CHARACTERISTICS OF MBA GRADUATES AS HIGH POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES FOR PROMOTIONS

VICENTE E. MONTAÑO
JOYCELYN BANLASAN
MYRNA S. VIADO

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the promotability of MBA graduates as high potential
(HIPO) employees. There were 31 students and 27 organizations involved in the study. In deciding
the gap, the study used the percentage difference. The researcher is interested in identifying the
indicators with the widest gap. A positive percentage gap means the MBA graduates overrated
themselves, and a negative percentage gap means underrated. The learning agility, organizational
engagement, and leadership spirit were the top three indicators with a most extensive positive
difference, while the turnover intention was the only indicator with a negative difference. Also
learning agility and leadership were the two indicators with a significant statistical difference in
rating between MBA graduates and industry.

Keywords: high potential employees (HIPO), promotability, MBA

Introduction

Presently, very few studies quantitatively measured the promotability of students who finished their
business graduate education using the dimensions of high potential employees (HIPO). Previous
research presented various characteristics and traits depicting HIPO personalities, characters, and
competence but the resulting focus only on concepts and theories. For instance, latest researchers
emphasis on identifying and developing high-potential employees within their organization (Gelens,
Hofmans, Dries, & Pepermans, 2014); (Downs, 2015); (Dries & De Gieter, 2014). These investigations
provided different techniques in identifying HIPO. They suggested methods in implementing high-
potential employees’ development program, which revolve around three critical dimensions drive
for excellence, strong leadership spirit, and learning oriented. HR managers considered HIPO
identification, facilitation, and management pose many challenges (Rebeťák & Farkašová, 2015).
Precise HIPO identification is essential that it affected the potential promotion of an employee
(Gelens et al., 2014).

Organizations design and sought a system for identifying high potential employees. Line managers
were the best people in the organization to identify and provide development opportunities to HIPO
(Fulmer, Stumpf, & Bleak, 2009). The criteria for identifying HIPO are essential that several
organizations try to augment their selection with talent companies (Church, Rotolo, Ginther, &
Levine, 2015). Specifically, the search involves gathering top-down input to different people in the
organization in identifying top potential employees. Later, a committee decides to identify HIPO
(Dries & Pepermans, 2012).

After identifying high potential employees, the organization often offered them unique development
opportunities such as an MBA education (Church et al., 2015) special incentives and exclusive
benefits follows immediately after identification (Dries & De Gieter, 2014). Frequently organizations
offered the MBA program to high potential employees or perceived MBA graduates as HIPO (Dreher
& Ryan, 2002).

The present stiff competition among organizations in getting the best talents who can become
successors is pertinent to present management. The organization wanted to develop their high
potential employees to assume a leadership position and therefore, willing to investment
development programs. The desire of the organization to sustain their competitiveness is the main
reason for preparing HIPO for a future executive position. On the other hand, MBA students and
MBA graduates wanted to advance their career paths (Ballou, Bowers, Boyatzis, & Kolb, 1999) opting
to adopt change strategies and transformative approaches to achieve their career goals (Al Ariss,
2010).

At this point, it is essential to note the importance of identifying the different dimensions of HIPO
the employer and MBA graduates prioritize to determine the promotability gap. A calibrated
adjustment on the priority of the MBA graduates can help the Professional Schools design a
curriculum that focuses on the HIPO dimension based on the lens of the employers. It indicates that
even if the MBA graduates have the qualities to assume the higher executive position, but if they do
not have enough characteristics, employers expect their true potentials are unlikely to be unleashed.

Managers will likely assign to high position employees with excellent performance. MBA graduates
cannot merely rely on the performance appraisal that identifies employee’s potential since
successive higher level position needs a unique set of skills, and considering the past and present
performance are not enough. In this case, the management assessed the MBA graduates potentials
qualities for higher positions. Therefore, the management identified the HIPOs dimension and made
a critical decision in promoting MBA graduates.

Currently, the performance appraisal of employees remained the most common method to
determine if they possess enough potential for a higher position in the future. The problem is that
some top performers may not recognize their potentials. For many years many top performers
missed their turn to be promoted because of their inability to acknowledge the prioritized HIPO
dimension of their employer. Others lost their chance due to their refusal to make the transition
from their own prioritized HIPO dimension to their employer. They fail to acknowledge that manage
their potential employee paradigm.

Methods

Initially, the analysis involved extracting the percentage difference between the MBA graduate self-
rating and the industry rating. A positive percentage difference indicated that the MBA graduates
had overrated themselves while a negative percentage difference means they had underrated
themselves. The percentage difference technique was used to compare the two groups.

In determining the significant difference between the MBA graduate self-rate and industry ratings in
the HIPO areas of the drive for high performance; organizational engagement; learning agility;
turnover intention; leadership spirit and job engagement the paired t-test was used. The method
was used to know whether significant gap difference existed between the two groups.

