A Learning Team ? Yesterday innaguarated a new phase of the Darden experience for several reasons, but two stand... Read>> Posted August 22, 2007
Dean's Bruner's Speech & Orientation "Diversity, Diversity, Diversity" Dean Bruner gave a very nice, positive spin to this (seriously predictable)... Read>> Posted August 19, 2007
Hold On My Account I got a short little computer-generated email two days ago that informed me of a... Read>> Posted August 19, 2007
My program jumps to 4th Global Yesterday, upon entering class, I overheard many students talking about "rankings" but I didn't find... Read>> Posted August 17, 2007
THE CASE-STUDY METHOD: PART 1 First Observations of a B-School Novice
In a recent post on his blog, Dean Bruner commented on the need for Business-Schools (and educational institutions in general) to resist the urge to become overly means-oriented. And, by this I mean that B-Schools have to be careful not to focus their attention on the end of an MBA (getting a job) to the exclusion of the process of obtaining it.
In his post, Dean Bob laments the degree to which business students are increasingly reducing education to a means of earning more money. Bravo, we need more of this kind of thinking in the world today. And, if I may be so bold, we need more of this in the world-at-large as well. I mean, seriously, if it is easy to think of B-School simply as a tool for gaining money, how much easier is it to think of a job in this way? And, while that might sound totally practical (logical?), just like with Business school if you only view your job (or a period in life, or a relationship, etc.) as a means to getting something you desire you are virtually guaranteeing your lifelong unhappiness.
The reason for this is simple: real satisfaction can not be found in the chasing of things, but in becoming content with where you are. This does not mean that you should stop chasing things (you must!) but, even if you are running a lifetime race between many exciting goals, the journey is the end. So it is with people. The time you spend with people is the reward of knowing people. And, in the same way that an education is its own reward, the greatest reward of life is found in the living. Life is not about what you can get out of it, but for what it is intrinsically.
The Case-Study method is one of the best ways I have encountered to highlight this reality. The conversations in class are the education. Therefore, you would be right if you concluded that the goal of a Darden education is not to make more money... but to learn to think well and, of course, enjoy the experience! Posted August 23, 2007 Life Posted by: pk Life is not a 100m race its a marathon.
Why marathon is important ? because people who knows how to enjoy the race can only participate in marathon. every step you take actually recharges you.
Same is true with business school. Every minute you spend with faculty, friends, pondering over why you did this or why you did that adds value to your personality.
start enjoying every moment.... you will see yourself smiling all the time.... Posted 2007-08-23 19:17:50
Posted by: Anand Good post and thanks for writing about this. The common perception is that people go to B-school so that they can get a better job and make more money. Most Ppl are here to discover themselves, shape their career and lives. Only if we could showcase our experience and insight we gain everyday, more ppl may very well realise the true nature of a top business school Posted 2007-08-25 17:40:58 To pk Posted by: Christof Meyer Thanks for your comments. I guess we may be taking the running metaphor a little bit further than is necessary here... but if you'll give me a bit of flexibility...
I think that if business school is a marathon, I haven't yet found out how to get "recharged" with every step. :-) LOL. Nevertheless, I definitely see where you are coming from when you say that every person you meet, thing you do, and minute you spend at business school changes you a little bit.
I was just talking about this to my wife - I feel like I have already learned so much, and I've only been through 3 days of class!
CM Posted 2007-08-25 21:07:23 COMMENT ON THIS POST
