Product Development

[garratm]

A general comment question:

Does anyone have a good feel for the job market in product development particularly the type of work that some of the more innovate companies like IDEO, ZIBA and Insight are doing. I have an MS in Mat Sci and Engring, and I have been working at a reasearch laboratory developing and analyzing new design concepts for next generation aerospace structures. I am moving into a project management role and I have been tapped to take some management and leadership training. I want to move more to the front end of project management and integrate technology with a business case (not focus on just the technology), and I would really like to work for one of the aforementioned companies.

I'm considering getting an MBa (Standford, MIT and CMU have really good product development curriculae), but I'm wondering if I really need it. Would I be just as well off building up my skills while working and just keep applying to these places?

[garratm]

Does anyone have a feel for the job market in new product development, particularly with some of the more innovative design firms like IDEO, ZIBA and Insight. I have a BS & MS in Mat Sci and Engr, and I work in a reasearch lab developing and analyzing new design concepts for aerospace structure. I have been managing larger and larger programs for the past 3 years (I've only been working here for 4 years), and recently I have been tapped to take leadersip and management courses with some of the higher level managers.

I would like to end up at one of the aforementioned companies (or in a role like that) as a project manager. I'm debating about enrolling in an MBa program (CMU, MIT and Stanford) have some really good product development programs), but I am wondering if I couldn't just get the same schools through work experience. However, I do work at a research lab and we are considered to be eggheads with limited business savvy and interaction.

Matt

[philipwhite]

Matt, Your two threads looked to be similar so I merged them. A MBA might be a good choice if you have some management experience and want to help move your career more towards the mangement side of things. You might want to call arround to these companies first and see what they are looking for and call the colleges and ask who recruits on campus.

[YaSO]

I used to think that it's great to have an advanced degree, but after I read reports like this (http://mba-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335), I started thinking about this a little differently.

[philipwhite]

I think Matt has a good chance to get into a decent school and get recruited. You have to remember for most news organizations bad news is good news for ratings.

[garratm]

Can anyone indicate which schools are best at product development. From what I can tell, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon and MIT are the best. Any others?

Matt