Managers matter, best finance teaching, Online MBA topics

Good afternoon from a rainy London. Sadly, we bring you Andrew Hill’s last management challenge and column, giving his take on the importance of managers. Find out which MBA schools were voted the best for finance teaching. Finally, our newsletter is taking a two-week break and will return on April 25, Monday. Have a happy Easter.

Thank you for reading our Business School Briefing — Wai Kwen Chan and Andrew Jack.

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Andrew Hill’s management challenge

Managers matter. In fact, as I’ve explained in my column this week, managers matter more than ever as we emerge from one crisis into another. They are both the motivators of performance, and also the curators of what Peter Drucker called the “moral concerns” of the human side of organisations. He said management was a “liberal art”, because it “deals with people, their values, their growth and development”, and there is little more important than that.

Tell us why management is important — or not.

For my management challenge, please submit your additional reasons why management is important now — or, if you’re one of those sceptics who think managers should be regularly culled or abolished altogether, feel free to object. As ever, the destination for your thoughts should be [email protected].

I’ll rely on my colleagues to pick up and transmit the best of your insights because this will be my last management challenge. I’ve been the FT’s management editor for more than 10 years. Next month I will move on to a new role as the FT’s senior business writer, in which I’ll be writing more widely and at greater length, while also appearing more frequently as host, panel chair, and interviewer at FT Live conferences and events. To all those who have read, enjoyed, and above all contributed your own insights in response to my challenges over the years, many thanks. As for further reading, indulge me one last time as I suggest you browse my back-catalogue of columns and features here.

Data line: Best taught subjects on Online MBA degrees

Finance and organisational behaviour topics are well rated among online MBA graduates of participant schools in the FT Online MBA 2022 ranking. These subjects have received the highest scores for the last five years. Fintech and ecommerce, however, could do better, write Leo Cremonezi and Sam Stephens.

Further analysis of the FT’s Online MBA 2022 ranking can be found here.

Work and careers round-up

The rise of the business book: from hardcover to the big screen True stories of financial shenanigans can be as compelling as a Shakespearean drama.

Why are a leader’s first hundred days so important? Preparation for the job should start well before the new boss even takes the helm, and they should continue to learn once there, experts say.

Stoli’s Damien McKinney: ‘I have one more special forces mission in me’ The boss of the spirits company, and former Royal Marine, on trademark battles and being the target of anti-Russian protests.

Working It is our latest newsletter from work & careers editor Isabel Berwick on the big ideas shaping today’s workplaces, from the future of hybrid work to the effects of the Great Reshuffle. Sign up here.

Are you up to date with the news?

Test yourself with 10 questions. Find out which bank repeatedly edited its analysts’ reports to remove references to ‘war’ in Ukraine?

Top FT reads in the past week

Germany and Austria plan for gas rationing over payment stand-off with Russia Berlin activates emergency law as west refuses to comply with Moscow’s demand for roubles.

Russia says it will ‘dramatically reduce’ military activity around Kyiv Western officials are sceptical about Moscow pledge made following talks with Ukraine in Turkey.

Emmanuel Macron warns he could lose French election to the far right President invokes Brexit referendum result as Marine Le Pen rises in polls.

Back issues
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Thank you for reading. Please send your recommendations and feedback to [email protected].