Management Education in Latin America

Latin America’s………. I. Evolution of Management Education II. Need for Business Ethics III. Challenges Facing Management Education Today

Plato and Aristotle from the beginning……. *Social political and economic influence *Agriculture, the noblest professsion followed by the millitary *Roman Catholic Church assumed a dominant role in determining what was right for society at all phases

Low social status of management Although a factor of production and an important determinant of economic and industrial development, it was considered inferior to fine arts, law, or medicine. Although a factor of production and an important determinant of economic and industrial development, it was considered inferior to fine arts, law, or medicine. The church, having control over the entire educational system, enforced the neglect of management education. The church, having control over the entire educational system, enforced the neglect of management education.

Early signs of managerial training arrive in the 1960’s….. Law schools Law schools Several countries began to establish business school programs Several countries began to establish business school programs Private investment in academic and practical management education was limited and the government was reluctant to invest Private investment in academic and practical management education was limited and the government was reluctant to invest

Alliance for Progress 1961 Accelerated social and economic development Accelerated social and economic development Fair wages, satisfactory working conditions, fiscal and monetary reforms, stimulation of private enterprise, integration Fair wages, satisfactory working conditions, fiscal and monetary reforms, stimulation of private enterprise, integration Vatican officially supported move to stimulate economic prosperity while improving social conditions Vatican officially supported move to stimulate economic prosperity while improving social conditions

Need for Business Ethics Politicians and governmental agents’ low ethical standards hinder business growth Politicians and governmental agents’ low ethical standards hinder business growth Companies establish codes of conduct and ethics training programs Companies establish codes of conduct and ethics training programs Associations within the region establish standards of ethical behavior Associations within the region establish standards of ethical behavior

Today’s Challenges…… “Competitiveness is the quality of the economic and institutional environment for the sustainable development of private productive activities and increasing in productivity.” “Competitiveness is the quality of the economic and institutional environment for the sustainable development of private productive activities and increasing in productivity.” Heckman, Pages, Inter-American Development Bank

Increases in productivity means the adoption of new technologies Investment in information technology is more effective when the labor force is highly skilled Investment in information technology is more effective when the labor force is highly skilled Quality of math and science education in the bottom third of a sample of 59 countries Quality of math and science education in the bottom third of a sample of 59 countries

In Summary…. Spending on technology in a burdensome regulatory environment with an ineffective public education system and weak property rights, will be money wasted. Spending on technology in a burdensome regulatory environment with an ineffective public education system and weak property rights, will be money wasted. Better labor legislation will allow for each country to take advantage of advances as they are implemented. Better labor legislation will allow for each country to take advantage of advances as they are implemented. Sebastion Edwards Study, 2001