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Reweaving the rainbow: qualitative color in business education

David Starr-Glass (David Starr-Glass is a Mentor at the Department of Communications, University of New York in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, and International Programs (Prague), SUNY Empire State College, New York, New York, USA)

On the Horizon

ISSN: 1074-8121

Article publication date: 12 September 2018

Issue publication date: 26 November 2018

72

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to reflect on the dominance of a narrowly focused analytical approach within business schools, which provides an artificially fractured and disjointed understanding of the contextual complexities and interconnectedness that students will encounter in the future. This approach unnecessarily constrains sensemaking and inhibits creative response to future social and organizational complexity. As business schools and their graduates come under sustained scrutiny and criticism, it perhaps appropriate to reexamine and reframe their analytical bias.

Design/methodology/approach

The central direction taken in this study is that of critical reflection on the present author’s practice and experience in teaching undergraduate economics and accounting. Although the analysis may have limited generalizability, it is hoped that it may prove of interest and value to business school educators.

Findings

The preferential business school reliance on analytical perspectives suggest that they fail to appreciate the nature of business, its embeddedness in broader society and the competencies required by undergraduates and graduates. This study argues that an emphasis on holistic systems, synthetic fusion and an appreciation of complexity – rather than a reductive analytical agenda – might benefit business schools, their graduates and society at large.

Originality/value

This study provides an original, albeit personal, insight into a significant problem in business education. It offers original perspectives on the problem and presents faculty-centered suggestions on how business students might be encouraged and empowered to see quality as well as quantitative perspectives in their first-year courses.

Keywords

Citation

Starr-Glass, D. (2018), "Reweaving the rainbow: qualitative color in business education", On the Horizon, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 238-246. https://doi.org/10.1108/OTH-01-2018-0006

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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