The study used an adapted questionnaire from the study of Juhdi and Pawan entitled Examining
Characteristics of High Potential Employees from Employees’ Perspective. The study involved 31
MBA graduates and 27 organizations and conducted last January 30 to April 30, 2019.

Results and Discussions

Depicted in table 1 was the level of HIPO as the organization rated their MBA graduates and as the
MBA graduates self-rated themselves. The widest positive gap existed in learning agility (M = 3.88;
SD = 0.64; M = 4.24; 0.43) 25%; organizational engagement (M = 3.92; SD = 0.635; M = 4.08; SD =
0.50), 20% and leadership spirit (M = 3.73; SD = 0.61; M = 4.07; SD = 0.45), 17% which the MBA
 graduates over rated themselves. While, the widest negative gap existed in the turn-over intention
(M = 3.12; SD = 0.61; M = 3.07; SD 0.45), -89% which the industry believed that their new MBA
graduates eventually resign and look for better opportunity.

Also shown in Table 1 were the significant difference between the student and industry rating in the
area of learning agility (T = 2.56; p<0.05) and leadership spirit (T = 3.46; p<0.05). Both appeared that
student significantly overrated themselves compared to the observed performance of the industry.

Table 1

Gap and Significance Test Between MBA Graduates and Industry

  Drive for Organizatio Learning Turnover Leadership Job

High nal Agility Intention Spirit Engagemen
Performance Engagemen t
t
Mean 4.05 4.29 3.92 4.08 3.8 4.24 3.12 3.07 3.73 4.07 3.59 3.70
8
S.D. 0.58 0.42 0.63 0.50 0.6 0.43 0.61 1.09 0.61 0.45 0.80 0.69
5 4
T-value 1.76 1.03 2.56 0.24 3.46 0.54
p-value 0.091 0.311 0.017 0.809 0.002 0.593
GAP 10% 20% 25% -89% 17% 11%
Decisio Accept Accept Reject Accept Reject Accept
n

Learning Agility

Depicted in Table 1 were the gaps between the MBA graduates and industry preferred HIPO
characteristics. The most extensive significant disagreement between student and industry is in the
learning agility factor demonstrated that the industry recognized that a significant critical
component of high potential employees is learning agility (Charan, 2005). MBA graduates who are
willing to learn can execute complex strategies, open to a new experience with high ambiguity
tolerance and good interpersonal skills possess excellent learning agility (De Meuse, Dai, &
Hallenbeck, 2010). The industry considered learning agility as very important that learning agility
predicted supervisory ratings.

The significant gap was most prominent in the ability of the student to proactively demonstrate that
they are comfortable with any changes and adopt new things (Persson, 2014). The industry wanted
MBA graduates to be agile in adapting new business strategies (Ismail, Poolton, & Sharifi, 2011),
calm in working across culture (Hjarvard, 2013), at ease in dealing with project teams and dedicated
to accepting new assignment aside from their work flexibility. Practically, the industry valued the
learning-agile behavior of graduate students, especially those that were less defensive to criticism
and sincere in welcoming feedback. Also, the industry wanted employees who are more reflective
and willing to change.

Part of the learning agility was the different behaviors required across the different levels and units
of an organization. The industry was aware that MBA graduates need to understand that behaviors
effective in one unit do not necessarily lead to success in another (Sherehiy & Karwowski, 2014).
Furthermore, at times when the organization is undergoing a volatile phase, employees more than
ever are expected to adapt. The industry in terms of considering the long-term potential of MBA
graduates placed primary importance to learning agility than the current set of skills which they
considered most important for the organization to respond to future challenges (Beechler &
Woodward, 2009). Consequently, the industry expects to find from their MBA graduates the ability
to give up ideas, perspectives, and skills that are no longer relevant and learn new ones (S. Wang &
Beier, 2012).

Undoubtedly, MBA graduates possess mental agility, an inherent characteristic that showed their
ability to scrutinize problems, and concoct connections between different ideas (S. Wang & Beier,
2012). However, change agility, which is an essential element of learning ability, appeared short of
the industry expectations. To the industry, MBA graduates are hesitant to experiment and cope
effectively with the hardship of a volatile environment. There were very few MBA graduates who can
deliver results in first-time situations (Bahrami, Kiani, Montazeralfaraj, Zadeh, & Zadeh, 2016).

Leaders identified risk-taking as the most difficult to pass within the organization (Kuratko, Covin, &
Hornsby, 2014). The industry also felt that MBA graduates are the same. The MBA graduates
openness to experience is one thing and risk taking another. It was surprising to the industry that
MBA graduates remained defensive to negative, which reduces learning agility (Hogan, Hogan, &
Kaiser, 2010). The industry expected MBA graduates to seek feedbacks, analyze it, and adjust
themselves based on the understanding of the problem and situation. Considerably, the industry
included risk-taking as a necessary measure of highly successful managers highly associated with
learning agility (Anseel, 2017).

