The MBA in French universities : a risky undertaking ?

• Jean-Claude THOENIG
  Research director, CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique : National Centre for Scientific Research)
  Professor at the INSEAD Business School
  

Summary

Are there similarities or differences between university and the MBA? The criteria which define and explain the functioning of the MBA are institutionalised today. They have become key success factors, in other words points of reference for the most prestigious training courses. If this is the case, then one has to understand the effects created by these criteria, in particular the tendency towards standardisation. A comparison between management teaching in Germany and the United States introduces the factor of cultural specificity and outlines the connections between the MBA, the university and various companies. Management training is strongly marked by the culture in which it finds itself and this factor was at the centre of the debate. Firstly, the "French management training model" evoked lively discussion. For some people there is no such thing ; for others it exists to a minor extent while many people wish that it were stronger. Next, the place for "thinking" in management teaching was debated. Finally, the MBA model appears to be one of many to be found in management training and it suggests a variety of options.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Gilles GAREL.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it for free in French (PDF help) or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference GR221098).

The entire article appears in French in the Journal de l'École de Paris du management N° 17.