"The further removed you are from working with your hands, the higher value you're perceived to have." It's that, but it's also (perceived) pedigree. A lot of

"The further removed you are from working with your hands, the higher value you're perceived to have." It's that, but it's also (perceived) pedigree. A lot of "business analysts" come from big consultancies like McKinsey, or investment banks like Goldman, et al. Managers and MBA-types have a mystical perception of those firms -- almost as if they trained jedi business knights. The truth may be far from it, at least in my experience. But perception usually trumps truth.