Strategic CSR - MBA Oath

I have been thinking on and off about the value of the MBA Oath (http://mbaoath.org/).

The Oath, introduced by Harvard students in 2009, seeks to alter the broad perception of the MBA graduate by focusing students on the importance of adding social value, over and above personal gain:

“Our mission is to facilitate a widespread movement of MBAs who aim to lead in the interests of the greater good and who have committed to living out the principles articulated in the oath.

We hope the Oath will: a) make a difference in the lives of MBAs who take the oath b) challenge other MBAs to work with a higher professional standard, whether they sign the oath or not and c) create a public conversation in the press about professionalizing and improving management.

Our long-term goal is to transform the field of management into a true profession, one in which MBAs are respected for their integrity, professionalism, and leadership.”

The article in the url below notes that, since 2009, the Oath has spread well beyond Harvard and is known to a growing number of students:

“A year on, the oath has more than 4,000 signatories from 300 business schools around the world.”

The article also questions the value of the Oath, arguing that there is a self-selection bias in those who sign:

“Those who don't care won't sign.”

In general, however, it would be interesting to hear some stories of how the Oath has helped employees work through an ethical dilemma they faced in an organization. I wonder to what extent signing the Oath has changed anyone’s behavior. My sense is that people sign oaths in the way they answer survey questions and commit to New Year’s resolutions—with the best of intentions. The resulting data, however, is not necessarily a reliable reflection of actual intentions or behavior.

Take care
David

Bill Werther & David Chandler
Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Stakeholders in a Global Environment (2e)
© Sage Publications, 2011
http://www.sagepub.com/strategiccsr2e/

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Should MBA students do the perp walk?
By Michael Skapinker
813 words
21 September 2010
Financial Times
Asia Ed1
13
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/65221ffe-c4e6-11df-9134-00144feab49a.html