Foreign role models and standardisation in Nordic business education

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of role models for the two oldest business schools in the four Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The schools are studied with respect to their institutional development and their present curricula. The data presented lends support to the idea that cultural affinity has been important to the choice of such models, and that national followers have tended to adapt to domestic leaders. It is also shown that the Nordic business schools appear to exhibit a mix of local and US features.