Hard Knocks! All have degrees!

former soldiers in the IDF who are now in positions of authority in the private sector in management. I view military experience as powerful on-the-job training and I wonder why the authors of this study didn't do a statistical analysis of this group that make up such a large sector of Israeli businesses?

I am a very seasoned executive who wouldn't dream of hiring someone without a degree in some field. And I promise you it is true that I gave up doing business in Israel after a very senior CEO thought it was more important to demonstrate "who was in charge" than stay on task and complete a very lucrative )for her and the company) contract. Some Israelis seem to have a disconnect to how business is conducted on a professional level and now I know why. This problem transcends into the retail shops in Israel where prices are increased for foreigners. I have had hoteliers actually (repeatedly) told me the internet prices for rooms were outdated and needed to be "corrected". Imagine the surprise of one guy when I reminded him that he and I had had the same conversation three years previous. I have had book shop owners try to raise the price on marked books, just for me! In retail shops, try to get clerks off their cell phones to assist you. Israelis are in the same boat the Brits were in back in the mid 60s, when a national campaign to become better and more welcoming hosts actually turned the tide on their economy. Professionalism pays.

As a sosciety we have long lost common sense, Academic careers hardly produce true intelectuals anymore. It is mediocre technocrats at best... I trust more a person with common sense and leadership ability then a person with an MBa to lead .(Take Mr. Peres, for example..) And BTW, I have spent 12 years in university.. but other then labs, and few great lecturers, it was all books, and nights of going over notes, searching libraries for rare books, writing notes, and so forth. Hardly an environment of intelectual enrichment ... this comes later, on your own,

Basic education is fine but it's so very evidently not an indication of business acumen. Management is a skill of leadership, of human inter-relationship and the innate desire to succeed - but that also means wanting everyone in the business to feel that success. No. 3 and his refusal to hire without degrees is the typical snootiness of today's businessperson, and the results are evident: economic failure, bonus cultures (i.e. payoffs for doing what the salary is there for in the first place), poor labour relations and a sickening "executive" culture. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs of yesteryear (before all these business colleges became big, big business in itself) hadn't even finished high school and yet created vast, hugely successful empires. It's rot that degrees are a necessary component to good business. After a lifetime as a worker for a good many businesses - some internationally renowned - the worst managers were the arrogant young things with their degrees but with not a gram of practical sense.

I have spent many years in university but didn't acieve a formal degree. I make figures (USD) — for many years now. My niece who has a degree in Marine Biology has her career in construction design. I like to think of all the big names who never had degrees: Michael Dell (Dell Computers), Bill Gates, Onassis Aristotole (the shipping magnate), the founder of the Hyundai Business Group, Richard Branson (Virgin Airways), etc. Get a degree, but use your head and think OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Intuition. It is making decision based on the individuals education. Senses feed the brain. Situation is analysed and a decision is made according to the education of the person. Emotions that are negative will destroy the logic of the decision ie ego, jealousy. Its so simple.

Having an academic degree does not automatically make a person a good manager. Not having a degree does not make a person a poor manager. The ability to manage is a talent that is not learned. A degree is a specific subject may help give a person some insight in understanding a particular situation and thus help[ make a good decision. But a good manager knows how to get informed opinions to help understand a situation. For good management selection it is important to learn to evaluate talent and not just look on the curriculum vitae.r. However, in the case of teachers through training in the field they are instructing is essential.

remind yourself it does not matter if the person has a learned skill set. They're going on intuition and that crummy service, faulty delivery, lack of professionalism, absence of knowledge--hey, it doesn't matter, right? According to all previous posters, it is a not a problem. Talk about poor attitudes, there was a time when going to university was admirable. Now we get excuses that "intuition" is just as good as a degree. sheesh....Remember this the next time you get lousy service.

Degree gives you knowledge in the field that you want to specialize in but without natural ability to analyze situation, work under pressure, make "street smart" decisions , degree is worthless. No money can buy brains. Education is very important but in many cases diploma from the top university does not make a person good manager. Problem is that many people may be top in their field but have no other crucial skills to be good managers or provide good costumer service.

so what? big deal

These entrepreneurs get overwhelmed once their companies get too overwhelming, around one million to two million dollars in size. Wouldn't know planning, project mgmnt etc.l if it came and hit them on the schnozz.