This paper discusses why the practices and structures of Master of Business Administration programs (MBAs) adopted by most Brazilian business schools from higher education institutions do not follow the prescriptions largely utilized worldwide. The study utilized a qualitative approach, interviewing key executives of relevant business schools offering MBAs, the state regulator, and accrediting organizations (the main actors in the field). Employer companies were also surveyed and responded to a structured questionnaire. We conclude that, while a minority of local business schools complies with an academic logic adopted internationally to seek legitimacy, international access, and program enhancement, most other business schools focus on a local logic that can ignore this international logic. The factors seemingly enabling this are related to relevant actors in the field not being aware of, or concerned with, the differences between the two logics. This appears to be essentially due to the lack of regulatory directive from government agencies and limited market pressure from companies, candidates, and students, who do not acknowledge the practices and structures of international MBAs. The paper also demonstrates the effective application of institutional logic theory in identifying and analyzing two separate subfields in Brazil that appraise the quality and value of the MBA degree differently, yet can co-exist without undermining the legitimacy of either MBA model.

本文讨论了为什么巴西高等教育机构的大多数商学院采用的工商管理硕士课程 (MBA) 的做法和结构不遵循全球广泛使用的规定。该研究采用定性方法，采访了提供 MBA 学位的相关商学院的主要高管、国家监管机构和认证机构（该领域的主要参与者）。雇主公司也接受了调查并回答了结构化的问卷。我们得出的结论是，虽然少数本地商学院遵循国际采用的学术逻辑来寻求合法性、国际准入和课程增强，但大多数其他商学院专注于可以忽略这种国际逻辑的本地逻辑。看似促成这一点的因素与该领域的相关参与者不了解或不关心这两种逻辑之间的差异有关。这似乎主要是由于缺乏来自政府机构的监管指令以及来自公司、候选人和学生的有限市场压力，他们不承认国际 MBA 的做法和结构。本文还展示了制度逻辑理论在识别和分析巴西两个独立的子领域中的有效应用，这些子领域对 MBA 学位的质量和价值有不同的评价，但可以在不破坏任一 MBA 模式合法性的情况下共存。这似乎主要是由于缺乏来自政府机构的监管指令以及来自公司、候选人和学生的有限市场压力，他们不承认国际 MBA 的做法和结构。本文还展示了制度逻辑理论在识别和分析巴西两个独立的子领域中的有效应用，这些子领域对 MBA 学位的质量和价值有不同的评价，但可以在不破坏任一 MBA 模式合法性的情况下共存。这似乎主要是由于缺乏来自政府机构的监管指令以及来自公司、候选人和学生的有限市场压力，他们不承认国际 MBA 的做法和结构。本文还展示了制度逻辑理论在识别和分析巴西两个独立的子领域中的有效应用，这些子领域对 MBA 学位的质量和价值有不同的评价，但可以在不破坏任一 MBA 模式合法性的情况下共存。