Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kenneth Westling on May 7, 2008 at 11:16am

Interesting article that I could relate to somewhat. In a few months I'll be going to get my MBA, and I would certainly hope that my school def. talks about CSR and what companies are doing currently and what they hope to do in the future. In my personal opinion I believe companies would not take the chance of dropping their focus on CSR, it's a huge role of a company and certainly distinguishes one company from another and how socially responsible they are. If dropping their focus on CSR reduces costs, I think in the long run it would end up costing them because they did not continue pursuing it. Thats just my take on it..

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keith McGuinness on May 9, 2008 at 10:26am

I am nearly finished my MBA in the UK and there has been little or no mention of CSR. An elective was available but only in one of the sister universities elsewhere in Europe.
In this day an age, it really is irresponsible of universities not to at least try and integrate it into core subjects, if not make an elective mandatory. It also means students aren't aware of a very prevalent issue currently.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mitch gold on May 12, 2008 at 11:26am

ask for your tuition to be refunded.

Mitch

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dario on May 10, 2008 at 6:11am

CSR is a subject that was hugely adressed in my studies, even though I'm still an undergraduate student at Warwick Business School in the UK. It related to our core project in our class of Consumer Behavior, and was one of the core elements of an other class we take called Critical Issues in Management. Universities are becoming more concious that managers of tomorrow should also be knowledgable in what they call 'soft issues' such as ethics or CSR, due to the increasing importance these issues are gaining in the corporate sector. A spokesperson from BT came and presented its environmental sustainability plan which actually was decreasing costs for the company as it was using a significantly inferior amount of energy after implementing these measures. The problem however lies with the consumer, which shows a lot of intent and support for CSR initiatives but still doesn't translate these feelings into behavior. CSR education for managers is very important, but the education of the consumer is even more crucial if CSR efforts are to have a real impact in the future, and not just be expensive PR campaigns.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mitch gold on May 12, 2008 at 11:25am

exactly the purpose of the Heart of Africa Campaign and the homeplanet MBA

Mitch

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan on May 11, 2008 at 3:00pm

If you are interested in bringing curriculum change to your university join Net Impact. It is an international organization of over 10,000 MBA students interested in sustainability. They offer programs that help with getting the conversation started on your campus.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mitch gold on May 12, 2008 at 11:22am

CSR is either a fad or it is new way to grow business.

All business schools are embracing it in some manner. This functionality of business schools will be a challenge to them as they all - without exception continue to teach Milton Friedman. While teaching some of his economic principles is ok - these principles did not address his fundamental meswsage that corporations do not have to be responsible to society. This is the true conundrum the Business Schools face - teaching only some of Milton's ideas - not all of them.

Interesting that one used the term "baked" into the curriculum. this is NOT a term we ought to use in education - even if it expresses an integration process. I still follow the teachings of Socrates and would dprefer some metaphor that relates to a questioning process rather than one that leads to the metaphor of "half-baked". :-)

It is clear that those that work with CSR principles will outlast those that do not. Runnning an investment fund using the principles should not be as difficult in the future as we build integrity into the Rep

orting processes and we have standards to comply with (ISO 26000 - for example). As those move towards triple bottom line accounting principles they will more easily see the value of moving beyond" those very principles. THat is where the wisdom of the homeplanet MBA will be of value.

Integration will come easy as we develop the language in our industry. I am putting that forward through the homeplanet MBA program and processes.

Integrity and ethics will not be excluded from the future business model - once we get over the Fear ignorance and Greed paradigm. (FIG)

for now

Mitch

▶ Reply to This