Nothing Succeeds Like Failure

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Do business schools truly deliver on their promises of innovative thinking and training leaders who prioritize society over profit? Steven Conn argues they do not, and never have. In a critical examination of the business school landscape, Conn's work explores the frictions and contradictions inherent in these institutions, revealing their failure to address significant issues. Starting with the founding of the Wharton School in 1881, he contrasts the schools' lofty aspirations with their actual outcomes, chronicling a history filled with missed opportunities and educational shortcomings. Conn raises essential questions about the role and effectiveness of American business schools, and the findings are disheartening. His provocative analysis, thoroughly researched and engaging, suggests that the impressive exteriors of business schools mask a deeper reality akin to the illusions of Oz. By pulling back the curtain, Conn unveils a narrative of unmet public expectations, unfulfilled missions, and a disappointing track record in cultivating moral and ethical business leaders.