The industry identified the lack of progressive risk as weakness of MBA graduates. The industry
considered MBA graduates hesitant in venturing into the uncertain environment and placing oneself
in an uncertain environment (Vecchiato, 2012). Although the industry considered progressive risk as
part of learning agility, MBA graduates are seldom pioneers and uncomfortable with the risk that
results in opportunity (AV & Aithal, 2018). Progressive risk is not thrill-seeking instead of a calculated
risk. Nonetheless, MBA graduates hesitate to undertake jobs and roles that do not guarantee
success, and failure is a possibility. MBA graduates are not willing to venture outside their comfort
zone (Aimin, 2010).

MBA graduates considered performance matters. However, the hesitant attitude of MBA graduates
to progressive risk led them to focus on their short-term performance at the cost of personal
development (C. X. Wang, Webster, & Suresh, 2009). The failed to realize that overusing their
greatest strength can sometimes cause problems. The industry wanted MBA graduates to realize
that accepting new challenges which force them to venture outside their comfort zones and develop
new skills and ideas is a vital part of their future (Bhimani, 2009).

Organizational engagement

The industry wanted to strengthen employees’ engagement (Bedarkar & Pandita, 2014) a basis for
promotion. It appears that the gap that existed between the MBA graduates and the industry were
attributable to employee’s satisfaction with their work and pride in their organization, the degree to
which MBA graduates enjoy and believe in things they accomplish in their work and the value their
employers bring to the table (Macey & Schneider, 2008). The MBA graduates work engagement was
below what the industry expected. The industry observed the MBA graduates were less to “go an
extra mile” and perform a mediocre performance (Gruman & Saks, 2011). Due to the higher
qualifications that MBA graduates possess industry believed that they are less likely to commit to
staying in the organization (Macey & Schneider, 2008).
The industry wanted to observe a higher engagement and commitment to possibly convert into
valuable business result before promoting their MBA graduates (Kaliannan & Adjovu, 2015).
However, the industry finds the MBA graduates possess a weak willingness to persist in the course of
action and vulnerable to change plans (Chesbrough, 2010), often attributed to a fragile sense of
obligation to stay the course (C. L. Wang, Shi, & Barnes, 2015). Further, the industry observed that
MBA graduates were simultaneously handling several concerns, such as family affairs, economic
engagement, and further studies. The industry understands that commitment manifest in specific
behavior, the emotional component, and rational element.

Employees commit with an expectation of reciprocation because commitment required time, mental
and emotional energy from them. Generally, there exists a tacit agreement between employers and
employees that in exchange for MBA graduates commitment, their organization must provide values
such as a promotion or increase pay. It is reciprocity which intensifies the level of commitment.
When an organization fails to meet its obligations, employees’ commitment erodes.

Turnover Intention

It is challenging to promote an employee who explicitly demonstrates an intention to leave. The

industry believed that MBA graduates have a firm turnover intention due to their higher educational
qualifications (McKnight, Phillips, & Hardgrave, 2009). Moreover, the industry supposed that the
possible high turnover intention of MBA graduates manifest in their profound work commitment to
the organization (Kim, Song, & Lee, 2016). Unsurprisingly, the industry invested significantly in
policies and practices to promote engagement and commitment among their MBA graduates. A low
level of engagement the industry observed from MBA graduates will possibly lead to a high turnover
intention (Simpson, 2009).

Through higher education, the industry helps their employees attain the knowledge and skills they
need to accomplish their jobs. Employees who improve their skills through MBA education are
expected to involve fully in their work since they derive satisfaction from their higher educational
qualifications (Fruhen, Mearns, Flin, & Kirwan, 2014). The MBA degree enhanced the employees’
value to the industry as well as their labor market value. Also, the industry is willing to offer higher
remuneration for experts to compensate for their high labor market value and discourage turnover
(Mihail & Kloutsiniotis, 2014).

There is a strong linked between employee engagement and business outcome. Employee
engagements are positively associated with employees’ loyalty, productivity, and turnover, including
customer satisfaction. Employee engagement has the most substantial effect on employee turnover
compared to customer satisfaction and safety. A firm belief in the industry that their MBA graduates
will look for a better opportunity is due to the observed low employee engagement or better career
offer from other organizations.

Similarly, employee attitudes are another element that can strongly determine the turnover
intention. Surprisingly, employee attitude has a weak association with productivity compared to
employee turnover. In other words, the industry observed that the changes in their MBA graduates
attitudes would finally lead to turnover. However, for their MBA graduates with the managerial
position, the modest magnitude of the association between attitude and turnover translate into
millions.

