Chapter 1: Perspectives On Deaning And Leading Change

Business schools play an important role in shaping societies. They produce leaders, managers, movers, and shakers who make the difference in different businesses and industries and in various societies around the world given their increasing mobility globally. Some see business schools as purely academic institutions and should be focused on knowledge dissemination; others feel that they are more like corporations and deans should act as CEOs addressing the developments taking place in global markets. Approaches might differ and styles might vary. However, there is no question that there is no one size that fits all when it comes to business school management. The conditions on and off the campus where the business school is located directly affect the realization of its mission. This chapter demonstrates my experience as dean of the school of business of the American University in Cairo during the period 2009–2014 where three of the five years witnessed multiple socioeconomic and political developments in Egypt following the uprising of January 2011. However, the experience shows that a committed team and a proper approach coupled with a clear strategy, regardless of the deterrents on the ground, could still help yield the set objectives (Lorange, 2010). The chapter includes a set of lessons learned in leading business schools in a time of transformational change.