Advertisement

HBS Profs Say Bush's 'CEO in Chief' Title Misleading

As President George W. Bush begins his third month in office, the media has seized on the "corporate model" of his administration, dubbing Bush--the first president to hold an M.B.A--the "CEO in Chief."

But despite the straight-forward comparison the media and some political analysts have set up between the corporate model and the Bush presidency, Harvard Business School (HBS) professors say there is no single "CEO model."

Though Bush at least superficially displays characteristics typical of some business leaders, professors say this does not mean that he should automatically be considered a good manager and emphasize he has not yet been tested by crisis.

Advertisement

Changing Of The Guard

Weatherhead Professor of Business Administration D. Quinn Mills says he thinks reporters are assuming that because Bush has a business degree, his behavior must reflect his education.

"The people who are writing the articles don't really know what they're talking about," Mills says. "It's a political writer's thought of what a CEO is like."

Others say the strong interest in Bush's managerial style may be due to its contrast with former President Bill Clinton's detail-oriented approach.

"Bush's style may seem notable because it differs from the looser, more casual, and, on occasion, frat house approach of his predecessor," says Shad Professor of Business Ethics Joseph L. Badaracco. "But wasn't Bush supposed to be the frat boy?"

Recommended Articles

Advertisement