Business Teachers Are the Modern Day Gestapo

Really? Of course not, but both are/were stuck within a rigid framework of rules and archaic expectations that limits autonomy. Even my current teacher, who is a former Global Director for a former multi-billion dollar pharmeceutical company (since absorbed by Pzifer) and touts his lack of a PhD and academic lean as a practical advantage, stays within this invisible paradigm. I just don't see the practicality in it.

I'm curious because the capstone (final/cumulative) course for my MBA degree is almost identical to my undergrad capstone, raised to the nth degree in expectations and difficulty. So, since 2008, nothing has happened to make SJU rethink how they teach the final integrative class in their MBA program? Really? Other classes have amped up their attention to ethics, but its been mostly lip service. Additionally, the most substantive difference in my classes from undergrad have been some hands on group projects with outside non-for profits.

My suggestions to improve MBA curriculums:

Apply and go: Teach a concept and shoot right into a practical, problem-solving activity that applies it. Often times, classes discuss a current event, concept, strategy, etc and it is held for homework or a project at a later date. The idea becomes much more 'sticky' if you can immediately attach an experience or memorable event to it.

Surprise Me: Grad school is awesome. No pop quizzes, very little extemporaneous speaking, and nothing is given outside the syllabus. Unfortunately, this is not to my ultimate advantage because the nature of business is reacting to change in anticipation of future events. Even if my grade eats it, please surprise me, please challenge me, and please try to recreate the real world as much as possible. Even better, surprise me, critique me, expose my flaw to my peers for my benefit- then leave it off the record books.

Partnerships: Following the above allusion to real world problems, Id like to see a stronger presence from local business owners/operators /executives in my class (aside from the adjust teaching it). Bringing in real world success stories to teach lessons and engage the class would add real value. Im not talking a 45 minute lecture on accounting standards or innovation, but some sort of eye opening experience or exercise to teach through invorgation. And hopefully, the time goes so quickly the prof wont have to stall the class out in third gear trying to use the final 35 minutes of class to 1/2 ass his way through 3 chapters of lectures just because it's on the syllabus.

Go forth and prosper, business schools!

Teachers Have Terrible Incentives

A majority of the teachers I've had have been pontificating, self-absorbed, and impervious to change- both in their curriculum and tolerance for new ideas. CNN posted an article today relaying school-improvement advice from top teachers but there was one quote that caught my eye:

"Two minds together can be more successful than one, says Zanetta Robinson, a Florida middle school English teacher.

This tells me that some of the shortcomings of many school systems arent necessarily effort or funding, but coordination problems. A quick learner on the football field who struggles in English may not get the proper diagnosis and attention to treatment for years while bad habits and apathy set in. Ultimately, public schools are due for a business model paradigm shift which ultimately means more private institutions need to step up. They are better equipped to handle the experimentation burden needed to discover best practices for educating in the 21st century.

Education reformed into an all-you-can-eat buffet

Since it may be years or even decades before our public school system evolves into a more autonomous, privatized operation, expanding elective choices for middle and high school students may be a stopgap in our sinking education system. More exposure for kids to find subjects they love and are good at seems like the most likely response to a society that changes so rapidly that the top jobs in the next 5 years dont even exist yet. That, and tell the government to stop wasting money.

SuperFreakonomics

Just finished the second installment of Levitt's behavioral economic quest to answer the tough-to-ask questions with unconventional, simple solutions. While many have criticised the brashness of his solutions, he has proven that the fire of progress can only start with friction and moments of uncomfortability. Others may have more legitimate quarrels with the validity/sustainability of the research he cites (particularly with the global warming portions), but I thought this was another epichol step in the field of research, problem-solving, and left-side thinking.

This is a big f*cking deal

Well put, Mr. Vice President. One more step towards a facist economy and further price distortion. Again, the American people have accepted government as a panacea for government-induced market distortions. Anyone curious as to how this will play out can look down the rabbit hole by reading Prof. Thomas DiLorenzo's portrayal of what government control of other goods (healthcare is a good like food, shelter, or clothing) would look like. http://www.lewrockwell.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo176.html

Rules versus Guidelines

By now it has hit news that Lehman's buried $50 bil in debt in 07-08 off their balance sheet with Repo 150 transactions. While lawyers continue to look for angles and loophole in which to stick Lehman executives & EY for these misleading deals, Im wondering about the bigger problems with this regulatory structure.

Do the "rules" over "guidelines" philosphy encourage this type of malfeasance and misrepresentation? While it will be tough to prove LB broke any specific rules required to execute these Repos, wouldnt they certainly be toast under a guidelines system of good faith, full-disclosure, intention, and acting in the best interest of its stakeholders?

Show Me The Money!!

In leui of 2011 work stoppages/uncapped seasons in the NBA/NFL and the crazy over Wall Street bailouts, is there a way to objectify worker compensation? Obviously there are a number of dynamic factors including the nature of the industry, competition, value created, the loaded term of 'compensation' etc.. I'd like to delve into this more, although it may be tough to tackle such a broad subject when you consider pay tiers, incentives, bonuses etc..

With structures of productions changing so rapidly in this era, you would assume a 'hard cap' or guaranteed contracts/pay are further from the solution, but that cant entirely be discounted.