Maintaining AACSB international accreditation : from basics to best practices

Purpose - A truly successful continuous improvement review (CIR) visit does more than merely check the boxes for a positive recommendation. It builds the story of the school and should be an opportunity for its culture to shine through. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how to facilitate a successful CIR visit by moving from the basics of accreditation to understanding, implementing and "living" best practices. Design/methodology/approach - Short tenure and high turnover among business school deans, mean that the majority of those leading the CIR may have no previous experience with the process. Findings - This study begins by providing an overview of the role of accreditation and the role of the dean in the accreditation process. With a combined experience of over 35 years in the dean role and having served on or chaired over 35 accreditation visits, the authors share their experiences and offer a seven-step process for understanding and implementing best practices in the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation process. Originality/value - The suggestions offered in this study should help schools enhance long-term positive outcomes and serve as a guide to those navigating the CIR process.