Until the 1990's, an engineer or scientist aspiring to be a manager in a technical organization first had to prove their technical competency, and second, that they were technically the most qualified for such a position. With the advent of the MBA, technical organizations no longer require technical competency from managers, particularly "first line" managers.

This presentation discusses the impact of the MBA on technical management and reviews the careers of nationally recognized technical managers. This presentation questions the need to have an MBA to grow into a management position and asserts that such a "need" adversely impacts technical organizations.