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Full-Text Articles in Business
Business Schools Should Be Schools Of Management: An Evolutionary Perspective, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas
Business Schools Should Be Schools Of Management: An Evolutionary Perspective, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
This chapter looks at the original driving forces which led to the creation of institutions, particularly in the US, including the vision of their founders which would support our perspective in favour of schools of management. It looks at the years following the Second World War and how the Ford and Carnegie ‘Foundation Reports’ as well as the Cold War led to further evolution away from a school of management to a business school mission. The chapter looks at the period roughly from 1970 to 2000 during which US business school funding, which had been largely provided by the foundations, …
Perspectives On The Impact, Mission And Purpose Of The Business School, Eric Cornuel, Howard Thomas, Matthew Wood
Perspectives On The Impact, Mission And Purpose Of The Business School, Eric Cornuel, Howard Thomas, Matthew Wood
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
This book explores the impact and purpose of the business school, and addresses some of the most important questions facing management education today. The diverse perspectives brought together by the EFMD in this volume examine a number of common questions, themes and challenges. These include: whether business schools should be viewed as schools of management, given the complexity of the business environment; what is the positive impact of business school research, and the balance of relevant, practical impact and academic rigour; the strategic evolution of business schools and how they may evolve in a more purposeful direction; and why business …
Leading Business Schools, Julie Davies, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel, Rolf D. Cremer
Leading Business Schools, Julie Davies, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel, Rolf D. Cremer
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Business schools are critical players in higher education, educating current and future leaders to make a difference in the world. Yet we know surprisingly little about the leaders of business schools. Leading a Business School demystifies this complex and dynamic role, offering international insights into deans’ dilemmas in different contexts and situations. It highlights the importance of deans creating challenging and supportive learning cultures to enhance business and management education, organizations and society more broadly.Written by renowned experts on the role of the dean, Julie Davies, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel and Rolf D. Cremer, the book traces the historical evolution …
Leading A Business School, Julie Davis, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel, Rolf D. Cremer
Leading A Business School, Julie Davis, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel, Rolf D. Cremer
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Business schools are critical players in higher education, educating current and future leaders to make a difference in the world. Yet we know surprisingly little about the leaders of business schools. Leading a Business School demystifies this complex and dynamic role, offering international insights into deans’ dilemmas in different contexts and situations. It highlights the importance of deans creating challenging and supportive learning cultures to enhance business and management education, organizations and society more broadly. The book traces the historical evolution of the business school deanship, the current challenges and future sources of disruption. The leadership characteristics and styles of …
Business School Sustainability Revisited: Sustainable No More?, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas
Business School Sustainability Revisited: Sustainable No More?, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Kai Peters and Howard Thomas reflect on their 2011 Global Focus article, “A Sustainable Model for Business Schools”, and 2018 book, “Rethinking the Business Model of Business Schools”, and update the thoughts and developments since then.
Perspectives On The Mission, Value And Impact Of The Business School, Howard Thomas, Howard Thomas
Perspectives On The Mission, Value And Impact Of The Business School, Howard Thomas, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The business school has been an important success story in the evolution of the modern university. Yet it is increasingly valued in that context “much more for its managerial expertise, cash generation ability and financial strength than its intellectual vigour and scholarship. Indeed … its legitimacy as a serious academic discipline is critically questioned by scholars in science, arts and the humanities” (Thomas, Lorange and Sheth, 2013, pp 52/3). Rakesh Khurana (2007) argues that business schools have become the ‘hired hands’ of business and have abandoned any pretence of fulfilling goals of developing a cadre of professional managers as proposed …
A Zero-Based Cultural Perspective On Dealing With The Hybrid Reality Of Teaching In Business Schools, Susan Fournier, Howard Thomas
A Zero-Based Cultural Perspective On Dealing With The Hybrid Reality Of Teaching In Business Schools, Susan Fournier, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Susan Fournier and Howard Thomas explore a new business school future, question existing approaches and identify and examine five core issues.
Value And Purpose Of Management Education: Looking Back And Thinking Forward In Global Focus, Eric Cornuel, Howard Thomas, Matthew Wood
Value And Purpose Of Management Education: Looking Back And Thinking Forward In Global Focus, Eric Cornuel, Howard Thomas, Matthew Wood
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Without a doubt, business schools have been a success story in higher education over the last 50 years (the period of EFMD’s existence). Even so, they have come under scrutiny, and attack, over their academic legitimacy and value proposition for business and society. In this book, drawn from a special issue of Global Focus, the EFMD has selected around 25 of the best, most thoughtful short papers published in Global Focus to examine the role and purpose of EFMD in the evolution of management education. Each of the chapters interpret current strategic debates about the evolution of business schools and …
Examining Business School Leadership, Julie Davies, Ewan Ferlie, Heather Mclaughlin, Howard Thomas
Examining Business School Leadership, Julie Davies, Ewan Ferlie, Heather Mclaughlin, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Business school leaders are ‘squeezed’ by a range of internal metrics. These metrics focus on a micro-managed narrow range of key performance indicators (KPIs) to raise revenues, research, and rankings. This style of financial centralised control has, in many cases, distracted deans and their teams from seriously addressing long-standing crises that the current global pandemic has brought to the fore. This article captures discussions from EFMD’s webinar on business school leadership which is part of “the future of the business school” seminar series.
