"Mastering" business in Poland

Anna Olejarczyk: What are some of the biggest challenges you've seen in business education in Poland over the last five years?

Witold Orłowski: First of all, we have in Poland, a sector of executive education that has developed over the last 19 years. The first MBA programs in Poland started in the 1990s and this school [the MBA Business School] was one of the first ones to appear. Before, [the programs] were done with a lot of foreign input, both professors and program design.

At the time almost everything had to be imported in part because there was very little knowledge about that in Poland. As you might know, with a communist economy there is no need for anything like that. Only when the economy started [transforming] into a market economy did the need appear.

The more sophisticated the economy, the more sophisticated the firms; the more integrated the economy with the world, the higher the demand for something you would call globally recognized skills in management. The aspirations of Polish managers started to be close to those in the developed economies.

The [Polish] economy is a fully developed market economy that is poorer than those of Western Europe, but is operating with more or less with the same rules. The competition is fierce - it's sometimes different than in Germany, but it doesn't mean the fight is easier.

On the one hand, there was a growing demand to deliver MBA programs, executive education at the practical level along with all the knowledge and skills necessary in a fully-fledged sophisticated market economy. On the other hand, there is still some demand for dealing with the specificity of the, let's say, the post-transition economy, because the transition is over and now we are in the post-transition period.

From this, I must say that the elements that differ our programs from the American [MBAs] are smaller and smaller. The skills of the managers are also similar and the needs are becoming similar.

As for what we think people should get out of MBA programs, we are closer to what is offered in the United States or in Germany.

The Polish economy is growing. There are jobs available. Is there a need for an MBA?

Yes, the economy is growing. But let's separate two things. Is there a need for an MBA as a certain product or is there a need for certain managerial skills? There's no doubt that there's a need for the skills because of a number of factors. One of them is that the economy is growing, but that doesn't mean that the life is easier for managers.

The market is competitive and maturing. The competition is strong and firms have a good environment that allows growth because it is better to develop a firm in a growing economy than in a stagnating economy.

Poland is now in the EU and that means that not only Polish firms would like to benefit from the growing demand in Poland. From that point of view, these skills are necessary. The bigger the Polish market, the bigger the Polish economy, the more integrated with the European Union market, the more firms are interested in being here. The point is that maybe in the past we were seen as a small market and various companies didn't want to enter, but now we are seen as a medium-sized market with EU standards. Depending on how you measure it, we are now either the fifth- or the sixth-largest EU economy market.

Therefore, these skills are in demand in our firms. [Companies operate] along the same lines and they think that employees' skills, and managers' skills, are a main factor in success - or, perhaps, the key factor in success.

Then the other thing is whether the MBA program is the right product for this market. Looking at the fact that there's a demand, I would say, probably in Poland this is the right means of instruction. [There is] other executive education [available], but it seems that the MBA is very popular in Poland. Even though this is a relatively young sector in Poland, you've clearly got a group of leaders.

The MBA market in Poland has become sophisticated enough that there is no problem to make among rankings of MBA programs.

If you were to get an MBA in Poland, how would it compare to all the other MBA programs, for example in other European countries or in North America? Are Polish MBAs recognized in the international business community?

The answer is basically yes. Obviously, the MBA is not enough; it depends on what teachers you've got. I am not saying that our program is as great as the Harvard Business School's. But I would say that the Polish program is world-class in a sense that it can reach the top of the world rankings.

As far as looking at the context of the program, the quality, they are really good. The best quality programs in Poland are just good quality by world standards.

Why are people from foreign countries interested in doing MBAs in Poland?

There are a few points that can be raised. Firstly, why do investors build factories in Poland? Because Poland is a competitive place. The first point is that we deliver a good product in the MBA program, and the second is that we are cheaper. Our programs are cheaper than comparable West European programs.

But are you walking away with the same product?

Well, each of the products is different, but I would say that the general quality of our program is good and can be compared to the quality of programs in France or Germany. And Poland is still cost-effective.

The second point is that the names of our programs are starting to become recognizable. The prestige of our MBA programs is gradually growing and nobody thinks any longer that Poland is a distant place, and that nobody will believe that MBA programs exist in Poland even if you get an MBA from there. People are starting to see that this is a good product at a competitive price.

What is the next big trend in MBA studies in Poland?

I think MBA studies will continue to develop in Poland and I think there will be a growing demand for specialized programs.

Specialized programs...such as?

Specialized, for example, like an MBA for people in the financial sector with some component of general skills applicable everywhere in the business, but more in-depth information in a selected area. These types of programs will develop.

Also, we are [looking at] the interest in starting post-experience doctoral studies. These are DBAs, Doctorates in Business Administration. We are looking at this, but we are not sure if the market is mature enough.

A big market that is already developing and will develop further is the market for non-degree executive education, with short executive courses to maintain and develop the skills of managers. These are not MBA programs, but are rather targeted within companies.

When will Poland see a "green" MBA?

That's a good question. I think it will arrive in a few years.

This is something coming out in North America, correct?

Yes. Like, I said, we are moving from a MBA market that is delivering an already good-quality product, but is still not sophisticated in giving the whole menu of choices, including specialized MBAs like green MBAs.

Over the last 19 years [in Poland], we have seen the development of the general MBA. Now I guess there is more room for targeted programs, specialized programs.