effectively 3.16 HI 1.5
5. Demonstrating the significant values of the organization in achieving its vision and
mission 3.05 HI 3.5
Composite Mean 3.05 HI
Credibility
1. becoming a model of leadership who adheres to the policies, rules and regulations of
the organization 3.16 HI 4
2. practicing honesty, fairness and transparency in all my business transactions with the
stakeholders 3.26 HI 2
3. protecting and preserving company’s property through careful and wise use of the
resources 3.05 HI 5
4. demonstrating professionalism in dealing with colleagues 3.21 HI 3
5. setting oneself as an example of moral and ethical behavior to all stakeholders 3.32 HI 1
Composite Mean 3.20 HI
Buenviaje et al. [32] also noted that the application They also apply business leadership and
of acquired knowledge and skills from the MBA management concepts and principles that are suitable
program of the graduates to their respective work to their respective work environments. Knowing
assignments is equated to an enhanced experience for something about the issues and challenges of
continuous learning as well as work related skills that businesses in the Philippines and abroad provides
are essential drivers of productivity and efficiency. greater view on how to offer solutions based on sound
Putting learning into practice is the way graduates reasoning that would contribute in creating strategic
explore the possibilities of making improvement in the plans of the company.
old manner they do their tasks or assignments. Having It also improves their performance in providing
given greater responsibilities in the department or in the accomplished volume of work that exceeds the
organizations makes value to the knowledge and skills expected output within the desired time frame (2.95)
gained from the degree program in the graduate school. and recommending new ideas, methods or
improvisation to make the work better (2.95).
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However, performing tasks using appropriate the job performance of the graduates in terms of
application of technology with very little supervision commitment.
(2.79) obtained the least score with high impact verbal Maturity and professionalism are vital traits in the
interpretation. The computed mean score of 2.95 trade wherein very often, a systematic approach and a
implies that the MBA program provides high impact on broader perspective are the results of experience in the
the job performance of the graduates in terms of field through possessing strong work ethics which is
competence. Mastery of the job assignments makes essential in achieving the goals of the organization [34].
them work faster than the usual. In addition to that fact, Giving higher duties and responsibilities makes them
further background and information in terms of feel more valued as part of the organization. MBA
managing the operations and leading techniques in graduates are matured enough to recognize their
financial and resource management serves as their accountabilities and the consequences that will occur
guide to offer suggestions and some innovations on once failure happens in the team. It helps build a
how to increase business performance. Meanwhile, community of people with sense of urgency, unity and
technology-based approach to business is still work in commitment to the organization that every decision
progress among the organizations due to expensive they make based on their plans, they ensure that
acquisition of those devices, equipment and application everyone will support each other to correct the mistakes
software to improve productivity. Latest trends and and learn the lessons from their experiences.
updates in technology should not be the least priority of MBA program provides a high impact on the
the business enterprises in order for their people to keep present job of the graduates that improves their
abreast of the information technology that is in demand performance in maintaining harmonious and friendly
and be updated every now and them. relations with superior, peers and subordinates through
MBA program provides a high impact on the respecting their individual differences (3.16) and
present job of the graduates that improves their promoting positive image of the department through
performance in accepting willingly and performing serving customers effectively (3.16).
leadership roles in various activities with an Understanding human behavior in organization is
exceptional sense of duty and dependability (3.05) and one way of paying attention and respect to the strength
participating in making decisions and implementing the and weaknesses of every individual in a team while the
activities based on strategic plans (3.00). It also success of department’s goal is considered a team effort
provides high impact in providing necessary support, but nobody will be blamed if it fails. Graduate studies
service and assistance for the welfare of the trained the students how to become open minded with
organization (2.84) and demonstrating passion for growth mindset in complex situation. They can build
execution and sense of urgency in all tasks (2.68). bridges to bring ideas into reality while maintaining the
Developing or enhancing leadership perspective is part balance of the organizational atmosphere. Palmiano et
of the curriculum to prepare the students for higher al. [35] noted that teamwork in the workplace offers the
responsibilities. Eagerness to fulfill duties and organization and staff the ability to become more
obligations based on their commitment to participate in familiar with each other, learn how to work together,
decision making is a manifestation of their passion and and commit to the organizational goals.
