Comments on: The Ethics of Harvard MBAs http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:42:39 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6400 Anonymous Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:24:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6400 "Harvard peer pressure is all about rich spoiled brats enjoying the closed society of a system based on nepotism which is a natural extension of their social environment. Harvard is just a daycare center where kids can play and then party. Four or five years later, they are given keys to corporations"<br/><br/><br/>Now, who wants to eliminate the gift tax on unearned income transfers at death ? “Harvard peer pressure is all about rich spoiled brats enjoying the closed society of a system based on nepotism which is a natural extension of their social environment. Harvard is just a daycare center where kids can play and then party. Four or five years later, they are given keys to corporations”

Now, who wants to eliminate the gift tax on unearned income transfers at death ?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6396 Anonymous Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:07:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6396 "The Ethics of Harvard MBAs"<br/><br/>It was a quick read. “The Ethics of Harvard MBAs”

It was a quick read.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6394 Anonymous Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:37:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6394 Remember in the film Kingdom of Heaven, where Liam Neeson knights Orlando Bloom, then slaps him for his future failings? Remember what Neeson charges Bloom with: to preserve justice and defend the helpless. When I saw that, my first thought was: That's exactly what they need to do with graduating MBAs. Remember in the film Kingdom of Heaven, where Liam Neeson knights Orlando Bloom, then slaps him for his future failings? Remember what Neeson charges Bloom with: to preserve justice and defend the helpless. When I saw that, my first thought was: That’s exactly what they need to do with graduating MBAs.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6389 Anonymous Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:24:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6389 I know a few companies where certain MBAs - specifically HBS and Stanford - are categoric no-hire flags, no exception allowed. None admitted no matter how good the individual candidate is. The problem is contagion : once one gets in, the network follows. I know a few companies where certain MBAs – specifically HBS and Stanford – are categoric no-hire flags, no exception allowed. None admitted no matter how good the individual candidate is. The problem is contagion : once one gets in, the network follows.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6385 Anonymous Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:42:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6385 What most MBA students have very much in common is a very strong instinct for social climbing. <br/><br/>To that extent, that makes them that much more devious and untrustworthy (on average) than the rest of the population. What most MBA students have very much in common is a very strong instinct for social climbing.

To that extent, that makes them that much more devious and untrustworthy (on average) than the rest of the population.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6375 Anonymous Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:01:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6375 MBA programs sole value is the alumni network. I am a Wharton MBA and i can confidently say that the network is the greatest benefit the school gave my for my $110k. As for ethics, there is no course that is going to make much difference. You will do what is acceptable in your work environment. The only people who can resist the peer pressure are those that do not need the job. MBA programs sole value is the alumni network. I am a Wharton MBA and i can confidently say that the network is the greatest benefit the school gave my for my $110k. As for ethics, there is no course that is going to make much difference. You will do what is acceptable in your work environment. The only people who can resist the peer pressure are those that do not need the job.

]]> By: insurance guy http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6370 insurance guy Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:26:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6370 Anon 9:17am<br/><br/>The problem with that attitutde is that the vast majority of money in the market is managed by professionals on behalf of others. If management and professional investors both adhere to profit maximization at the expense of personal ethics, ehtics are never served.<br/><br/>This reminds me of a scene from The Corporation where an Ad exec who specifically targets children is asked if what she does is ethical. Her response? <br/><br/>"It's my job."<br/><br/>The problem is that we teach managers that their own morality comes second to profit maximization. At the end of the day, a lot of people abdicate responsibility. Anon 9:17am

The problem with that attitutde is that the vast majority of money in the market is managed by professionals on behalf of others. If management and professional investors both adhere to profit maximization at the expense of personal ethics, ehtics are never served.

This reminds me of a scene from The Corporation where an Ad exec who specifically targets children is asked if what she does is ethical. Her response?

“It’s my job.”

The problem is that we teach managers that their own morality comes second to profit maximization. At the end of the day, a lot of people abdicate responsibility.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6368 Anonymous Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:46:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6368 I didn't go to HBS but went to a school across the river. I did go post-Enron, so the courses had content that was specifically aimed at ethics and we had a lot of work on "moral compass". I can say from my own experience that everyone's compass was well-developed before we hit that room, and nothing changed on account of the program. People are people.<br/><br/>When I read this, I have to admit that my reaction (in a discussion with a friend from bschool who also read it) was that neither one of us had ever worked with an HBS grad that was ever worth a damn. My own evaluation is that they are always told they are the best and brightest until they "suck their own exhaust" as it were. I now work with a bunch of alumns from my alama mater and I have to say, they are a bunch of scrappy, hard-working, and mostly ego-less individuals. Frankly, seeing the H on a resume is a clear no hire indicator to me, but I'm sure I'm offset by their vast alum network that perpetuates the gross mediocrity. I didn’t go to HBS but went to a school across the river. I did go post-Enron, so the courses had content that was specifically aimed at ethics and we had a lot of work on “moral compass”. I can say from my own experience that everyone’s compass was well-developed before we hit that room, and nothing changed on account of the program. People are people.

When I read this, I have to admit that my reaction (in a discussion with a friend from bschool who also read it) was that neither one of us had ever worked with an HBS grad that was ever worth a damn. My own evaluation is that they are always told they are the best and brightest until they “suck their own exhaust” as it were. I now work with a bunch of alumns from my alama mater and I have to say, they are a bunch of scrappy, hard-working, and mostly ego-less individuals. Frankly, seeing the H on a resume is a clear no hire indicator to me, but I’m sure I’m offset by their vast alum network that perpetuates the gross mediocrity.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6365 Anonymous Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:48:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6365 To me the most interesting observation was that a third of the students defined right and wrong by what everyone else was doing, which implies they are easily swayed by the crowd. Hardly different from being "stuck in adolescence" (the descriptive phrase for another third), where seeking acceptance is a prime motivation. <br/>There seems to be a disconnect between the portrayal of someone who is "totally defined by others" as someone who ony acts in his or her [sub-text "rapacious"] self interest.<br/>I am not defending the HBS'ers, but I am not sure that the conclusion and sub-text of the article - MBA students are not ethical - is supported by the quotes about the study. In fact, it is a non sequitur. There is something more nuanced here, if anyone cares to think about it. To me the most interesting observation was that a third of the students defined right and wrong by what everyone else was doing, which implies they are easily swayed by the crowd. Hardly different from being “stuck in adolescence” (the descriptive phrase for another third), where seeking acceptance is a prime motivation.
There seems to be a disconnect between the portrayal of someone who is “totally defined by others” as someone who ony acts in his or her [sub-text "rapacious"] self interest.
I am not defending the HBS’ers, but I am not sure that the conclusion and sub-text of the article – MBA students are not ethical – is supported by the quotes about the study. In fact, it is a non sequitur. There is something more nuanced here, if anyone cares to think about it.

]]> By: Bernie M. http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/ethics-of-harvard-mbas.html#comment-6363 Bernie M. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:02:00 +0000 http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2008/04/the-ethics-of-harvard-mbas/#comment-6363 Isn't the current financial contretemps a perfect example of Heller's Law?<br/><br/>The first myth of management is that it exists.<br/><br/><br/>Bush is an easy target. Perhaps too easy. Who can say how smart Jack Welch, for example, really is? Isn’t the current financial contretemps a perfect example of Heller’s Law?

The first myth of management is that it exists.

Bush is an easy target. Perhaps too easy. Who can say how smart Jack Welch, for example, really is?

]]>