Are business schools doing their job?

Muff, Katrin

doi:10.1108/02621711211243854

Cited by 61 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Mather et al, 2011;Vu et al, 2011;Muff, 2012;Hardin et al, 2014). According to Bennis and O'Toole (2005) business schools have lost their way, moving towards curricula that are increasingly irrelevant to practitioners.…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

Using the Delphi technique to support curriculum development

Sitlington

Coetzer

2015

Education + Training

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the use of the Delphi technique to support curriculum development with a view to enhancing existing literature on use of the technique for renewal of business course curricula. Design/methodology/approach – The authors outline the Delphi process for obtaining consensus amongst a diverse expert group, provide an overview of the results of the study to demonstrate its value and present an analysis of participants’ reflections on the Delphi process experience. Drawing on participants’ reflections and the experience of using the technique the authors present a “good practice guide” for others seeking to apply the technique and discuss implications for practice and research. Findings – Analysis of participants’ feedback identified strengths and limitations of the process. Participants perceived that the process was efficient and fostered reflection on their own practice. The technique’s capacity to draw out varied views due to absence of dominant voices was highlighted. Limitations were perceived to be restrictiveness of the process and potential inability to address varying understandings. Participant feedback suggests the process may provide a fragmented approach to curriculum design. Research limitations/implications – The findings suggest avenues for future research, including examining how the Delphi technique can be incorporated into a holistic set of curriculum design field studies that are linked and ultimately lead to a well-designed curriculum. Originality/value – Current literature on the Delphi technique does not provide participants’ perspectives on the process nor researcher reflections on use of the technique. The authors address this gap and generate good practice guidelines for using the Delphi technique as a tool for curriculum renewal

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 92%

Using the Delphi technique to support curriculum development

Sitlington

Coetzer

2015

Education + Training

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While student demand patterns and increased competition to attract more students (at home and 6 internationally) will, Lorange (2013) suggests require schools to pay increasing attention to flexible learning. Social factors (such as the rise in retirement age) should increase demand for innovative forms of life-long learning, although this need could also be fulfilled by the emergence of 'corporate schools', consultants and in-house non specialist training (Muff, 2012). Syvertsen (2008) suggests business schools are in a position where the ability to innovate is regarded as a source of developing competitive advantage.…”

Section: Challenges Facing Business Schools In the Uk: Competitive Enmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Future: Strategic Choices Given the current competitive environment, Muff (2012) (Lavelle, 2013). …”

Section: Challenges Facing Business Schools In the Uk: Competitive Enmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many critics also highlight business school's penchant for working more closely with the business community for profit, as well as to increase relevance (Lorange, 2005, Prince, 2007, Muff, 2012. Though there is evidence from the questionnaire and case-study analysis that closer working relationships with local businesses are equally relevant for the benefit of the students, which may be deemed as a clear reaction to the current levels of graduate unemployment, as the latest data from Osborne (2012) shows 25% of 21-year-olds who left university with a degree in 2011 were unemployed, and it is a similar picture in 2012 where this figure has reduced only very slightly to approximately 23% (Paton, 2012).…”

Section: Student Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Investigating whether UK business schools need to be more business-like in order to survive in today's dynamic environment

Curtis

Stevens²

2014

International Journal of Educational Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore whether UK business schools need to change their strategy, to adopt a more business-like approach, without compromising their role as providers of 'quality education.' Businesslike activities, as explained by Dart (2004: 294) are generally understood to be those characterised by some blend of profit motivation, the use of managerial and organisation design tools developed in for-profit business settings, and broadly framed business thinking to structure and organise activity.Design/methodology/approach -Adopting a mixed methods research design, this study involved the review of quantitative data from questionnaires sent to senior managers within UK business schools, followed by the casestudy analysis of five business schools.Findings -Contemporary evidence suggests business schools have reacted to the current dynamic environment by adapting a more business-like approach, scanning the horizon and identifying new markets and opportunities for growth. However, some business schools remain ardently against a more business-like approach, considering it to work against academic clarity and research excellence, expected of universities.Originality/value -This paper illustrates the current challenges influencing strategy within five diverse UK business schools. Therefore, the original contribution of the paper lies in the authors' empirical investigations into the current thinking of business school leaders, in light of the changing HE policies and reduced funding arrangements. In doing this it reflects on future strategic choices in order to ascertain if adopting an approach more in line with private business, with a sharper focus on efficiency and operating profit is inevitable or perhaps even advisable, in order to survive and promote growth in today's dynamic environment. It calls for business schools to proactively take responsibility for more carefully balancing the incomes, with more of a realisation that members of the school will need to generate these resources by demonstrating continuous innovation.

show abstract

“…Increasing costs of MBA programs and growing questions about their effectiveness have become primary impetuses for this concern. Most research examining the effectiveness of MBA programs has examined how the programs can be adapted to provide more value to students and their present/future employers (Muff, 2012). This line of research has identified numerous ways by which the structure and/or content of MBA programs can be adapted to possibly improve effectiveness and/or efficiency.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%