Professionalizing global management for the twenty‐first century

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to argue that global management should be considered by practitioners, educators, regulators and society at large as a true professional discipline. While in its current form it may not meet all the defining criteria of a profession, true professionalism is the best guiding principle as progress is made.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews recent critiques of management education, synthesizes the generally agreed criteria of a profession, and applies that framework to the case of management.

Findings

Global management needs to further develop a body of knowledge that is both theoretically grounded and instrumental for practice; it needs to raise the bar in terms of professional qualification through existing accrediting bodies; and it needs to articulate and formally adopt a set of core values and principles of conduct, determining how it serves the broader interest of society.

Originality/value

It is important that all key actors assume true professionalism as a guiding principle for the future. The challenges ahead need to consider the ongoing construction of a solid body of knowledge, the revision of MBA degree requirements and the establishment of a set of core transcendental values that should guide professional practice. Academic institutions and practising executives alike must share a commitment to building a global management knowledge base that will not only improve the quality of management practice, but also earn management its professional status.

Citation

Cabrera, Á. and Bowen, D. (2005), "Professionalizing global management for the twenty‐first century", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 24 No. 9, pp. 791-806. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710510621303