Reconnecting Business Schools with Business

What does it mean for business to be a force for good? Isn’t it enough that business creates societal value through innovation and customer service? To paraphrase Friedman (1970) shouldn’t the business of business just be business? These questions are at the centre of the recent debates about the role of business schools in educating future executives. The answers to these questions will shape future curricula across schools, determine what courses students should be required to take and possibly change the mindsets of the business leaders and managers that pass through their doors. So, what do we mean by “business as a force for good”? In the authors' view, there are two components to this answer: (1) business as a driver of prosperity; and (2) the role of business in addressing societal and environmental problems.