Management Schools of Thought

Question

I have found it helpful to think of management programs as a continuum with the Craft of Management and Management Science as two (somewhat exaggerated) endpoints. Somewhere in the middle we encounter the Applied Economics/Social Science tradition that combines elements of the Craft and Science archetypes. 

I. Craft of Management Tradition 

Intense use of case method 
High level of induction 
Stress on Leadership 
Management viewed as an art to be learned via observation and discussion 
Philosophical identification: Conceptually similar to a service academy for business leaders 

II. Management Science Tradition 

Intense use of formulas and mathematical abstraction 
Higher use of deduction 
Management viewed as a science to be learned from robust principles 
Philosophical identification: Engineers of the Corporation 

III. Applied Economics/Social Science Tradition 

Extensive use of economic models but tempered with borrowings from other social sciences such as psychology and sociology 
Business is essentially an applied version of the social sciences with an strong emphasis on economics 
While the core is economics, the actions of individuals can also be important
Philosophical identification: Business leaders are economically motivated individuals acting within certain institutional constraints and incentive systems.

dukes · Answer

I enjoy these posts. I'm not sure this is even possible, but can you categorize the top 10-15 schools within these three categories? A few are quite obvious, but others are not.

Hjort · Answer

Hmm . . . interesting challenge. Of course, these categories are extremes but it might be a worthwhile exercise to classiy some of them. 

I. Craft of Management 
UVA/Darden
UWO/Ivey 
HBS
INSEAD

Ozmba · Answer

As always good one Hjort 

Does IESE ( Harvard of Europe ) fit's the bill for I?

Ozmba · Answer

II. Management Science Tradition 

Intense use of formulas and mathematical abstraction 
Higher use of deduction 
Management viewed as a science to be learned from robust principles 
Philosophical identification: Engineers of the Corporation 

My take on II - MIT,Chicago, Tepper 

Cheers

Hjort · Answer

Great call Oz! IESE belongs in I. 

I. Craft of Management 
UVA/Darden 
UWO/Ivey 
HBS 
INSEAD
IESE

Hjort · Answer

II. Management Science

I agree with Oz on MIT and Carnegie (I guess the old name Carnegie Tech kind of gave that one away). 

I would would actually classify Chicago in the Economic school of thought.

Hjort · Answer

Another school for the Economic/Social Science group is Stanford.

Hjort · Answer

Another school that appears to belong to the Craft of Management (I.) is UNC. While it is does not have the same emphasis on the case method as (say) UVA, UNC shares the emphasis on leadership that typifies this group of schools

Hjort · Answer

Purdue/Krannert is another school for the Management Science (II.) group.

Like Carnegie Mellon, Krannert previously called its degree a Master of Science in Industrial Administration.

1956 "A Master of Science degree in industrial management (MSIM; later renamed Master of Science in Industrial Administration - MSIA) is proposed to and accepted by the faculty and the Graduate School."

Hjort · Answer

Georgia Tech also fits in with the Management Science group. 

Like its fellow "tech" schools, the idea of "industrial management" planned an important role in the early history of the school. 

1934 An Industrial Management program is established at Georgia Tech to meet the need for management training in a technical environment.

1945 The Master of Science in Industrial Management is authorized as the first professional management degree in the state.

Hjort · Answer

As mentioned before, Carnegie Mellon (previously Carnegie Tech) conferred the Master of Industrial Administration degree (MSIA). The school announced in the year 2000 that it would begin awarding the MBA degree.

Here is a good summary of the Management Science School philosophy:

"'We still believe that teaching scientific approaches to problem solving is the best fundamental training for future business leaders,' [Dean of the Graduate School of Industrial Administration] Dunn said.

https://business.tepper.cmu.edu/default.aspx?id=142446

Hjort · Answer

Another school for the Economics group is Rochester/Simon.

"Economics-Based Approach and Cross-Functional Curriculum. The common thread of economics allows students and faculty to share ideas and solve problems based on mutually understood methods and terminology"

Hjort · Answer

An education model that shares much in common with Management Science Tradition is the handelshochschule (HHS) of Northern Europe. Beginning in Germany, the HHS model emphasized theory, business economics, and the scientific tradition. 

The Leipzig HHS began operation in 1898. The HHS model spread rapidly in the Nordic countries with the Stockholm School of Economics (HandelshÃ¶gskolan i Stockholm) opening in 1909, Hanken (Svenska HandelshÃ¶gskolan)in Finland opening in 1909, Copenhagen Business School (HandelshÃ¸jskolen) founded in 1917, and NHH (Norges HandelshÃ¸yskole) in Norway opening in 1936.

aaudetat · Answer

Glad to see you're adding to this thread, Hjort.

Keep at it, please; very interesting.

(Though the thought of attending German business school gives me nightmares. But all those stern teutonic stereotypes would make for a very fun cartoon.)

msday · Answer

Hjort, where do you think Cornell fits in here? Is it more 'managment science' based?

Hjort · Answer

Yes, my first thought would be to include Cornell in the Mgmt Science group.

bsd_lover · Answer

How about London Business School ? II or III ?

Hjort · Answer

Among these three types I would put LBS as closest to III, the Applied Economics/Social Science camp. In some ways, it reminds me of the sort of "American Omnibus" tradition of a school like Wharton that have strengths in a number of fields and a less overt stress on leadership than the type I schools.

yezz · Answer

What about IE?

Management Schools of Thought

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