A school is “a building that has four walls…with tomorrow inside”: Toward the reinvention of the business school

Business schools, defined as educational institutions that specialize in teaching courses and programs related to business and/or management, are facing major challenges. These challenges stem from a number of major shifts in the business education landscape, including the rising importance of rankings and accreditations, the increased weight placed on ethical decision making, the ongoing debate on rigor vs. relevance in research, the digital revolution, and the significant decrease in public funding. In fact, they are so fundamental that the coming decade is likely to represent a new era in the history of business education, the fourth since the concept of the business school was created in 1819 with the establishment of ESCP Europe. The purpose of this article is to outline these main changes (TASK: T—from tower to Twittersphere, A—from auditorium to anti-café, S—from stakeholder to shareholder, K—from knowledge to know-how) and to discuss how they impact the different AS-SE-TS of a business school (alumni & students, staff & equipment, teachers & scholars). The article ends with a proposed classification of schools along four corners (culture, compass, capital, and content) and a discussion of which types of schools are best suited to adapt to these changes.     

An institutional account of governance structures in early modern business history: the Coventry business (hi)story

This paper is an account of the institutional mechanisms that have influenced business history in the early to late Middle Ages in the city of Coventry. The paper discusses socio-cultural, political, religious, and historical influences on the city's major trades during the era and incorporates analysis of governance structures in the form of Coventry's famous guilds which were instrumental in shaping the trajectory of one of England's foremost cities during the chronicled era. Through this examination we seek to complement and contribute to business history literature that is increasingly intrigued by business and economic activities pre-dating the industrial and manufacturing era, thus enriching discussion about business and institutional dynamics in the pre-modern era.     

Getting what we wish for: The realities of business education for a global economy

Business schools around the world have embraced globalization and, as a result, attempted to attract international students to their programs. Teaching diverse student groups has many advantages, but is not without its challenges, including cultural differences in educational expectations and student self-efficacy. The goal of this article is to suggest that we can create plans and activities capable of helping Asian students adapt more quickly to the expectations of Western education. We herein describe Rotterdam Business School's experiences in working with a diverse—mainly Asian—population of students, focusing on strategies that may assist them in adapting to the expectations of the global business school classroom.     

A Reply to the Commentaries on “Business Marketing: A Twenty Year Review”

ABSTRACT

In this article the authors respond to the commentaries by Professors Spekman, Wilson, and Woodside on their article, “Business Marketing: A Twenty Year Review” and share their thoughts on the future of business marketing. In responding to the commentaries, the authors concede that while their review has started the dialogue, much remains to be done. They conclude with a call for the establishment of a broad-based research task force to develop a research agenda and to coordinate research efforts that systematically address the key problems facing business marketing and research practices in business marketing.     

Transforming business education to produce global managers

In recent years, globalization of businesses has occurred faster than the internationalization of business schools—in terms of faculty, students, and curriculum. Indeed, there is now a disconnect between global economic realities and the ability of business schools to produce global managers. This article discusses mission-based strategies for international business education and proposes opportunities that increase global awareness, global understanding, and global competence through student and faculty engagement and development. These changes will advance business schools’ mission of producing global managers.     

The Development of International Business as an Academic Discipline

Abstract

This article reviews the emergence of international business (IB) as an academic discipline through an examination of IB research, curriculum, and location within the organisational structures of universities and business schools. A selective review of the literature on IB education is used to identify different approaches to the formulation of the IB curriculum and its constituent parts and principal features: internationalisation of business functions; integration of constituent subject areas; multidisciplinary and strategic orientation. This is used to derive a number of pedagogic implications for both teachers and students of IB: sequencing and ordering of the curriculum; revealing the ontology and epistemology of IB; breadth versus depth in the curriculum; emphasising a study of or for IB; locating and structuring IB within a modular programme; class room practice for delivering the IB curriculum.     

国际商务学科内涵与相关的国际学术资源评述

国际商务作为一个新兴的朝阳学科在我国得到了快速健康的发展,但我们对国际商务这一专业还缺乏清晰的认知。本文通过对国际商务的学科内涵、学科发展情况的介绍及其与国际贸易学科之间的比较以及对国际商务学术期刊、学术协会等资源的简要介绍,使业界能比较清晰地把握国际商务学科的内涵与边界,帮助业界相对快速有效地掌握国际商务的最新学术动态及相关的学术资源。     

Cheating During the College Years: How do Business School Students Compare?

When it comes to cheating in higher education, business school students have often been accused of being the worst offenders; if true, this may be a contributing factor in the kinds of fraud that have plagued the business community in recent years. We examined the issue of cheating in the business school by surveying 268 students in business and other professional schools on their attitudes about, and experiences with, cheating. We found that while business school students actually cheated no more or less than students in other professional schools, their attitudes on what constitutes cheating are more lax than those of other professional school students. Additionally, we found that serious cheaters across all professional schools were more likely to be younger and have a lower grade point average. Helen A. Klein is an assistant professor in the Management Department at Grand Valley State University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Computer and Information Systems and is interested in Object Oriented Software development, business process redesign and the use of ERP as a tool for learning in higher education. Nancy M. Levenburg is an associate professor in the Management Department at Grand Valley State University. She received her Ph.D. degree from Union Institute & University, and has done post-graduate study at Harvard University and UCLA. Her primary research interests include electronic commerce and strategic applications of information technologies. Marie McKendall is a professor in the Management Department at Grand Valley State University. She received her Ph.D. in Management from Michigan State University. Her primary research interest is organizational illegality. William M. Mothersell is an assistant professor in the Management Department at Grand Valley State University. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Labor and Industrial Relations. His research interests include strategic human resource management, organizational behavior and development, and lean transformation.     

The Changing Business Environment in Tunisia

ABSTRACT

The present article investigates the business environment of a single Arab country, Tunisia, which is one of the least explored markets in international business literature. The study revealed that the market is witnessing considerable change subsequent to the liberalization policy in general and the move towards the trade agreement with the European Union in particular. By doing so, the article attempts to contribute to the actualization of business studies treating national markets in the Arab region given that the bulk of research dealing with this area are concerned either with business in the pre-liberalization era or mass marketing in the oil-rich Arab economies.     

One hundred years of excellence in business education: What have we learned?

The quality of the next generation of business leaders will be determined by the ways in which business schools respond to a host of dramatic changes emerging in the environment of higher education. While specific initiatives will vary widely, one thing seems certain: business schools will need to be more nimble, more innovative, and more efficient than ever before. The Kelley School of Business, Indiana University has consistently been at the forefront of business education. Over the past century, the School has developed a set of capabilities that has enabled it to capitalize on the forces that have shaped the evolution of business education. In this article, we review several significant trends affecting the future of business education and share the success principles that we believe are most applicable to thriving in the new world that is on our doorstep.     

The history of entrepreneurship: Medieval origins of a modern phenomenon

The origins of enterprise are often associated with the Industrial Revolution, but this article presents evidence of entrepreneurial activities from a much earlier date – the medieval period. Between 1250 and 1500 the church, merchants and members of the royal court all engaged in activities that demonstrated the entrepreneurial characteristics of innovation, risk-taking and judgement. The activities of the prior of Tynemouth and the career of the wool merchant William de la Pole illustrate these developments. By focusing on individuals rather than firms, it is possible to push back the study of entrepreneurship beyond the Industrial Revolution and early-modern trade to a period that witnessed the origins of the modern state.