Business school rankings: content and context

Abstract

Purpose

This paper sets out to examine the affect of rankings on business schools from the perspective of a business school director.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper critiques the methodologies of ranking systems, their statistical validity, the factors used, and the weightings given to them.

Findings

Rankings are significant drivers of a school's reputation. Good performance can double inquiries and applications and allow schools to charge prestige premiums. Financial Times top decile MBA programmes charge, on average, just below $80,000 for an MBA. Bottom decile schools charge only $37,000.

Originality/value

This paper finds that it is impossible to challenge the criteria set out by a variety of rankings organisations and it is ill‐advised to boycott rankings. Schools are advised to consider which criteria reflect areas needing improvement and to continue “playing the game”.

Citation

Peters, K. (2007), "Business school rankings: content and context", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 49-53. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710710720086