An MBA for The 21st Century-- 6 for '06

AllBusiness.com has just launched a year-long editorial feature called "6 for '06". It's designed to help you master the six skills that we believe are essential for every business. In a sense, it's an MBA for the real world of the 21st Century. Here's where you can find it: 6 for '06 The six essential skills are : improving cash flow; becoming expert at internet marketing; smart business planning; controlling costs (including health care); recruiting and keeping great people; and managing your investment in technology. We selected these six specific skills based on research and our conversations with you. We firmly believe that these are the skills that every business--large or small--needs to master to succeed. You'll have the ability to watch six of your peer companies as they work to learn these skills and integrate them into their business.

But I already have an MBA...

People often proudly post their business degree on their resume. They feel confident because they went to a classy " B School". But what is the half life of an MBA? How long before half of what you learn is obsolete? And how long before the remaining half goes the way of the dodo? I am an extreme case. I got my MBA in 1981. Personal computers had just appeared but weren't widely used. No networks, internet, cell phones, voice mail. VCRs and DVDs hadn't been invented and cable was a rarity. We still used used punch cards in the computer lab for my graduate stats class. I now run an internet company. That spans several lifetimes of change. These technology changes are symbolic of equally significant societal changes. We've changed from a reading culture to a TV culture to a web culture to a Tivo and search culture. Simply changing channels isn't enough. We want to change the entire TV schedule to suit us.

Granted my 25 year old degree is an extreme case but is a degree from 1991 any more relevant? How about 2001?

Things change. Fast. As the person guiding a business, you have two choices. You can continue to do things the way you always have or you can change with the times. At AllBusiness, we're committed to helping you keep your skills on the cutting edge.