Keeping our curriculum current
The world of business continues to change as it weathers new
storms, literally and figuratively; fresh ways of doing business
continually crop up in response to new realities.
At Johnson, we are committed to ensuring that our graduates
know how to deal with the challenges they will encounter
throughout their careers — challenges that require innovative
solutions for the problems and opportunities their organizations
will inevitably face.
That’s why our curriculum evolves along with changes in the
world of business. We update course content every year. We have interwoven
themes throughout the curriculum focused on leadership,
ethics, and integrity. We offer our students approaches to ethical
decision making, and provide them with leadership experiences that
challenge and prepare them to become successful leaders who will
move their organizations forward.
However, we also believe that now is an appropriate time
for a major re-examination of our curriculum. We will begin
based on the extensive research that created our strategic
plan two years ago. That information validated some of
Johnson’s core ideas and approaches, and it will
inform this new effort.
Associate Dean Doug Stayman is managing
this comprehensive curriculum review, with input
from faculty, students, alumni, business leaders,
and recruiters. We plan to have suggestions
finalized and ready to present to the new dean
in May. We need to throw all the balls up in
the air every so often. It’s not that they will all
come down entirely differently, but it is time to
look at the whole thing.
The basics of business are still the basics,
and we must and will maintain a solid foundation
in these areas. The analytical skills we have
always taught are as important as ever, but there
are new business realities and new ways to deliver
our education. To move an organization forward
in positive ways our graduates must also be able to
solve problems across different business functions,
and be able to lead.
I believe the MBA is, if anything, more relevant
than ever today, because the world clearly needs
leaders. When Bill George, author of the bestseller,
True North, spoke here in October, he said
the economic downturn of 2008 was in large part due to a failure in leadership, and could have been avoided if
only more companies had excellent, knowledgeable leaders.
An MBA is not the only way to become a leader, but it is one
proven way, and we think we do an excellent job of creating the
next generation of leaders.
The MBA will continue to be our key product, but the way we
deliver that has been evolving and will continue to evolve.
Our Executive MBA programs have grown, and we are
continuing to build those. We’re looking into expanding
our Cornell-Queens program into Latin America as part
of our commitment to extending our global reach.
Finally, based on recent investments in global
business, we need to provide all of our students
an understanding of the way business is done in
different cultures and countries. We are considering
other global ventures in addition to what
we already offer: international projects, treks,
and exchanges, and opportunities to interact
with visiting executives in our non-degree
executive education.
We’re always looking for new things
to do. We welcome your ideas for us and hope
you will stay in touch with news about yourself.
Thank you for all that you do for the school
and for each other, and best wishes for health and
success.
L. Joseph Thomas
Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean
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