“The CAP Iniative resets the silent problem, resets the questions, and begins to reset the behaviors and actins of the participants.
When an organization or possibly a segment of society faces a silent problem (a problem that is being avoided, neglected or going unnoticed), they can be difficult to solve. In recent months, MBA programs and their role in the financial collapse of 2008 has become an intense discussion (I discussed it here). What role did they play? Should graduates embrace a code of ethics? How should MBA programs change to prevent such situations in the future?
In my book Without Warning, I state that silent problems are different and the most effective means to solving these problems is by creating a CAP Initiative. This is where the solution is formulated and embraced by those closest to the problem. So in the case of MBA programs and their students, the solution should come from the students, not from the institution. Interestingly, this is exactly what is underway at Harvard, and is reported in The New York Times. The oath states:
Welcome to the MBA Oath. The oath is a voluntary pledge for graduating MBAs to “create value responsibly and ethically.” Our goal is to begin 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.
Our near-term goal is to get at least 100 graduating Harvard Business School students to sign the oath. We hope this will a) make a difference in the lives of the students who take the oath b) challenge other classmates 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. We hope to see hundreds of thousands of MBAs take the MBA oath, or something like it, as a step towards realizing this vision.
On this website, you can read, download and sign the MBA oath. You can read about us, the history of the MBA degree, and articles about how people think business schools need to change. You can also volunteer to get involved. We hope you do.
The Columbia School of Business has a similar but different code in place along with a website to address issues related to ethics, and be can viewed here. In the Honor Code FAQ section, here is an example:
What does “not tolerate” actually mean?
“Not tolerating” those who have violated the Honor Code means that you feel an obligation to take action on behalf of the School, the alumni, current students and yourself to protect the integrity of the School. Your individual judgment will need to be applied to the unique circumstances you may face. Taking action can mean having a one-on-one conversation with those you observe violating some aspect of the Honor Code, notifying cluster leadership, or formally bringing disciplinary action by notifying the MBA assistant dean of student academic affairs or EMBA assistant dean.
The initiatives now underway represent the starting point, not the end point. Now the wave needs to be spread, and similar initiatives need to be implemented across every MBA program around the globe. However I must state, if it is going to stick, its the students that must be leaders in this initiative. Not the School. Not the professors. Its the students that must lead, embrace and enforce. It will only then have a major impact on the current status of the MBA and its perception. The Harvard MBA group sums up the how and why of a CAP Initiative well. They state:
Who We Are
We are a group of second-year students from Harvard Business School. We aren’t from the administration. We aren’t from the student government. We aren’t part of any formal group. Yet. We are a group of MBA candidates who want our degree to mean something more than it currently does. This oath is our way of laying out the principles of what we think an MBA ought to stand for.
Well stated. Your thoughts?
Tags: Add new tag, CAP Initiative, Ethics, MBA
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