Thursday, May 20, 2004

One thing that Insead could do better? Consult the students and involve them more and more into the decision process. It has the advantage of being able to move fast, as it does not depend on a big university, it can take advantage of many voices and insights from its constituents.

PoM professors might argue that students are inventory at Insead, work in Progress, unfinished goods that the system tries to spit out with as much added value as possible, and as quickly as possible. They would identify customers as being the hiring companies.

I argue that paying students are somehow customers. Their voice should be heard. Faculty members are competent at deciding about a curriculum. Students are competent at deciding about their life.

Mercedes once thought that customers could not decide what they needed as their cars because they weren't engineers and they did not know how to make a car. They have since learned that you do not need to be an expert to articulate needs and wants.

I have heard another argument: students are only transient. One year is a very short time, they are not interested in making changes since any change they make will really bear fruits for the next generation.
If anyone tells me that Insead lasts only for 1 year I will select another program immediately. Clearly it is not. When you choose a business school, you form part of its community for life. You will evolve with its alumni, you will keep in touch. Its name, reputation and standards will follow you throughout your career. Every current and past student has a strong interest in developing the school, in helping it change for the best. This makes a lot of brain power available to the school, some free consulting. There is nothing more frustrating for someone with ideas to feel powerless if they can't be expressed. Use it, perhaps more than what you do today.

Insead does listen to students. We fill feedback questionnaires to help select courses, professors, we have Dean's Forum as a forum of discussion. We have academic rep, CMS rep, etc...I would involve students even more, a lot lot more in the running of the school. Insead is a non for profit evolving in a highly competitive market. European business school are springing out of everywhere now. It must keep its innovation rate, for which it is well known, it must keep its high standards, it must develop its brand, presence. It is better to follow its market than to follow its engineers.

Anyway, my 4,300,000 cents

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