Failing to prepare. Prepare to fail?

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Should you teach an engineering student about Marxist interpretations of Jane Austen? Or a philosophy student about how to fix a broken leg? Well, unless you were desirous of an especially rounded education, then this would seem pretty pointless. However, it has been the lament of many specialists that mainstream education simply follows the paths established centuries before, and do not reflect modern needs of students. Could this also be true of the highly regarded Masters of Business Administration and the students paying tens of thousands of dollars to put themselves through it? Practical implications This study provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.