How To Develop Collaborative Projects That Drive Innovation, Paul Carlile, Steven Davidson, Howard Thomas
How To Develop Collaborative Projects That Drive Innovation, Paul Carlile, Steven Davidson, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Boston University’s Questrom School of Business is creating an innovative approach to identifying co-operative ways to improve business education.
The Complexity Of Business Schools, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas
The Complexity Of Business Schools, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Kai Peters and Howard Thomas wonder how long business schools can survive the growing complexity of their industry.
Apply Liberally: Towards A Model Of Liberal Management Education, Howard Thomas
Apply Liberally: Towards A Model Of Liberal Management Education, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Howard Thomas argues the case for integrating the liberal arts into management education so that the existing curricula emphasis on technological and analytical acumen is balanced with skills of critical thinking and ethical intelligence necessary for managerial judgment.
What Should Business Schools Be For?, Howard Thomas, Kenneth Starkey
What Should Business Schools Be For?, Howard Thomas, Kenneth Starkey
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Howard Thomas and Kenneth Starkey report on a new initiative that looks to business schools to re-orient themselves to a challenging new future.
The Future Of Business Schools: Shut Them Down Or Broaden Our Horizons?, Ken Starkey, Howard Thomas
The Future Of Business Schools: Shut Them Down Or Broaden Our Horizons?, Ken Starkey, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Ken Starkey and Howard Thomas report on a groundbreaking workshop that debated the mounting criticism of business schools and where they might go from here.
Latin America: Management Education’S Growth And Future Pathways, Gabriela Alvarodo, Howard Thomas, Lynne Thomas, Alexander Wilson
Latin America: Management Education’S Growth And Future Pathways, Gabriela Alvarodo, Howard Thomas, Lynne Thomas, Alexander Wilson
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The book Latin America: Management Education’s Growth and Future Pathways [Emerald, UK] follows a past, present and future perspective on the growth of management education in the region. In this article for Global Focus we highlight some of the key findings from our study of its evolution and look at current issues facing the continent.
The Business Of Business Schools, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas, Richard Raymond Smith
The Business Of Business Schools, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas, Richard Raymond Smith
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The authors suggest that while much has been written about business schools from historical and critical perspectives not enough has emerged from an additional viewpoint – the lens of the business of business schools.
Rethinking And Re-Evaluating The Purpose Of The Business School, Howard Thomas
Rethinking And Re-Evaluating The Purpose Of The Business School, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Without doubt, business schools have been one of the success stories of higher education over the past 50 years. Even so, over the past decade management education has come under attack over both its legitimacy as a serious academic discipline, and its failure to professionalise management. Perhaps now is an opportune time, therefore, for management educators to reflect on the value and purpose of business education and address the real issue of how to innovate to improve student learning about both the theory and practice of management.
Dynamic Capabilities And The Business School Of The Future, Howard Thomas, Peter Lorange, Jagdish Sheth
Dynamic Capabilities And The Business School Of The Future, Howard Thomas, Peter Lorange, Jagdish Sheth
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Business schools need to focus more clearly on their dynamic capabilities in order to re-invigorate and re-develop themselves and their students.
Future Scenarios For Management Education, Howard Thomas, Michelle P. Lee, Alexander Wilson
Future Scenarios For Management Education, Howard Thomas, Michelle P. Lee, Alexander Wilson
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Business schools are facing unprecedented challenges, ranging from financial sustainability in some quarters to waning demand for the MBA to the potentially disruptive impact of massive open online courses. Given these challenges, how might the future of management education unfold? The purpose of this paper is to better understand how leaders in management education perceive these challenges and their likely impact on the evolution of the field. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 39 experts, the majority of who were in leadership positions at business schools. Each of these in-depth interviews was tape-recorded, transcribed and then content-analysed. The authors asked …
Management Education: The Path Behind And The Road Ahead, Howard Thomas
Management Education: The Path Behind And The Road Ahead, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Despite these identity struggles and occasional moments of crisis, business schools have grown in popularity over the years and are resilient to fluctuations in the economy.
