http://www.recessionwire.com/2010/04/22/the-upside-a-better-way-for-b-schools/ The upside of the downturn Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:42:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 http://www.recessionwire.com/2010/04/22/the-upside-a-better-way-for-b-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-3608 MBA Oath Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:18:28 +0000 http://www.recessionwire.com/?p=13431#comment-3608 Thanks for the post and comments. We agree an oath isn't the only answer, but we think you need to establish principles first and then devise strategies to live out those principles. We're doing our best to get the conversation going on what principles business ought to abide by. Later next week, we make our argument more robust by releasing a book about the MBA Oath - what it means, why it matters and how we think it can influence business for the better. check it out at www.mbaoath.org/book Thanks for the post and comments. We agree an oath isn’t the only answer, but we think you need to establish principles first and then devise strategies to live out those principles. We’re doing our best to get the conversation going on what principles business ought to abide by. Later next week, we make our argument more robust by releasing a book about the MBA Oath – what it means, why it matters and how we think it can influence business for the better. check it out at http://www.mbaoath.org/book

]]> http://www.recessionwire.com/2010/04/22/the-upside-a-better-way-for-b-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-3607 czander Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:51:00 +0000 http://www.recessionwire.com/?p=13431#comment-3607 In response to the financial crises and compensation scandals, many deans and educators want to cover over the problems of greed and entitlement associated with a curriculum that teaches MBA to see employees as a commodity and corporate life as a Darwinian struggle. How are they going to solve this problem? By offering oaths. Consider the Thunderbird School of Global Management’s oath of honor; I will strive to act with honesty and integrity. I will respect the rights and dignity of all people. I will strive to create sustainable prosperity worldwide. I will oppose all forms of corruption and exploitation. And I will take responsibility for my actions. As I hold true to these principles, it is my hope that I enjoy an honorable reputation and peace of conscience. Here are the problems with this; first, it is an easy cover for the underlying problems with MBA programs and the ideology found in textbooks, the curriculum and among professors that support the attainment of wealth for the MBA and corporate stockholders. B-school professors have spoken against these oaths as stupid and at odds with the fiduciary duty of business managers towards shareholders. Second, what one says in B-school and what ones does when they get into the executive corporate world many years later has little or no relationship. And, finally if one really wants to be clear about what one must do to oppose corruption and exploitation, this oath should include the following; “When I see corruption or exploitation I will blow the whistle and willingly take the risk that I will spend years in court, become financially ruined, and increase the likelihood that I will be forever unemployable.” In response to the financial crises and compensation scandals, many deans and educators want to cover over the problems of greed and entitlement associated with a curriculum that teaches MBA to see employees as a commodity and corporate life as a Darwinian struggle. How are they going to solve this problem? By offering oaths. Consider the Thunderbird School of Global Management’s oath of honor;
I will strive to act with honesty and integrity. I will respect the rights and dignity of all people. I will strive to create sustainable prosperity worldwide. I will oppose all forms of corruption and exploitation. And I will take responsibility for my actions. As I hold true to these principles, it is my hope that I enjoy an honorable reputation and peace of conscience.
Here are the problems with this; first, it is an easy cover for the underlying problems with MBA programs and the ideology found in textbooks, the curriculum and among professors that support the attainment of wealth for the MBA and corporate stockholders. B-school professors have spoken against these oaths as stupid and at odds with the fiduciary duty of business managers towards shareholders. Second, what one says in B-school and what ones does when they get into the executive corporate world many years later has little or no relationship. And, finally if one really wants to be clear about what one must do to oppose corruption and exploitation, this oath should include the following; “When I see corruption or exploitation I will blow the whistle and willingly take the risk that I will spend years in court, become financially ruined, and increase the likelihood that I will be forever unemployable.”

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