JUNE 1, 2009 2:49PM
Rate: 15
Do you think this guy would have signed the MBA Oath?
2009 Harvard MBA graduates are voluntarily signing this thing called the MBA Oath. So far about 1 in 5 has signed the pledge. B-schools in general are going through a shift in how they accept candidates, teach and train them. Given the cadre of idiots that have emerged from some of the best schools, only to do global harm, perhaps a symbolic MBA hippocratic-like oath is in order.
This solemn MBA Oath comes at the finish of their education, however, which makes one wonder. Perhaps they just felt a wee bit jealous of those others who take the Hippocratic Oath, and the MBA's wished they had one all their own - something to demonstrate to the universe that not all of them were greedy bloodsuckers? Or perhaps we are beginning to see a new crop of graduates who wish to never be like their alumni predecessors? And given the behaviour of some of their famous graduates, like the guy in the picture, who can blame them. That said, it is an oath that is about as goofy as if all Culinary Institute School Grads pledge they will never deliberately poison future patrons no matter how much customers diss the menu.
You'd think that as part of the long and winding road of becoming a business school graduate, the matter of ethics and integrity would already be woven into the daily grind, but apparently not so much since Harvard is also the top school for Magna Cum Lousy ranking.
The pledge is a series of statements about ethics and integrity with a little bit of apple pie tossed in. Harvard MBA graduates decided that it would be a really good idea if they could claim that their alumni now smell like sustainable good guys v. the ones who reeked of too much Brioni, foie gras and ranches in Texas while walking away with zillion dollar unworthy bonuses.
The real irony about this oath is that an MBA graduate would feel honor bound to sign the pledge rather than just walk the walk. Like the pledge would ensure ethical behaviour. It really is vaguely like the oath to remain celibate in high school, or to assure Officer Dog that you will never do drugs in elementary school. The MBA Oath is something to proud of at the time, but in practical matters should not even be necessary.
Can't wait to see the first resume out of the chute that claims to be a signer of the MBA Oath from Harvard. That and a $3.99 will still get you a Venti Latte. I think.
Comments
I've read a lot of letters of recommendation from bosses. When they go out of their way to say the person they're recommending is "ethical," I always raised my eyebrows. Shouldn't that be the default? Why do you even need to say that? I've noticed this was particularly common in industries that we've since found out were quite ethics-challenged, esp in finance, RE and on Wall St.
i'm so pleased that my son got his masters in arts performance.
god, this is surreal. i went to harvard and had many friends in the Business School and none of them gave a shit about anything other than money. that's just the ones i knew. in my MBA program at Berkeley I did know several people who were studying non-profit management. this is bullshit. i could not agree with you more. we were not required to take any kind of ethics class. the subject was never brought up. ditto with The Business School.
you're so right. if you have to proclaim that you're ethical, well, that's just sad. do what screenwriters try to do, show us, don't tell us!!!! love lvoe love and gratitude for the trip down memory lane -- i'm picturing myself walking back and forth on the bridge over the Chahhhles River from the college to the B School -- and for sharing your outrage!!!
you're so right. if you have to proclaim that you're ethical, well, that's just sad. do what screenwriters try to do, show us, don't tell us!!!! love lvoe love and gratitude for the trip down memory lane -- i'm picturing myself walking back and forth on the bridge over the Chahhhles River from the college to the B School -- and for sharing your outrage!!!
My son takes his GRE and applies for Grad School in the fall... this was very timely! Love it! Rated!
Any degree that's sold and paid for isn't worth the paper it's printed on, no matter where the school. Money talks. I'm really glad I didn't go to Harvard for an MBA.
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Silk - I concur. Always made me suspect too. Sometimes though it was just the letter writer being silly, and sometimes there was more to it. Sad, eh?
MM - I'm so glad I got mine in Education v. B school. Yikes.
Teddy - you have such an interesting life. I think we need an autobiography! It is weird to have to declare that are "ethical, have integrity, or are honest" on a piece of paper. You either are or are not I would think. And the old "show, don't tell" as you say is really important.
MAWB - good luck to him! Hopefully he finds a school (not Harvard) that is really working the curriculum to be more global and world-wise. I hear Wharton is doing some of that.
Blue - a lot of those schools have special spaces set aside for that stuff. I prefer a more inclusive place that openly recruits a really eclectic mix of people.
MM - I'm so glad I got mine in Education v. B school. Yikes.
Teddy - you have such an interesting life. I think we need an autobiography! It is weird to have to declare that are "ethical, have integrity, or are honest" on a piece of paper. You either are or are not I would think. And the old "show, don't tell" as you say is really important.
MAWB - good luck to him! Hopefully he finds a school (not Harvard) that is really working the curriculum to be more global and world-wise. I hear Wharton is doing some of that.
Blue - a lot of those schools have special spaces set aside for that stuff. I prefer a more inclusive place that openly recruits a really eclectic mix of people.
I think it is good and necessary because it works as an affirmation. It makes it present in the mind. It reminds one to focus on the ethical. There have been studies done periodically, and I dont recall the precise numbers, that have asked people are when they have ethical conflicts, if they have ethical conflicts, and how often. Most people believe that they dont. I think it pays to be affirmatively active with regard to ethics. Teaching about it, thinking about it, and learning about it are necessary. I support the oath.
As an alternative to this silly oath, why not just close the MBA school down altogether? Haven't these folks caused us enough trouble already?
Loved the last line.
Loved the last line.
This is one of the lamest things I have heard about. Like signing an oath you aren't a communist, in the 50s. We have a long way to go, but I'm not sure where.
Excellent take-down, L&P. I had Lea's thought, too: What's next, loyalty oaths?
