LITERARY STUDIES
along with the Homeric Hymns to Dionysus. Once chosen, these texts must be allocated enough time to be explored in detail. In most cases, this will require the teacher to select particular extracts to focus on, so that students can explore the language line by line to uncover authorial intent. Works of literature should not be used as an adornment for standard management theory. Connections between literature and theory can be explored, but the art should be treated as a source of knowledge in its own right. The task then becomes about presenting these texts to the cohort and helping them unpack hidden meanings. The desired outcome is to help them develop empathy and sensitivity to others’ perspectives; such traits must also be adopted by instructors on the course. Students entering the course at postgraduate level have proven themselves to be intelligent, resilient individuals during their prior studies or professional experience, ready and eager to be challenged. An opportunity to ponder In an age of rapidly developing technology and sustainable transition, leaders will be increasingly defined by their ability to think critically and engage with different perspectives. Technological innovation will be an important cornerstone of finding solutions to complex global challenges, but collaboration will be another, meaning that graduates with a nuanced understanding of diverse human experiences will be best equipped to manage these cooperative efforts. Businesses are no longer expected to simply generate profits, but to play an active role in creating value for society. Technical proficiency may be crucial for unlocking organisational efficiency, but introducing the humanities into management education teaches students to balance financial performance with caring for the communities around them. That includes employees and customers, as well as other groups who may be vulnerable to the fallout of irresponsible business practices such as environmental damage. Business schools are tasked with fostering the next generation of leaders; it is our responsibility, therefore, to ensure they understand the significance of complex challenges on a human level. The CEOs, entrepreneurs and managers of tomorrow should be capable of walking a mile in another person’s shoes.
BIOGRAPHY Agathe Mezzadri-Guedj is a PhD research professor in preparatory classes for French business schools and at NEOMA Business School in particular. She passed France’s highly competitive Agrégation examination in literature and holds a PhD. Her thesis was published as a book on the French author, François Fénelon. Mezzadri‑Guedj has taught at French and American institutions, including at Boston University; she previously worked as a manager in a number of major French companies. She continues to teach at university level and conduct scientific research; she has published two books and a series of articles in peer‑reviewed journals
They have had relatively little time to build a stock of experiences since entering the workforce, so literature provides an opportunity for them to access experiences beyond their own lives. This could range from the high drama of Odysseus’ sea voyage to Marcel Proust’s quiet meditations in the acclaimed novel, In Search of Lost Time . In each case, students are offered an opportunity to enter a life outside their own, reflecting on how effective leadership can navigate different scenarios and learning empathy by seeing the world through different perspectives. The art of selection The diversity of literature offers teachers the possibility of exploring core management topics from a near immeasurable range of perspectives. At NEOMA, our Lessons from Great Literary Texts course has a strong emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion in its fourth class. The others study the role model of the manager; the link between the employee and the organisation; and man & machine, including, but not solely referencing, AI. It also examines money: To be or not to be (rich)? To have or have not (money)? Precisely defining these concepts, as well as examining how they play out in HR and management practices, is a foundational learning objective. The DEI session influences the selection of texts included in the curriculum, directing the focus towards the stories of marginalised or discriminated characters. A few examples include The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables by Victor Hugo,
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