Social Capital Analysis for Georgetown University McDonough School of Business MBA Program

Step 1: Context Analysis

  • Mission and Program Overview:
    • Georgetown McDonough emphasizes global business leadership, ethical decision-making, and collaborative learning, creating an environment for building strong relational and civic social capital.
    • The program integrates Jesuit values such as cura personalis (care for the whole person), aligning with principles of trust, community, and shared purpose.
  • Global and Ethical Perspective:
    • McDonough’s Global Business Experience fosters international relational capital through immersive consulting projects with global firms.
    • Ethical business practices are a cornerstone, promoting trust and integrity as fundamental components of social capital.
  • Diversity and Inclusion:
    • The program highlights a commitment to creating an inclusive environment, with initiatives like the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council and active affinity groups.

Step 2: Content Analysis

  • Explicit Mention of Social Capital Themes:
    • Terms like collaboration, community, and leadership appear prominently on the website, reflecting core aspects of social capital.
    • While “social capital” as a term is not explicitly used, its principles are deeply embedded in program descriptions.
  • Implicit Demonstration of Social Capital Values:
    • Trust-Cooperation Complex: The program emphasizes teamwork and collaboration in its cohort-based learning structure.
    • Voluntary Association: A wide range of student organizations and clubs promote professional and personal network building.
    • Global Engagement: The Global Business Experience fosters cross-cultural relational capital and expands students’ global networks.
    • Learning Processes: Experiential learning opportunities, including case competitions and consulting projects, enhance students’ ability to leverage social capital for professional outcomes.
  • Key Social Capital Variables Observed:
    • Leadership Development: The Leadership Fellows Program helps students refine their relational capital in professional settings.
    • Diversity and Equity Initiatives: The focus on inclusion and affinity groups strengthens the program’s ability to build trust and shared values across diverse student cohorts.
    • Alumni Network: Georgetown’s extensive global alumni network provides opportunities for mentorship and career support.

Step 3: Meta-Analysis Insights

  • Strengths:
    • The program’s focus on ethical leadership and global collaboration aligns strongly with social capital principles.
    • Diversity and inclusion initiatives foster both homophily and heterophily, enhancing students’ ability to connect across diverse groups.
    • The Jesuit mission adds a unique ethical dimension to social capital development.
  • Gaps:
    • The program could highlight social capital as a strategic framework within its leadership development narrative.
    • While the alumni network is strong, more structured mentoring opportunities could further enhance its practical value for current students.

Preliminary Social Capital Score:

  • Website Accessibility and Clarity (9/10): Clear and professional presentation with an emphasis on student outcomes and opportunities.
  • Explicit Mention of Social Capital Themes (24/30): Collaboration and leadership are emphasized, though direct reference to social capital is absent.
  • Implicit Demonstration of Social Capital Values (29/30): Strong alignment with trust, community, and global engagement principles.
  • Innovation in Social Capital Development (19/20): Global experiential learning and leadership initiatives offer unique relational capital-building opportunities.
  • Community Engagement and Alumni Integration (9/10): A robust alumni network and active student organizations strengthen relational capital.
  • Total Score: 90/100

Recommendations for Georgetown McDonough MBA Program:

  1. Elevate Social Capital as a Key Value Proposition: Use the concept of social capital to frame the program’s emphasis on leadership, collaboration, and community-building.
  2. Expand Alumni Mentorship Opportunities: Strengthen connections between students and the global alumni network through structured programs and events.
  3. Promote Ethical Leadership as a Differentiator: Highlight the integration of Jesuit values in fostering trust and integrity within professional networks.

Measure Social Capital Growth: Introduce tools to track how students’ relational and civic capital evolves throughout the program.