Business School, Disrupted
nytimes.com
Business School, Disrupted
1–10 of 25 posts
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#2Harvard Business School student here. I find this article fascinating, specifically because it highlights the challenge of transferring the case based method to the virtual world. Unlike regular lectures where you can sit and absorb, the case based method requires you to actively participate and defend your argument in front of 90 peers. You have to prepare, think on your feet and be ready to challenge and build upon what others have said. Each one brings his own experience to the table, and you find yourself learning a lot more than in regular lectures.
For example, in an average HBS finance class you will get input from former PE guys on how to actually valuate a company, the potential pitfalls and what is important to remember. In a global economy class (BGIE) you can hear from bankers who worked in Europe on how they faced the global economic crisis.
This creates high barriers to replicate the HBS model online. I'm not sure what the UX will be for replicating this discussion setting, and invoking individuals to share from their experience. How do you validate the quality of the comments? how do you highlight the takeaways in a situation where there is no one right answer? These are all though issues to solve, and I'm glad HBS is actively tackling it. I'm looking forward to seeing if they succeed.
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#3Harvard Business School student here. I find this article fascinating, specifically because it highlights the challenge of transferring the case based method to the virtual world. Unlike regular lectures where you can sit and absorb, the case based method requires you to actively participate and defend your argument in front of 90 peers. You have to prepare, think on your feet and be ready to challenge and build upon…
The value of HBS is the imprimatur not the courses.
Harvard's model is clever because they create perceived value for customers through an affiliated brand without tarnishing the brand itself.
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#4Harvard Business School student here. I find this article fascinating, specifically because it highlights the challenge of transferring the case based method to the virtual world. Unlike regular lectures where you can sit and absorb, the case based method requires you to actively participate and defend your argument in front of 90 peers. You have to prepare, think on your feet and be ready to challenge and build upon…
The value of HBS is the imprimatur not the courses. Harvard's model is clever because they create perceived value for customers through an affiliated brand without tarnishing the brand itself.
If they offer online classes I feel like it will reduce the prestige of HBS. Let other MBA programs offer them, one of Harvard's best attributes is its exclusivity.
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#5Interesting this debate is trying to answer some of the questions posed in this article, also on the front page right now:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7826976
If the value of universities for most people is vocational training, that will be far more efficiently accomplished through online courses.
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#6Harvard Business School student here. I find this article fascinating, specifically because it highlights the challenge of transferring the case based method to the virtual world. Unlike regular lectures where you can sit and absorb, the case based method requires you to actively participate and defend your argument in front of 90 peers. You have to prepare, think on your feet and be ready to challenge and build upon…
Aren't the top two things you get from HBS the network and the brand name? You can theoretically replicate the "knowledge" you get from HBS, even those from your peers, but you can't recreate the connections or the name.
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#7Harvard Business School student here. I find this article fascinating, specifically because it highlights the challenge of transferring the case based method to the virtual world. Unlike regular lectures where you can sit and absorb, the case based method requires you to actively participate and defend your argument in front of 90 peers. You have to prepare, think on your feet and be ready to challenge and build upon…
Aren't the top two things you get from HBS the network and the brand name? You can theoretically replicate the "knowledge" you get from HBS, even those from your peers, but you can't recreate the connections or the name.
You get the name but you also make the name, the future reputation will be based on the current students. If the online efforts "works" the reputation will follow.
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#8Harvard Business School student here. I find this article fascinating, specifically because it highlights the challenge of transferring the case based method to the virtual world. Unlike regular lectures where you can sit and absorb, the case based method requires you to actively participate and defend your argument in front of 90 peers. You have to prepare, think on your feet and be ready to challenge and build upon…
I'll go ahead and say what you tiptoed around. You cannot recreate the experience of a top-tier MBA program online. You cannot drink online. You cannot travel the world online. You cannot play rugby online. There are hundreds of things that make B school what it is that you just cannot do online.
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#9Harvard Business School student here. I find this article fascinating, specifically because it highlights the challenge of transferring the case based method to the virtual world. Unlike regular lectures where you can sit and absorb, the case based method requires you to actively participate and defend your argument in front of 90 peers. You have to prepare, think on your feet and be ready to challenge and build upon…
The value of HBS is the imprimatur not the courses. Harvard's model is clever because they create perceived value for customers through an affiliated brand without tarnishing the brand itself.
In other words, a HBS degree only has value because some powerful entranched people feel inclined to defend it because for them it's a sunk cost. In other words, if there is any actual value of the courses, it's beside the point, and HBS has zero incentive to do anything but raise the price, in time and money.
I'm sure they give a reasonable introduction to the material, but that's not how they profile themselves at all.
It's an inverted lemon market. Instead of the lowest price winning, it's the highest price that still generates a just large enough elitist club. But the product is not education, the product is the elitist club.
Exactly what you'd expect for the business side of companies. These people are as suitable for management as high heels are for walking, in the same way.
Re: Business School, Disrupted
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
The value of HBS is the imprimatur not the courses. Harvard's model is clever because they create perceived value for customers through an affiliated brand without tarnishing the brand itself.
In other words, a HBS degree only has value because some powerful entranched people feel inclined to defend it because for them it's a sunk cost. In other words, if there is any actual value of the courses, it's beside the point, and HBS has zero incentive to do anything but raise the price, in time and money. I'm sure they give a reasonable introduction to the material, but that's not how they profile themselves at…
> HBS has zero incentive to do anything but raise the price, in time and money.
Harvard University's endowment is the largest out of any university in the world. They have literally no incentive to squeeze matriculants, and have been increasing their financial aid pool whenever they can.
You really don't know what you're talking about. Harvard is trying as hard as it can to not be an elitist club. They regularly review admissions policies so as to avoid giving the appearance of favoritism towards alums.
They really are trying to be the best university in the world.