The Tension in Business Education Between Academic Rigor and Real-World Relevance: The Role of Executive Professors

Business schools are walking a tightrope between the academic side of business and the practitioner side. In reaction to early criticism of being trade schools, business schools have emphasized the academic nature of business education. The pendulum has now moved in the direction toward greater inclusion of real-world experience. As a result, many business schools are hiring business practitioners to teach courses. We examine the current state of business education and the tension that exists in many business schools today concentrating on the use of executive professors in the business school. Recommendations are provided regarding the use of executive professors.