AACSB International 2005 Deans Conference
Pursuing Innovation:
Challenges and Opportunities
Tuesday, February 8, 2005
10:30 a.m. - Noon
Panelists
• Patricia Greene, Dean, Undergraduate School, Babson
College
• Anne McCarthy, Dean, Merrick School of Business
University of Baltimore
• Mark Rice, Dean, F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business,
Babson College
1
THE OPPORTUNITY
Transform Core Curriculum of
Babson’s Evening MBA Program –
Introduce Integrative Cluster Courses
2
THE SITUATION
• In 2001 Babson had the dominant part-time MBA program
in the greater Boston market with approximately 1/3 of part-
time students (top-ranked in New England by US News
and World Report)
• BUT, the curriculum was traditional “plain vanilla”
• Students were clamoring for the same kind of curriculum
innovation that had been implemented in the full-time
program
• .Faculty had tried twice but failed to achieve commitment to
change.
• New Dean (yours truly) arrived half way through the third
attempt – when the forces of resistance were fully
mobilized.
3
Integrated 1st Year of Full-Time MBA:
A Radical Innovation in Curriculum Design
MODULE I MODULE II MODULE III MODULE IV
Creative Assessing Designing & Growing &
Management in Business Managing the Renewing
Dynamic Opportunities Delivery System Businesses
Organizations
BCAP Assessment Exercise BCAP Consulting Project
October - December January - May
4
CHALLENGES
• Keeping the graduate faculty decision making body (GDMB)
focused on bringing the task to successful closure.
• Pass the “test.” Stay the course. (“If you blink…. Bill Lawler)
• Work through “real” issues. Communicate, communicate,
communicate. (Kent Jones)
• Don’t be distracted by the “un-real” issues. (political posturing)
• Know the decision-making policies in the faculty handbook.
• Achieving real improvement in the curriculum.
5
OUTCOMES
• The two chairs of the feuding division worked diligently with me
as a facilitator – but could not reach a mutually successful
compromise.
• During the GDMB meeting at which the deciding vote would be
cast, one of the division chairs completely capitulated.
• The original curriculum redesign was approved 7 – 0.
• The new curriculum has been implemented with mixed results –
and is currently under review by a GDMB task force. Integrative
Clusters: Fin’l Acctg and Finance; OB/IT; Managerial Acctg and
Ops; Markets and Marketing
• The success in this initiative laid the groundwork for a major
overhaul two years later of the core curriculum for the One Year
MBA Program.
6
KEY INSIGHTS
• Communication, honesty, transparency, and goodwill are
essential to overcoming all but the most determined resistance.
• Leadership involvement is critical.
Understanding the issues.
Conveying clarity of vision.
Being persistent.
Sustaining the intensity to bring the process to closure.
• Old wounds from previous battles are hard to overcome.
• If it’s the right thing to do, it needs to get done.
• Respect for faculty concerns is important.
• So too is respect for the right of students to get the best possible
education.
7
The Opportunity - Integrating ERP in the
curriculum at the University of Baltimore
• The university was implementing PeopleSoft as its
ERP system
• The consultant approached the Merrick School of
Business about the PeopleSoft On Campus program
• Such a gift would require a proposal with specifics on
how integration would take place in the classroom
• PeopleSoft was also willing to allow us to do some
entry level training as a source of revenue
8
The Situation
• Information Technology was one of the 3 key areas for
the business school in the 1990s
• However, MIS enrollments at both the graduate &
undergraduate level were undergoing a major slump
• Common complaint – our courses were out of date
9
Challenges
• Four budget cuts by the State of Maryland in my first
year – resources were extremely scarce
• MIS faculty members were resistant to the idea
• Increased emphasis on research productivity for
AACSB reaffirmation in two years – so faculty were
feeling stretched
• New president, new dean – how long are these people
really going to be around?
10
Outcomes
• Received the $4M gift from PeopleSoft for the 4 basic
modules; next year received an additional gift of
$400,000 for the advanced financial module
• ERP concepts are being taught using PeopleSoft in
HR, finance, accounting and MIS
• New MIS course – online – this semester looking at
the integration of several modules
• HR director at GE recently contacted us about
internships & employment for students familiar with
the HR component
11
Key Insights
• Faculty champions make the difference
• Faculty training is critical even when resources are
scarce
• Clinical instructors are often the most innovative
• Don’t rely on campus technology office – need to
create own shop
• Communicate with students! Not just faculty.
• Make the president look good
12
THE OPPORTUNITY
Develop a way to support and
advance (fund) new initiatives from
the Deans
13
THE SITUATION
• New opportunities are identified throughout the
individual schools (undergraduate, graduate,
executive) on a regular basis by a very entrepreneurial
set of faculty, staff, and students
• Dean’s discretionary funds are never large enough
• Many of the new opportunities have the potential to be
revenue generating
• The financial infrastructure have previously not
provided for revenue sharing by the three schools
• Desire to practice what we preach
14
Dean’s Venture Capital Fund
Opportunity Identification and Not Accepted – Regroup and Review
Business Plan Development
Accepted – Launch Program
Presentation to VC Committee
Specific Contribution Distribution
40% Repay Fund
30 Originating Dean
20 The College
10 Dean of Faculty
15
CHALLENGES
• Identification of appropriate revenue generating opportunities
• Faculty and staff support of new programs
•Expressive Support
•Instrumental Support (Capacity)
• Managing portfolio of programs
16
OUTCOMES (Current State)
• First business plans delivered by the deans
• First business plans accepted by the committee
• Undergraduate plan
•Entrepreneurial management education program for
undergraduate
liberal arts majors
•Pilot program – Summer 2005
• Graduate plan
• Executive plan
• Further development of business model - tactics
17
KEY INSIGHTS
• Academic units do have potential opportunities for additional
revenue
• The development of systems to develop those opportunities
involves a great deal of careful negotiation
• Funding is not a zero sum game
• Students appreciate seeing what they learn in action
• Faculty don’t always appreciate seeing what they teach in action
• Communication
• Collaboration
18