The Contrasting Philosophies of Management Education

The welter of divergent quotations on the nature of learning is but one reflection of the confusion that pervades that whole area. The Practices and institutions of management education and development are yet another reflection. Like amateur scientists the early abbots of management education rushed forth in search of the proper mode of learning, the right form of education, the best design of programmeMuch pain and effort might have been avoided had they shunned the Sclentlflc Fallacy, that which holds that there are discoverable laws governing human actions, and adhered instead to the Philosophical Principle, which insists that in such matters one can clarify the dilemmas but never resolve the issues. An understanding Of the dilemmas does not absolve one from action, or from seizing one horn of each dilemma, but this is done with awareness of the costs as well 8s the benefits, knowing what is being missed, and in proper humility.