Management skills and business school education – Part 1

Abstract

This is a two-part article on critical evaluation of the role of business schools (B-Schools) in training and developing competent and effective managers. There are theoretical and applied aspects of the issues involved. This first part of the article deals with the conceptual issues on the role of B-schools in the education and development of efficient managers and management skills. The second part would critically review Ghana's experience of management skills development by the B-schools. It would propose a model for consideration for our young B-schools in Ghana. This first part surveys the literature on the conceptual issues of efficient management skills and the role of the B-schools. It lays the foundation for the subsequent critical evaluation of Ghana's business education and training of our managers. The first part details the worldwide utter dissatisfaction with the products of the B-schools. It reviews the reactions, opinions and research findings of management gurus, employers, CEOs, B-schools, graduates, practitioners of management, and accreditation institutions of Bschools with the products of the B-schools. It critically analyses what is meant by "effective management'. In the end, it reviews a six-step programme for management skills development and training in general. The basic conclusion of this conceptual overview article is summarised in Mintzberg's insightful observation that: "Management schools will only begin the serious training of management when skill training in the business schools takes place next to cognitive learning." Part two will deal with the need for collaboration between the educational institutions, students, and employers in providing relevant management education by our B-schools. The role of critical thinking, team work, questioning, case studies