11 - Towards a Vision for a Networked European Business School

Summary

Introduction

Globally, the majority of business schools claim to be internationally networked. In reality, however, this is confined to a range of single point international alliances rather than a truly embedded network of schools. Oxford Brookes University Business School and Burgundy School of Business believe that one model for the future is that of a strategic alliance based upon a networked school. This has been characterised as:

An interdependent coalition of task and skill-specialized … organizational units that operates without hierarchical control but is embedded by dense lateral connections, mutuality, and reciprocity, in a shared value system that defines ‘membership’, roles and responsibilities.

This networked model is driven by the need for business schools to respond to the forces of globalisation and will be facilitated by the capabilities of information and communication technologies.

Achrol and Kotler characterise the Oxford Brookes University Business School and Burgundy School of Business model as an opportunity network. This type of network is organised around multi-point alliances focusing upon customer needs and market opportunities. Underlying this alliance is the notion of an internationally focused Anglo-French business school with the potential to add new partners to the network to create a truly European business school that reflects the European ideal.

There is a huge opportunity here. Europe represents the largest market in the world but is seen as lacking competitiveness compared with other economic blocs such as South East Asia and North America. The initiative to create a European business school will be attractive to funding bodies concerned about Europe's lack of competitiveness and productivity – in part this initiative plays to the very heterogeneity of Europe as a strength.

To capitalise on this opportunity, Burgundy School of Business and Oxford Brookes University Business School will incubate a new model of international management education, with the ultimate vision of creating a genuine European institution for management education and development. This will eventually allow European management education to face up to the challenges posed by the large American business schools, and enable the European Foundation for Management Development to succeed in sponsoring a genuine international educational venture of good standing that delivers a truly unique management education and that draws upon best practice experience rooted in France and the UK.