What's Behind the MBA Oath?
A group of Harvard Business School MBA students recently created the MBA Oath, a pledge to act in future business dealings in ways that are socially aware as well as responsible to investors and customers. The framers want business leadership to be thought of as a professionals, like doctors and lawyers, complete with a code of ethics.
Why an oath?
"We hope the Oath will accomplish three things," writes one of the founders of the idea, Max Anderson:
- Make a difference in the lives of the students who take the oath.
- Challenge other classmates to work with a higher professional standard, whether they sign the oath or not.
- Create a public conversation in the press about professionalizing and improving management.
But not all agree with the idea. Responding to Anderson's post, "MBA 2011" writes, "If one wishes to really serve the greater good one would join the peace core or countless other non-profits or perhaps become a teacher or social worker. Instead most MBA candidates make the rich richer."
And "Paul" adds: "Does the type of person who seeks an MBA need to publicly pledge honor in order to be honorable? If so, I suggest that we are doing a terribly poor job of recruiting and selecting MBA candidates."
Read the oath and come back to tell us what you think. Is this an effective first step towards changing management behavior in the future, or a misguided effort that won't change anything?