dedication to be part of the growing demand of the Communicating with different people also requires
business companies in effecting change and a higher level of understanding of people’s nature and
innovations. Voegtlin et al. [33] emphasized that attitude [34]. MBA program also provides high impact
responsible leadership draws on the theory of discourse in showing marked interest and pride in the present job
ethics and deliberative democracy which by completing tasks on time (3.05) and demonstrating
conceptualizes leadership as leader-stakeholder the significant values of the organization in achieving
interaction that implies an ethical qualification, and its vision and mission (3.05). However, fostering the
proposes consensual solutions as an effectiveness sense of family in the workplace by helping co-
criterion. employees with difficulty in completing some tasks
However, transcending personal needs when (2.84) obtained the least score with high impact verbal
organizational concerns need to be attended to (2.63) interpretation. The computed mean score of 3.05
obtained the least score with high impact verbal implies that the MBA program provides high impact on
interpretation. The computed mean score of 2.84 the job performance of the graduates in terms of caring.
implies that the MBA program provides high impact on MBA program provides a high impact on the
present job of the graduates that improves their
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performance in setting oneself as an example of moral part of their personal and professional growth. It
and ethical behavior to all stakeholders (3.32) and enhances their job performance and interest to serve
practicing honesty, fairness and transparency in all better the customers and clients of the company. They
their business transactions with the stakeholders (3.26). keep in mind the attainment of vision and mission of
The value of ethical principles and practice in doing the organization is dependent on the consolidated
business transactions is being integrated in the performance and effort of every member of the
curriculum through having case studies where code of institution. Baruch and Peiperl [37] found out that the
ethics, existing policies and company culture are MBA degree does have an impact. MBA graduates are
important aspects in making relevant and sound better, at least in their self-perception, on a number of
decision as managers. The character of students is measures, and such high self-efficacy may well lead to
honed through integrating the core values of the better performance.
University in all courses that made them aware of what
is expected of them to deliver for their outputs and Table 7. Difference on the Impact of MBA program to
require them to behave based on the educational Job Performance when grouped according to Job
philosophy of the founder Dr. Jose P. Laurel to act with Relevance and Increase in Earning
fairness and justice. Job Relevance Increase in
It also provides high impact in demonstrating Earning
professionalism in dealing with colleagues (3.21) and Job Performance t- p- t- p-
becoming a model of leadership who adheres to the value value value value
policies, rules and regulations of the organization Competence 1.267 0.071 0.975 0.101
Commitment 0.189 0.419 0.489 0.687
(3.16). A captivating and impressive personality is
Caring 1.182 0.083 1.373 0.071
important for MBA graduates having a work profile Credibility 0.995 0.128 1.512 0.069
where they have to interact with clients from different *Significant at p-value<0.05
nations and head different kinds of projects. A strong Table 7 reveals that there is no significant difference
and impressive personality is a result of two important on the impact of MBA program to job performance of
traits that include confidence in one’s abilities and a graduates when grouped according to job relevance to
superior choice. MBA graduates have to possess these business administration and percentage of increase in
two qualities to make a lasting impression [34]. earning after obtaining the degree as denoted by the
However, protecting and preserving company’s computed p-values of less than 0.05 alpha level. This
property through careful and wise use of the resources signifies that those graduates with very relevant and
(3.05) obtained the least score with high impact verbal much or slightly relevant job to business administration
interpretation. The computed mean score of 3.20 has no difference when it comes to the impact of MBA
implies that the MBA program provides high impact on degree to their job performance. They both experienced
the job performance of the graduates in terms of almost the same level of improvement after obtaining
credibility. the degree. Likewise, those graduates who received
The study of Camuffo, Gerli, Borgo and Somià [36] with estimated less than 10% and greater than 10%
revealed that the degree of competency development changes in their salary have also no significant effect
during the MBA programme enhances career on the impact of MBA program to job performance. It
advancement, and that some competencies, like means that different companies have different
planning, result orientation, networking, organizational standards on giving additional salary based on the size
awareness, system thinking and use of technology, do and capacity of the company to offer wage increases.
so particularly, which is consistent with literature on
career competencies. CONCLUSION
The leadership brand of the University in terms of The study explores on the employment status of the
competence, commitment, credibility and collaboration MBA graduates. All surveyed MBA graduates or 100
makes the MBA graduates of the university under study percent are presently employed locally during the data
different from the graduates of other universities. The gathering. The MBA degree program gives them better
impact of MBA program to the graduates are measured opportunity to get new jobs, to be in a regular or
using 4Cs in order to demonstrate its relevance to the permanent status and be considered for a job
outcomes of instruction, research and extension service promotion. Furthermore, salaries and benefits as well
of the University. The general findings reveal that the as career challenge are some of the common reasons of
MBA program improves the way they perceive work as MBA graduates for staying in their current jobs. They
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