Céad míle fáilte: While the Irish greeting for “100,000 Welcomes” hasn’t translated exactly to  that number of new client relationships in 2010, we have had quite the busy first two quarters at Lipman Hearne establishing new partnerships. We are proud of, and excited by, the collaborations that are underway and would like to take a moment to properly welcome the following nonprofit organizations:

Advocate Health Care
Alverno College
American Medical Association
California State University, Northridge
Council for a Strong America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
George Washington University
National Defense University
Northwest Area Foundation
Rhodes College
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Schoolnet
Seton Hall University
Society of Actuaries
University at Buffalo
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business
University of Virginia Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy

This topic has had a lot of coverage for several years, starting even before Enron and other high-profile ethical messes. The global financial meltdown has given this issue even more steam. I just hope that this time the discussion evolves past “teaching ethics,” which is a questionable concept (adults learning to be ethical). I see a lot of business schools digging way deeper than new courses or experiences or requirements of some sort. They are looking at their entire cultures, the values that the institution stands for, the deeper ethic of the place and how the entire enterprise reflects that there is a lot more to sustainable business success than technical skills, hands on experience, global perspectives and the many other buzzwords nearly every business school today tries to use to differentiate its value in the marketplace. Beyond the fact that this is the right thing to do and will, if pursued seriously, perhaps up the esteem the world currently has for business education, it’s also a smart strategic step from a reputation building standpoint. I’ve studied many business schools and never seen one that doesn’t have at its core particular values and a related educational culture that really makes it unique. I see an era where great business school brands will be built on the character of institutions and how well they cultivate a new set of values in students. For further reading on the subject, I recommend this recent article in the Baylor Business Review.

- Tim Westerbeck, Managing Director & Principal

Why Character is Destiny for Business Schools – and the MBAs They Groom, in the new issue of the Baylor Business Review takes a look at the role issues of “character formation” play in the business school of the future.  In the article, I observe that this is not only important from a curriculum standpoint—and, we all hope, for the future of the global economy – but also regarding how schools will differentiate their brands in today’s hypercompetitive management education marketplace.

Marketing on a specific type of program attribute is ineffective, when so many business schools – or at least their marketing – look the same on nearly every level.  What each school owns that is unique is its values and culture, the basis of a distinctive brand.

- Tim Westerbeck, Managing Director & Principal

Upon reading the first article in a three-part Business Week series examining high-profile searches for new business school deans, it struck me that it is hard to overstate the importance of getting this process right. As with a corporate CEO position, the individual leading each of these institutions — or at any top business school — is brand ambassador number one, and will play a critical role in stewarding these global enterprises amidst the most highly competitive period in business school history.

Being a b-school dean today is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Each of these institutions will do well to select someone who not only has the hard credentials, but understands that these are also complex brands for which their leader must embody the brand promise with diverse and demanding constituents around the globe. Their most valuable asset, their reputation, is on the line.

- Tim Westerbeck, Managing Director & Principal

One can debate whether or not this is the result of a generation of students who have simply become attuned to these concepts as part of their maturing years, or whether there is something deeper going on. Reasonable people can also debate the relative economic merit of such approaches to business. Regardless, the intent and interests of these students is real. I believe there is a legitimate question, however, as to whether business schools themselves should, in the name of being “market responsive,” spend so much time focusing often scarce resources on programs and courses that enable students to pursue the building of such businesses, rather than first renewing their focus on teaching the critical thinking, analytical and functional skills of business that will actually enable graduates to make their dreams come true.

I sometimes see what I think is a dangerous trend toward schools trying to “accommodate market demand” around social entrepreneurship concepts through this special program or another, perhaps to the detriment of applying resources to the more fundamental proficiencies required to succeed in business generally. To be clear, I am not arguing business schools should not continue their drive toward integrating corporate social responsibility concepts, such as ethics, sustainability, etc., into the curriculum and learning environment. I’m saying it is a matter of finding the right balance between the fundamental, core responsibility of business schools–which is to develop in individuals the complex suite of skills they need to succeed as business leaders and managers–and focusing resources chasing after concepts (however valid and important) that are secondary to their fundamental purpose.

-Tim Westerbeck, Managing Director & Principal

However, let’s be sure to give great credit to the many serious and credible entrepreneurs in India who have done incredible things there. In a very short period of time they have succeeded in bringing the concept of business education to a market starved for more opportunities to learn the practice of management. I’ve met many individuals there who are working diligently to partner with the world’s business school community to make global opportunities available to the population.

What is your opinion regarding the recent growth in the world’s business school community?

Is quantity outpacing quality?

Who deserves kudos for a job well done?

-Tim Westerbeck, Managing Director & Principal