The role of business schools

Methodology: Interviews were carried out with 38 top level managers from 15 business schools in Brazil, England, Germany, India, Scotland, South Africa and Tanzania. This research was backed by analysis of promotional literature for the school, course brochures, web pages and other relevant information. Findings: By far the most common attitude was that the role of business schools was to provide organisations with suitably qualified and experienced staff to achieve business aims. Relatively little attention was given to what those aims should be and none of the respondents said business schools had a major role in leading and shaping such aims towards a focus on the greater benefit of humanity. None of the leaders interviewed gave interviewers the impression that their main role, current or future, was to steer business toward helping humanity to achieve a sustainable future or to tackle urgent global issues. Given the growing debate in these areas and over the recent financial crisis, the researchers viewed this as a concern.