Leadership spirit
The industry identified that the present market challenges such as organizational agility, capability,
and efficiency required a high level of creativity, productivity, and ownership (Gong & Janssen,
2012). Presently, there are two basic ways organizational efforts are designed to fail. First is the
absence of a whole system approach. Organizational efforts fail when the system fails to isolate the
problem to be solved. Second, efforts are unrealistic and piecemeal. This approach is similar to
treating the symptoms and not the disease. Thus, any short-term improvement is often followed by
deteriorating long-term conditions. By far, the leading spirit in the organization is the most common
way to change efforts to succeed.

The industry wanted MBA graduates to demonstrate leadership spirit in the organization
significantly. Superficially, MBA graduates efforts focus only on the external side of change (Talim,
2012). For example, when the organization introduced new technology accompanied by
restructuring, temporary teams, revise policies and reward system, workflows are updated, which
appear that all are in place. However, in the absence of a leadership spirit, these systems seldom
work. Most change efforts failed because the system cannot organize, but leadership does (Crawford
& Nahmias, 2010).

Equally, the industry observed that MBA graduates avoided power and played safe demonstrating
characteristics of loyalty and hardworking subordinate a means to get protection and importance
from their managers (Bakker, Demerouti, & Lieke, 2012). The industry wanted MBA graduates to
take higher risk and manage conflict, make difficult decisions, and assume more responsibility and
visibility (Too & Weaver, 2014). However, among MBA graduates, the mandate cast a crisis of
identity.

The industry wanted to promote employees who displayed leadership spirit to facilitate a profound
internal change in the organization (Aragón-Correa, García-Morales, & Cordón-Pozo, 2007). An
excellent leadership spirit empowers high-performance teamwork, which required each member to
fundamentally change their outmoded identity, not merely make a few skills adjustment (Montes,
Moreno, & Morales, 2005). Only an excellent leadership spirit can fundamentally create a new way
of understanding change in the organization (Plowman et al., 2007).

The MBA graduates struggled based on industry observations to any change in direction that
required effort to meet essential goals (Lord & Brown, 2001). The industry finds it difficult to place
additional responsibilities and change in priorities which focused high priority goals. Indeed MBA
graduates find it challenging to discuss their subordinate’s responsibilities and enter into the
jurisdictions of clear and specific outcomes, which include the definition and measure of success
(Zhu, Avolio, & Walumbwa, 2009).

Specifically, facilitation skills are wanting among MBA graduates. They find it a challenge to extend
assistance to everyone in keeping communication open (Ladyshewsky, 2006). Also, the industry
wanted the MBA graduates to ante up their facilitating skills which mean to tread the thin line
between being knowledgeable and helpful while engaged with the team but avoiding the role of an
“expert,” which has an effect of shifting away members’ ideas and responsibilities (Mumford,
Zaccaro, Harding, Jacobs, & Fleishman, 2000).

Leadership played a critical role in increasing the relationship between empowerment and
performance. The industry needed MBA graduates to act as “coaches,” who can promote an
environment that inspires and encourage the ideal environment (Gao, Janssen, & Shi, 2011). There is
a gap between MBA graduates and industry in the area of encouraging subordinates to attain the
goal, to improve performance to gain the latest competencies and skills or accept responsibilities
(Rego, Sousa, Marques, & e Cunha, 2012). The industry more than MBA graduates believed that
coaching improves the effectiveness of leaders (Ely et al., 2010). However, due to the lackluster
leadership spirit of MBA graduates, they are less effective in managing teams, possess lower morale
and mediocre bottom-line results below the industry expected result might find themselves
bypassed by other non-MBA employees (Aquila, 2001).

Generally, since MBA graduates lacked the enthusiasm to assume as a leadership coach, they were
less effective in their leadership role in the organization, especially at times when there is a need to
improve internal involvement (Hall, Otazo, & Hollenbeck, 1999). They seemed to practice a
“command and control” type of management (Sonnenwald & Pierce, 2000). Unfortunately, MBA
graduates can only extend minimal help in encouraging employees to grow, assume responsibility,
the authority to improve the organization’s quality of work.

Conclusions

Ironically the industry finds their MBA graduates learning agility insufficient to their standards.
However, the MBA graduates identified learning agility as their strength opposite to the observation
of the industry. Similarly, the industry finds MBA graduates lacked leadership spirit, identified as a
weakness. Both learning agility and leadership spirit were significantly rated lowest by industry
standards. Possibly, these two indicators serve as significant obstacles for the promotions of MBA
graduates as high potential employees.

Recommendations

The MBA curriculum needs to enrich the curriculum in Organizational Behavior, and Communication
with an enrich leadership topic that addresses the standard of the industry in the areas of leadership
spirit such as change management, team and conflict management, facilitation skills and coaching.
Also, the improvement must take place to promote learning agility based on industry definition. It is
time to revise the Strategic Management course to emphasis on learning agility, which covers topics
in planning, tactics, and strategy.
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