Education Commons^™

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 …

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.

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 …

Oral History Interview With Ho Kwon Ping: Conceptualising Smu, Kwon Ping Ho

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: capturing SMU history, view of Singapore education system, Singapore Institute of Management, third university, business schools, business education, faculty recruitment, differentiating SMU, board of trustees, governance, student interaction, job satisfaction, non-profit organisations, inaugural convocation, differentiating SMU, future of SMU.

Biography:

Chairman, Board of Trustees, SMU, 2000–present
Chairman, Governing Council for Singapore Institute of Management, 1997–2000

One of Singapore’s most prominent businessmen, Mr Ho Kwon Ping, was tapped by Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan in 1997 to lead the effort to establish a new national university which would be autonomous and based on an American-style of education. An …

Oral History Interview With Low Aik Meng: Conceptualising Smu, Aik Meng Low

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, role and responsibilities, curriculum, student experience, first freshman team building camp, first classes, pioneer class, student activities, student ambassadors, community service, student hostel, student financial assistance.

Biography:

Founding Dean of Students, SMU, 2000–2011

Member of SMU start-up team

An SMU ‘pioneer’, Professor Low Aik Meng was one of the first three faculty to join the start-up team for the new university in 1998. Curriculum development was one his early responsibilities. Professor Low is best known for his next assignment—in 2000 he was appointed as SMU’s founding dean of students, a role in which …

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 …

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 …

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.

Oral History Interview With Tan Chin Tiong: Conceptualising Smu, Chin Tiong Tan

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, changes to concept plan, research, private university, faculty recruitment, challenges, marketing, advertising campaign, autonomous universities, collaboration with Wharton School, schools in SMU, change agent for education landscape, differentiating SMU, SMU students.

Biography:

Provost, SMU, 1999–2008, and Deputy President, SMU, 2007–2009

Member of SMU start-up team

In 1998 Professor Tan Chin Tiong was one of the first three faculty members who joined the start-up team to create what would become Singapore’s third university, SMU. Among his many responsibilities during the planning phase of SMU, he oversaw faculty recruitment, public relations and marketing, and the …

Oral History Interview With Khoo Teng Aun: Conceptualising Smu, Teng Aun Khoo

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: concept for new university, university library, first admissions exercise, student reaction to SMU, achievements of SMU.

Biography:

Associate Professor of Accounting, SMU, 2000–present

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Khoo Teng Aun was one of the SMU ‘pioneers’, the faculty who formed the start-up team for Singapore’s third university. He joined the start-up team in 1999. Today he is a faculty member of the School of Accountancy and teaches corporate reporting and taxation. His research interests include internet financial reporting, multinational companies, cost and management accounting systems, taxation, and entrepreneurial studies. He also teaches in SMU’s master …

Oral History Interview With Low Kee Yang: Conceptualising Smu, Kee Yang Low

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, university education in Singapore, curriculum, CIRCLE values, private university, logo, teaching pedagogy, interview students for admissions, legal aspects, incorporation of SMU, first day of class, law school, challenges, student recruitment, law internships, Juris Doctor programme, challenges.

Biography:

Associate Professor of Law, SMU, 2000–present

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Low Kee Yang joined the start-up team for SMU in 1998; one of his responsibilities was supervising legal matters. He served as deputy dean of the business school from 1999 to 2002 and chaired the organising committee for the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business …

Oral History Interview With Hwang Soo Chiat: Conceptualising Smu, Soo Chiat Hwang

Oral History Collection

The interview with Hwang Soo Chiat covered:first involvement with SMU, roles and responsibilities, first classes, teaching pedagogy, pioneer students, student interaction, student recruitment, parent interaction, commencement, milestones.

Biography:

Associate Professor of Accounting, SMU, 2000–present

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Hwang Soo Chiat is one of the SMU ‘pioneers’, a member of the start-up team for Singapore’s third university. Today he is an associate professor of accounting at SMU. In December 2005, he was named Outstanding Teacher in the School of Accountancy. His research interests are in the use of accounting ratios for prediction of bankruptcy of companies, corporate governance, …

Oral History Interview With Leong Kwong Sin: Conceptualising Smu, Kwong Sin Leong

Oral History Collection

The interview covere: first involvement with SMU, third university, role and responsibilities, planning, mission statement, employer engagement, faculty compensation, city campus, pioneer students, first commencement, achievements.

