One of the most famous of all business schools is Harvard Business School at Harvard University, Boston Massachusetts. Deeply entrenched in the ivy league, Harvard Business School, or HBS is one of the most prestigious business schools in not just the United States, but worldwide.

Notably, the Harvard MBA is one of the most difficult business schools to be accepted with an 8% acceptance rate, or really, a 92% failure rate. Harvard Business School Publishing creates some highly sought after reference books, clearly aligned to their subject matter. HBS sells their used case studies to second and third tier universities, some like me have been exposed to former HBS case studies, but the academic leadership and competency of team members is nowhere near the level at HBS.

The case study method pioneered by HBS in the 1920s is aligned to motivated professionals who are already experts in their field. The early Harvard MBA course was pitched at professionals such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects and accountants who were self-employed running business enterprises. The case study method suited highly educated and highly motivated professionals who engaged in postgraduate study. Likewise, I can purchase and read the same textbooks that HBS students read, however, the tutorial experience and interaction is not at the same level as a HBS tutorial.

The purpose of educating professionals with in demand skill-sets was to develop leadership skills for subject matter experts. They needed to learn the language of business, the principles of business such as finance, accounting, economics, decision-making, marketing, operations management, human resources, general management, organisational behaviour, change management, negotiation, problem-solving, leadership, and strategy.

What makes HBS a first rate business school is their alignment to industry, their work experience program [internships], their employment channels and their alumni. HBS keeps former students engaged and offers excellent networking opportunities. This is where HBS excels, their graduates are carefully selected and the HBS name alone provides great employment opportunities.