Bill - I do get what you are saying. It would carry more gravitas if it were like the Hippocratic Oath and was instilled throughout the curriculum - but that is just me.
L - you aren't the only one saying that anymore. some are calling for business recruits to come from a sector other than B-school. And thanks. I do need a latte I think!
Lea - exactly what it reminded me of too. seems like time stands still sometimes.
Rob - thank you! loyalty oaths? probably. all kidding aside, some companies operate that way, even now.
L - you aren't the only one saying that anymore. some are calling for business recruits to come from a sector other than B-school. And thanks. I do need a latte I think!
Lea - exactly what it reminded me of too. seems like time stands still sometimes.
Rob - thank you! loyalty oaths? probably. all kidding aside, some companies operate that way, even now.
If I ever go and get an MBA, I'm not signing one of these phony, feel good, do nothing oaths.
If I get an MBA, I'll be doing it for one reason and one reason alone.
To make as much money as I can as quick as I can so that I can retire.
If I'm going to be a whore, I'm going to be charging top dollar and I'm only going to do it for as long as it takes for me to make enough to retire.
If I get an MBA, I'll be doing it for one reason and one reason alone.
To make as much money as I can as quick as I can so that I can retire.
If I'm going to be a whore, I'm going to be charging top dollar and I'm only going to do it for as long as it takes for me to make enough to retire.
My husband has an MBA that precedes the oath. However, he does wear a silver ethics ring on his right hand ~ LOL!
Great post L&P ~ hadn't heard about that!!!
Great post L&P ~ hadn't heard about that!!!
oh yhea ... he also works for a French company that would fire his ass if he pulled any shit like what's been pulled off here.
I have had the experience of working with several Harvard MBAs. I can't say that any of these people were as good as they thought they were.
One of them when dealing with serious operational issue asked others, where's the case study on this? What a moron.
The hubris that the graduates learn is simply astounding. I'd be more concerned that they learn humility rather than learn ethics. The hubris tells them that they can do anything and get away with it. Rated.
Note to readers. I have an MBA from a much less prestigious school about 60 miles from Harvard. We had a capstone class on ethics and corporate governance, whic was memoriable by its emphasis on doing what's right, every day. Rated
One of them when dealing with serious operational issue asked others, where's the case study on this? What a moron.
The hubris that the graduates learn is simply astounding. I'd be more concerned that they learn humility rather than learn ethics. The hubris tells them that they can do anything and get away with it. Rated.
Note to readers. I have an MBA from a much less prestigious school about 60 miles from Harvard. We had a capstone class on ethics and corporate governance, whic was memoriable by its emphasis on doing what's right, every day. Rated
I think the most double-edged aspect of this is that these things become a kind of credential, where people come to believe that it makes it so. Google has an informal corporate motto about doing no harm, and yet it's clear that there is a great deal of ethically suspect stuff they do. In practice, their motto is more of a way of reassuring people they're good than actually implementing good, a kind of PR move in its own right.
The problem with all such things is that there are consequences to ethics. Having ethics means you have to not accept certain opportunities and rewards. People want to be rewarded for being ethical and often find it counterintuitive that ethics cause them to not be rewarded.
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), a membership organization that a large number of computer scientists belong to, requires an ethics pledge. I found that carrying through on my pledge to the ACM forced me to resign my membership in that organization. Ethical obligations can be odd in where they take you if you take them seriously.
The problem with all such things is that there are consequences to ethics. Having ethics means you have to not accept certain opportunities and rewards. People want to be rewarded for being ethical and often find it counterintuitive that ethics cause them to not be rewarded.
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), a membership organization that a large number of computer scientists belong to, requires an ethics pledge. I found that carrying through on my pledge to the ACM forced me to resign my membership in that organization. Ethical obligations can be odd in where they take you if you take them seriously.
Tony - you certainly would be in good company in many of those schools.
Ann - small world. The Geek works for a French company too and the motto is what you said. Loyalty, integrity, empathy (that word again) are the underpinnings. However, I was relieved to hear that he had an ethics ring. I hope it came with the decoder! That model was swell! : )
OE - you made me laugh! the "case study"!!! yikes. I agree, humility is it. But I think the B-schools would even be better off if they utilized "humility" as an entrance criteria. I think it would be terribly hard to teach if the roots aren't there already. I'm close enough to Stanford to feel the sparkling breath of the newly minted B-school grads and it isn't pretty. So young and so full of themselves.
Kent - you are so wise. What you said makes perfect sense. And in fact, implementing ethics may mean not only not getting rewarded, but getting shit-canned or finding that no one will hire you anymore. But still, that is better than not doing the right thing.
Ann - small world. The Geek works for a French company too and the motto is what you said. Loyalty, integrity, empathy (that word again) are the underpinnings. However, I was relieved to hear that he had an ethics ring. I hope it came with the decoder! That model was swell! : )
OE - you made me laugh! the "case study"!!! yikes. I agree, humility is it. But I think the B-schools would even be better off if they utilized "humility" as an entrance criteria. I think it would be terribly hard to teach if the roots aren't there already. I'm close enough to Stanford to feel the sparkling breath of the newly minted B-school grads and it isn't pretty. So young and so full of themselves.
Kent - you are so wise. What you said makes perfect sense. And in fact, implementing ethics may mean not only not getting rewarded, but getting shit-canned or finding that no one will hire you anymore. But still, that is better than not doing the right thing.
What a load!!!!!!!!! Thanks for exposing this most hypocritical of documents. Yoiks!
I wonder if it contains the words, "I swear by Apollo," like the original Hippocratic Oath.
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