Biography:

Associate Professor of Accounting, SMU, 2000–present

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Leong Kwong Sin, an SMU ‘pioneer’, joined the start-up team for the new university in 1998. Today he is an associate professor of accounting in the School of Accountancy. He was named one of the outstanding teachers in the School of Accountancy in December 2005. His research interests include the area of accounting disclosure, accounting education, corporate governance and financial reporting …

Oral History Interview With Pang Yang Hoong: Conceptualising Smu, Yang Hoong Pang

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, roles and responsibilities, risks, mission statement, business education, student recruitment, first day of classes, founding dean of School of Accountancy, strategy, accounting curriculum, employer engagement, internships, faculty research, achievements, challenges.

Biography:

Founding Dean, School of Accountancy, SMU, 2000–2014

Member of SMU start-up team

An SMU ‘pioneer’, Professor Pang Yang Hoong joined the start-up team for the new university in 1998.

She became the first dean of the School of Accountancy in September 2000. Accredited by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore, the accountancy programme combines a broad-based education with internships at …

Oral History Interview With Tan Teck Meng: Conceptualising Smu, Teck Meng Tan

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, concept for SMU, parent engagement, third university, design of campus, city campus, private university, research, collaboration with Wharton, challenges.

Biography:

Professor of Accounting, 2000–2011

Deputy President, SMU, 1999–2001

Head of start-up team for SMU

Professor Tan Teck Meng was a key player in the conceptualising and formation of Singapore’s third university. In 1997, he was appointed chairman of a task force to look into the feasibility of setting up SMU. Subsequently he became SMU’s first employee and was appointed SMU’s founding deputy president (1999—2001).

After his term in administration, Professor Tan …

What Do Deans Do?, Julie Davies, Howard Thomas

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The article offers information on the jobs of business school deans in Great Britain. According to a survey of deans conducted by the Association of Business Schools, effective deans need resolve conflict and deal with issues face-to-face. It says that they try to be selective about which meetings they attended and are appointed to support others' talents and ensure the accomplishment of their works. It adds that they often encounter dilemmas between spending time and energy on operations.

Keeping One Step Ahead, Fernando Fragueiro, Howard Thomas

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The article explores how business school deans can lead their organizations forward in an era of persistent challenges and global tension. It suggests business schools to rise to the challenge of seeking solutions for the shortcomings that have been revealed. It recommends deans to bolster their own leadership skills to provide their institutions with clear governance. It outlines several key responsibilities of deans including environmental scanning, issue diagnosis, and power mobilization.

Business Schools And Management Research: A Uk Perspective, Howard Thomas

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In recent years, the role and value of management research is being increasingly challenged because of the perceived imbalance between its rigour and relevance. The purpose of this paper is to review the progress of management research in the UK and focuses particularly on the need for sensible evaluation of the impact of management research. The paper outlines the research challenges faced by business schools from a UK perspective. It draws upon the author's experiences and the results of an analytic study of Economic and Social Research Council-sponsored research undertaken by the author in 2008. There is a perception that …

What Do Business School Deans Do? Insights From A Uk Study, Julie Davies, Howard Thomas

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

During the last 40 years, the growth and impact of UK business schools have been significant. Relatively few studies have reviewed how business school deans emerge and grow. This paper aims to explore the experiences and psychometric profiles of UK business school leaders to understand their tenures, problems, dilemmas and succession issues. The study comprised 16 semi-structured interviews with business school deans and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) questionnaires completed by deans and aspiring deans (associate deans and heads of department). The study uses the executive life cycle and concepts of social capital as theoretical frameworks to understand the dean's role. …

Business Schools: Positioning, Rankings, Research And Futures, Howard Thomas

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In a recent paper (Thomas, 2007) I noted that, despite the undoubted success of business schools and particularly MBA programmes (Antunes and Thomas, 2007, p. 382), there has been considerable discussion about the purpose of business schools in modern universities. Indeed, I pointed out (Thomas, 2007, p. 9) that business schools “currently face an image and identity crisis and have been subject to a wide range of critical reviews about their societal status as academic and professional schools”. Bennis and O’Toole (2005); Ghoshal (2005); Pfeffer and Fong (2004); and Mintzberg and Gosling (2002) have suggested that business schools are too …