Business as a Human Enterprise: Implications for Education

Abstract

This chapter begins with a brief, stylized history of the business academy, primarily in the United States, where it finds its most dominant form and, historically, its largest audience. The authors juxtapose this history with the tremendous changes that have occurred in business over the last 40–50 years, and suggest that the time is ripe for change. Next, Freeman and Newkirk demonstrate that recent critiques rest on a faulty and outmoded view of business. Using stakeholder theory, the authors argue that we need a new approach, most easily characterized as “business as a human activity.” The chapter suggests two central questions and four problems business education must place front and center. The authors then discuss how we might draw on all of the disciplines of the academy for a more robust and useful view of business, and more powerful research and educational tools.

Originally published in: Rethinking Business Management, 131–148, 2008

Reprint by Springer, Reproduced with author’s permission

We wish to thank our many colleagues at the Darden School and elsewhere for helpful conversations about these issues. Versions of this paper have been delivered at the Schulich School, York University, and at Copenhagen Business School.