An Exploratory Investigation Into the Nature of the Part-Time MBA Student

Abstract

The California Psychological Inventory (CPI) was administered to 123 non-minority male graduate students enrolled in a part-time MBA program, in order to assess patterns of sample-group personality scale similarity or dissimilarity with selected criterion groups. Personality comparisons were felt to offer implications of programmatic and vocational significance. Criterion groups selected were the CPI norm sample, two student samples, and two business samples. The MBA student sample displayed attributes broadly evocative of managerial success when compared with the large norm sample. Yet broad patterns of significant differences emerged when the MBA profile was compared with the profiles of the criterion groups. MBA student deficiencies include the attributes of responsibility, capacity for status, self-control, achievement via conformance, and intellectual efficiency. MBA student strengths include the attributes of dominance, self-acceptance, and psychological-mindedness. Questions are raised about the implicit assumptions of the nature of MBA students which direct curricular and educational practice. Implications for effective preparation for business careers through MBA programs are discussed.