現今MBA教育應多關注政治

Prof Bastin, Beijing University of International Business and Economics

邁克•巴斯廷(Mike Bastin)，北京對外經濟貿易大學(University of International Business and Economics)教授

In May British voters will go to the polls in what appears to be the most unpredictable and uncertain UK general election in recent times.

今年5月，英國選民將爲一場似乎是一段時期以來最不可預測、最不具確定性的大選進行投票。

Nowhere is this unpredictability and uncertainty felt more than in the business community, where clear policy differences exist across both major and several minority parties. But despite this there is still little or no inclusion of any aspects of the dominant UK or international political issues on MBA and related programmes.

對這種不可預測性與不確定性，感受最深的莫過於商業界，因爲在兩大主要政黨及幾個少數黨之間，都存在明顯的商業政策分歧。儘管如此，這些重要的英國或國際政治議題的任何方面，仍然很少、或者根本沒有被納入到MBA教學及相關項目中。

The Conservative party’s in-out referendum policy pledge on UK membership of the single European market, for example, is opposed by the Labour party.

例如，英國保守黨(Conservatives)關於舉行“英國去留歐盟”公投的政策承諾，遭到了英國工黨(Labour party)的反對。

It is of course not just the UK political system that carries considerable influence in business. Relationships with key political decision makers in emerging markets across Asia and South America are often cited as an absolute necessity if business plans are to succeed.

當然，不只是英國的政治體制會對商業產生相當大的影響。在整個亞洲和南美洲的新興市場國家，與關鍵政治決策者建立良好關係，都常被認爲是商業計劃獲得成功的絕對必要條件。

China, the second-largest economy in the world, presents perhaps a perfect opportunity to highlight this yawning gap between rhetoric on the importance of political systems and policies, and the paucity of detailed learning materials and in-class discussion reality.

作爲世界第二大經濟體的中國，也許是這種巨大差距的絕佳體現：一方面，人們在嘴上強調中國政治體制和政策的重要性，另一方面，詳細的相關學習材料和課堂討論現實案例極度缺乏。

The mainland China market plays an increasingly important part in most business education programmes, with detailed analysis of second and third-tier cities now as well as the usual first tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

中國內地市場在大多數商科教育項目中扮演着越來越重要的角色，這些課程不但分析通常的一線城市（北京、上海、深圳和廣州），而且現在對二、三線城市也進行詳細分析。

Recent policy initiatives, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and mergers across state-owned enterprises announced by China’s central government, could influence the world of international business enormously.

中國中央政府近期宣佈的政策舉措，例如建立亞洲基礎設施投資銀行（Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank，簡稱亞投行）以及合併國有企業，可能對全球商業界產生巨大影響。

However, we still do not see any attention given to the workings of the Chinese political system on business education programmes.

然而，我們依舊沒有在商科教育項目中，看到任何對於中國政治體制運行方式的關注。

Immediate implementation of the following initiatives would lead to a more rounded business education: government ministers delivering guest lectures; case studies developed, updated and analysed on government policies and their implications; a regular Q&A session where MBA students represent each of the main and minority parties and the rest of the class form the audience and ask questions.

立即開展以下活動將帶來一種更全面的商科教育：邀請政府的部長們發表嘉賓演講；開發、升級並分析關於政府政策及其影響的案例研究；組織定期的問答會，讓一部分MBA學生代表各主要及少數政黨，其他同學擔任聽衆並提問。

Paradoxically, globalisation may well lead to bigger and bigger (private sector) businesses and smaller and smaller governments, but government power and influence is on the increase and business students need to know more.

矛盾的是，全球化應該帶來越來越大的（私營部門）企業和越來越小的政府，但政府權力和影響力正在擴大，而商科的學生需要了解更多。

Prof Moore, The Business, Society, and Public Policy Initiative at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business

詹姆斯•摩爾(James Moore)，美國喬治敦大學(Georgetown University)麥克多諾商學院(McDonough School of Business)教授，商業、社會與公共政策項目執行主任

Silos are for farmers, not for business schools. The days of teaching finance, marketing and accounting in specialised fortresses as the sole path to business success have long passed.

“豎井”只適合農民，而非商學院。那種在專業的城堡裏教授金融、市場營銷和會計課程，並以此作爲通往商業成功唯一路徑的年代早已不復存在。

Future business leaders demand an education that prepares them for grappling with the intersection of business, government and society. They need to understand the impact of public policy on the course of business and how they shape one another, as well as how businesses can be a significant agent for change in society. This is not just altruistic sentiment but a critical part of the formula for success.

未來的商界領袖需要一種幫助他們準備應對商業、政府和社會三者交叉的教育。他們需要了解公共政策對商業進程的影響、這兩者又是如何相互影響，以及企業如何能夠成爲社會變革的主要推動者。這不僅僅是一種無私的情懷，更是通往成功的關鍵一步。

In the US alone, business has become attuned to issues such as comprehensive healthcare reform, the changes coming to our telecommunications law, or imminent recalibrations in the policies of the Federal Reserve. All of this underscores how dependent business, government and society are on one another.

僅在美國，商業就已經適應了相關議題，如全面醫療改革、電信法修訂或美聯儲(Fed)政策的即將調整。所有這些都凸顯了商業、政府和社會是多麼地相互依賴。

Business school students have a laboratory in which to understand the merits of communication, engagement, and co-operation within this critical intersection. They can come to learn by example that communication, engagement and mutual co-operation are critical to everyone’s success.

商學院的學生擁有一個實驗室，在那裏他們可以理解，在商業、政府和社會的重要交叉中，溝通、參與及合作的價值。他們可以通過例子瞭解到，交流、參與及相互合作對每個人的成功都至關重要。

Beyond domestic considerations, this convergence in a globalised world becomes even more striking. The continued onslaught of Isis, the outbreak of the Ebola crisis and the imposition of sanctions that follow the invasion of foreign lands remind future business leaders and the world of the harsh reality of the unexpected. Risk, anticipation and flexibility are critical to a business education that promises that leaders will graduate ready for a world where the best laid plans can be dashed in an instant.

拋開國內因素，這種融合在全球化的世界甚至變得更加引人注目。“伊拉克和黎凡特伊斯蘭國”(ISIS)的持續猛攻、埃博拉(Ebola)病毒危機的爆發，以及對入侵外國施加的制裁，都向未來的商界領袖和全世界提醒着，存在意想不到的殘酷現實。有的商科教育承諾，從這裏畢業的商界領導人已做好準備，迎接一個即使最周密的計劃都可能在瞬間被毀的世界。對於這樣的商科教育，風險、預期和靈活性至關重要。

Take cyber security for an example. With the rise of and dependence on the internet, both professional and amateur hacking have become a scourge to companies. As experts have concluded, there are now only two kinds of companies in the US: those who have been hacked and those who don’t know they have been hacked.

以網絡安全爲例。隨着互聯網的崛起和人們對互聯網的依賴，專業和業餘的黑客都已經成爲了企業的災星。正如專家們所總結的，如今在美國只有兩種類型的企業：被黑客入侵的，和還不知道自己被黑客入侵的。

The answer to this ever present threat will come only by concerted collective efforts that involve business, government and society at large.

要應對這種迫在眉睫的威脅，只能依靠商業、政府和社會整體協調一致的集體努力。

There is every reason to believe that business will face even greater challenges ahead. Business schools need to be more attuned to the dynamics and possibilities that lie ahead and that means tearing down silos.

有充分的理由相信，商業在未來將面臨更大的挑戰。商學院需要更加適應未來的發展變化和各種可能性，而這意味着要拆毀“豎井”。