Walking The Tightrope: The Need for A Rethink On Leadership, Management And Governance In UK University Business Schools

Abstract

This paper explores the effects of current dominant ideologies of leadership, management and governance exercised in UK University Business Schools. The paper argues that our current models of leadership and management practice are fundamentally flawed and have led to a wider crisis in the role, function and purpose of Business and Management education in the UK. The paper claims that an over emphasis on the application of management and leadership approaches based on the neo-liberal agenda of New Public Management (NPM) coupled with a growth in privileging the student as a consumer has resulted in the over commodification of UK University Business Schools. The effect of these dominant paradigms it suggests places at risk the legitimate place of University Business Schools in the university sector and equally their ability to respond to society's and business needs. An alternative model of academic management is advocated that draws on notions of shared and co-created models of leadership, authentic management and socialising notions of governance.