Mapping Brazilian Scientific Production on MBA Courses: Fifteen Years Analyzed

Abstract

The increase in the offer of MBA courses in Brazil has been accompanied by an increase in the production of scientific papers on the subject. The present bibliometric study aims to identify, analyze, systematize and discuss this production, as it can borrow from discussions that contributed to its advance. The focus is on articles published in Brazil between 2003 and 2017. Altogether, 21 articles were identified and analyzed. Amongst the main findings highlighted are: a) studies mostly instrumental in character that investigate students; b) two main perspectives of data analysis: 1) students’ learning: emphasizes the importance of students’ protagonism, theoretical-practical connections, action learning, the teacher’s practical experience, sharing experiences and building networks among colleagues; 2) the characteristics of the MBA: point out the predominance of hierarchical teaching, weak didactic and assessment methodologies, unspecific and orthodox programs. We believe that the theme requires deeper studies, due to the lack of: discussions on the ethical role and social responsibility of students; research on differences among national courses; a continuum in studies, which hinders the development of this theoretical and practical field.