Does Religion Belong in the B-School Curriculum?
Should a business school teach religion? If top business schools aim to produce executives with a global mindset, it makes sense that these institutions expose students to one of the world’s most powerful forces. In an article at Businessweek journalist Warren Bennis suggests that business schools would do well to teach students how religion affects daily business. He’s right.
Christianity had a tremendous influence upon the economic system that developed in the West. As Bennis quotes, “Christian moral foundation was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics.” Even today, the remnants of this moral foundation are still present, made manifest in unions, tax laws, ethical codes and the rest.
Hence we see that, no matter the West’s uncomfortable relationship with religious belief, the Christian moral foundation shapes our daily lives. But what does Bennis suggest to be the proper method to educate students about this moral foundation? For this, Bennis gives no answer. I, however, have three suggestions.
First, B-Schools can incorporate ethics into all of its courses, organically, without creating sharp divisions between ‘hard content’ courses like financial accounting and ‘soft content’ courses like leadership or business ethics. A course on accounting, for example, would include ongoing discussion of honest accounting practices (GAAP).
In regards to what type of ethics should be taught, a secular institution might consider teaching a plurality of ethical systems and focus upon where these systems overlap. A Catholic institution, undoubtedly, should promote an ethic based in a rich theological natural law theory, which, if articulated correctly can dialogue fiercely with secular ideologies.
Second, B-Schools can offer courses in inter-cultural communication that stress differing religious practices of world cultures. Professors can invite executives of different faiths to discuss religious sensitivities and etiquette so that business deals across cultures may be accomplished smoothly and without offense to particular parties.
Finally, the admission offices of B-Schools should ensure that accepted applicants are well-rounded and already have a solid understanding of religious belief. Students with a good education in the liberal arts, for example, should be highly sought after. Such students, we hope, already have a solid education in world cultures and religions. Additionally, applicants’ past experiences as volunteers in their faith communities should not be overlooked or undervalued. Their points of view will richly add to classroom discussion, grounding business plans in the ethical ideas of everyday people.
And this, I believe, should be the aim of all business schools in incorporating religion into the curriculum: to ground high-achieving executives in the moral and religious foundation of the everyday people they serve. Business is not meant to crush the person, but to lift him up to true dignity, a dignity found in God.
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