The missing component in MBA programs

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to illuminate a crucial component missing in the education of MBA students. This component involves awareness translated into skills that would enable leaders to narrow the gap between vision and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of MBA curricula shows that the ability to exploit intangible assets has not been explored sufficiently as well as why this ability is instrumental for leadership.

Findings

This study emphasises how crucially important it is for leaders to be able to consolidate a vision and lead change derived from that vision as reflected in their daily managerial practice, and argues that current MBA students need to develop additional unique skills that will enable them to diagnose problems related to the assimilation of change and to measure the effectiveness of this process.

Originality/value

This paper offers an original approach to the link between theory and practice and to the importance of developing a vision that challenges the way this topic is generally taught in MBA programs.

Citation

Almog‐Bareket, G. (2011), "The missing component in MBA programs", Management Decision, Vol. 49 No. 10, pp. 1600-1611. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741111183771