The Future Of Doctoral Education In Business Administration, Arnoud Cyriel Leo De Meyer
The Future Of Doctoral Education In Business Administration, Arnoud Cyriel Leo De Meyer
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Doctoral education in business administration needs to change in order to cope with the fast growing demand for PhD holders, who can teach and perform research at a high quality level. Additionally, society has a rapidly growing need for knowledge workers who have a doctoral education or an equivalent. The traditional apprentice approach may not be able to cope with that demand. Society has also criticized the inefficiency and cost associated with the current model of PhD education in management or business administration. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reflection for leaders in business education on how …
Business School Evolution: Media Insights And The Future Outlook, Gillian Goh, Michelle P. Lee, Howard Thomas
Business School Evolution: Media Insights And The Future Outlook, Gillian Goh, Michelle P. Lee, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Over the last two decades business schools and management education have received much attention in the media – witnessed by the boom in media rankings and the myriad topics discussed. Global events, such as the global financial crisis, have often been the precipitator of intense scrutiny of management education and calls for its reform.
Environmental Influences: Reflections On The Globalization Of Management Education, Arnoud De Meyer
Environmental Influences: Reflections On The Globalization Of Management Education, Arnoud De Meyer
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
Globalization of management education seems to have become the natural way to go for management and business schools. Almost every week one can find in the specialized press another announcement about an overseas campus, a new international partnership or a major research tie up. But announcing an international venture is easy, implementing is the challenge. The purpose of this paper is to provide some advice on how to implement globalization. This paper is based of the author's own experience with INSEAD, the University of Cambridge and Singapore Management University, as well as his observations of many other business schools. It …
The Legitimacy Of The Business Of Business Schools: What's The Future?, David C. Wilson, Howard Thomas
The Legitimacy Of The Business Of Business Schools: What's The Future?, David C. Wilson, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The purpose of this paper is to examine some challenges facing business schools and their continued legitimacy. Particular attention is paid to the problems of accreditation, regulation and rankings and how these constrain strategic choice. The paper builds on existing literature to provide an analytical overview of the challenges currently facing business schools. The paper assesses the current context of business schools and assesses to what extent they are becoming less relevant both in terms of practice and theories. It suggests changes business schools might make in order to increase relevance. The paper suggests that business schools should change their …
A Sustainable Model For Business Schools, Howard Thomas, Kai Peters
A Sustainable Model For Business Schools, Howard Thomas, Kai Peters
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the financial models used by business schools, with a specific focus on the cost side of the model. The paper systematically looks at sources of revenue and areas of expenditure under different business school models. The paper finds that the faculty model used by many business schools, with the need to devote significant effort to generate academic publications, is very cost intensive and not efficient. The paper suggests that alternative models can be developed which would make business schools more financially sustainable. While there has been a lot of societal …
What Is The European Management School Model?, Howard Thomas
What Is The European Management School Model?, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The article discusses the important role of the European Foundation of Management Development (EFMD) in positioning and influencing business schools in Europe. It highlights the effort of the organization in ensuring internationalization and corporate link to high quality management education in business schools. It also mentions the success of the European management schools in emphasizing international character and being agents in the transformation of management education.
Business Schools In Transition? Issues Of Impact, Legitimacy, Capabilities And Re-Invention, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel
Business Schools In Transition? Issues Of Impact, Legitimacy, Capabilities And Re-Invention, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The purpose of this editorial is to introduce the set of papers which comprise this issue of the journal, and to provide an interpretation of the current strategic debates about the future evolution of business school paradigms and, hence, identify possible strategic options. The papers can be categorized into three broad themes: first, the impacts and environmental influences on management education including issues of globalization, global sustainability and advances in digital and social media. Second, challenges and criticisms of management education covering issues of legitimacy, business model sustainability and the need for change in business models. Third, the re-invention of …
A Sustainable Model For Business Schools?, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas
A Sustainable Model For Business Schools?, Kai Peters, Howard Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The article looks at the condition of business model of business schools, and presents the views of the authors on its instability in terms of finance and unsustainability. It explores the financial drivers of business schools, both on the income and expenditure sides, as well as highlights the areas of distinct concern for business school finances. The sources of funding for business schools are discussed.
Business School Futures: Evaluation And Perspectives, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel
Business School Futures: Evaluation And Perspectives, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
The purpose of this paper is to present details of this special issue, that has as its theme: “Business school futures: evaluation and perspectives”. The Guest Editors have assembled a set of papers presented at recent AACSB/EFMD meetings to provide further fuel for this important debate. Together the papers in this volume provide a set of insights about important themes and perspectives on business schools as we reflect about their future evolution. The insights presented in this special issue should provide the fuel for continued critical debate and dialogue as we confront the current turning points in management education and …
Perspectives On Leadership In Business Schools, Howard Thomas, Lynne Thomas
Perspectives On Leadership In Business Schools, Howard Thomas, Lynne Thomas
Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business
This paper aims to focus on leadership in business schools. It seeks to advocate examining strategic leadership processes through the exploration of interactions between such multiple constituencies as the dean, faculty, university councils and advisory boards. A range of models of the leadership process are identified and illustrated, namely, the strategic leadership process model, a model of leadership dynamics and an interactionist model, involving an examination of leadership characteristics, context and leadership style. The current financial crisis and criticisms of the business school in the modern university require deans to address changing models and contingencies, globalisation and moral values in …