Management education: obsolete by default?

Abstract

Purpose – Business Schools have received much criticism up to, and definitely after, the most recent economic meltdown. Management education in particular, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, has come under scrutiny, and the pressure is on to make management education more aligned with contemporary workforce needs. This paper aims to review the validity of this demand, and offer some options to prepare current students for the volatile work environment that awaits them. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on the author's experiences as a management educator, and her observations of the changed nature of management, hence, the changed needs to educate this phenomenon. Findings – Reflections are offered on what is perceived as possible ways for management educators to prepare future workforce members for management in a rapidly changing work environment. This is presented in a unifying, three-tier approach: 1. Connection: Establishing interaction with current workforce members and situations. 2. Completion: Ensuring a well-rounded approach by including interdisciplinary elements in our education. 3. Comprehension: Instilling the eagerness to become lifelong learners. In addition, the changed nature of work and the inability to optimally prepare future workforce members for jobs and careers that yet have to come into existence are underscored. Originality/value – The paper presents an overview of alternative facilitative approaches and insights based on in-depth review of-, and extensive engagement in management education.

2014 update of the discoveries of nuclides

“…Also, 20 B and 21 C were only presented at the second Conference on Advances in Radioactive Isotope Science (ARIS). 78,79 Other nuclides presented at ARIS were 215,216 U, 80 280 Ds, 81 and 284 Fl. 82 In addition, a large number of new nuclides were shown for the first time at two other conferences.…”

“…Doubly Magic78 Ni" the nuclides77 Co and80 Ni were reported for the first time 7. A 345 MeV/nucleon 238 U from the RIKEN cyclotron accelerator complex was incident on a beryllium target and projectile fragments were analyzed with the BigRIPS separator and the ZeroDegree Spectrometer.…”

Educating future corporate managers for a sustainable world: recommendations for a paradigm shift in business education

“…While the overall value of business education is immense, research suggests various issues that influence the perceived quality and outcome (Neubaum et al , 2009; Wright et al , 1994). One of the most important shortcomings of current business education is the lack of practice-oriented training whereby students are not just relying on theories and past cases in assessing a potential business situation (Datar et al , 2011, Marques, 2014). Further, the lack of integration of sustainability concepts despite growing public concern on the relationship between business, society and environment also projects a rather detached, profit-maximization model of business education (Rusinko, 2010).…”

“…The gap between business education and the demands of the business world has been well documented by academics who are in agreement that the business education needs to change to better prepare the students for the changing complex business environment (Ackerman et al , 2003; Barr and McNeilly, 2002; Davis et al , 2002; Foster and Bolt-Lee, 2002; Kelley and Bridges, 2005; Marques, 2014; Neelankavil, 1994; Walker et al , 2009). Access to information has never been easier; we literally have it at our fingertips.…”

“…Inclusion of art and creative approaches such as experimenting with poetry, music, movies, drawing, meditation and storytelling have resulted in enhanced learning environments (Harbin and Humphrey, 2010; Kerr and Lloyd, 2008; (Marques (2014, p. 152) suggests assigning creative projects to enable business students “to reestablish connection with their creative mind, because management today is all about coming up with creative solutions to problems that have not occurred before.”…”