Educating the metamanager: a new breed of leader

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to make a case for the introduction of the liberal arts to management education curricula in addition to the traditional discipline subjects.

Design/methodology/approach

The argument is based on the author's personal experience of many years teaching in MBA programs as well as working and consulting in business and commerce. It is also based on the value the author perceived in studying liberal arts subjects during the first year of his PhD in the UK.

Findings

The findings are largely subjective and qualitative but should not be discarded on this count. In common with Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, the author would ask what is wrong with speculative, intuitive material unsupported by any real scientific study – particularly when speculating on man and behavior?

Research limitations/implications

The obvious limitation on the argument made is that it is not based on scientific investigation.

Practical implications

The major implication for any application of the author's argument is that it would be difficult to source teachers with the knowledge, skill and experience to undertake the teaching or training required.

Originality/value

While the idea of a liberal arts component being part and parcel of management education is not new, it has not been taken up by the modern establishment in any significant way. The books referenced in this article, which espouse the idea, seem to have disappeared into the mists of time and little else is left in the management literature but large tomes on the technical and behavioral disciplines, esoteric academic journal articles and popularist business writing.

Citation

Smith, R.C. (2007), "Educating the metamanager: a new breed of leader", Business Strategy Series, Vol. 8 No. 4, pp. 240-245. https://doi.org/10.1108/17515630710684286