Business schools and corporate management development

Abstract

Briefly reviews the literature on the role of business schools in corporate management development and reports on the conduct, results and conclusions of a survey of private sector management development in the south‐ west of England. Taking a predominantly quantitative approach, by means of a self‐completion postal questionnaire, examines 97 responses from managing directors of medium and large companies in this region. Finds that the results of this survey support those of other studies with regard to a growing corporate sector requirement for tailor‐made programmes. Concludes that south‐western companies are looking to business schools to provide programmes and processes which are: demonstrably able to provide value for money as measured in terms of strategic level outcomes; designed and delivered in the context of an open, well‐managed relationship; grounded in an understanding of corporate cultures; flexible and responsive to managers’ needs and work schedules; and staffed by skilled facilitators able to work on real issues in the group setting.