‘Infertile ground’

Your MBA feature “Fertile Ground” (Cover Story,

September 27-October 3) would more aptly read “infertile ground”. It is advertorial masquerading as a thoughtful MBA review. We are tortured with meaningless drivel on the cost of MBAS, study modes, student numbers, duration and so on. So what? There are very serious debates that can, and should, be had on what is by far the most popular degree in the world.

Henry Mintzberg, in Managers Not MBAS,

asserts that MBA programmes at their core are fundamentally based on a 1950s business strategy for corporate monoliths with layers of hierarchy. He also criticises business schools for teaching the subject of management instead of the practice of managing.

There are other weighty questions to be debated with business schools, regulators, employers and alumni. What is the purpose of the MBA? How does the MBA resonate with the most pressing challenges of society, or modern organisations — flat hierarchies, empowered staff, small, agile and tech savvy? Are we preparing MBA students for promotion or job creation?

What should a quintessentially African MBA with a global mindset look like?

Here is an opportunity to do a “fertile” MBA feature that takes the debate to a new level. Come on, FM, you can do better!