Social Capital Analysis for Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business MBA Program

Step 1: Context Analysis

  • Mission and Program Overview:
    • The Notre Dame MBA program is rooted in a mission of “Grow the Good in Business,” emphasizing ethical leadership, integrity, and community-driven success. These values align strongly with social capital principles.
    • The program prioritizes holistic personal and professional development and seeks to cultivate leaders who contribute positively to their organizations and society.
  • Diversity and Inclusion:
    • Notre Dame emphasizes diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration, creating an environment that fosters mutual respect and shared growth.
    • The program values global exposure through international coursework and consulting opportunities.
  • Faith-Based Education:
    • The Catholic identity of Notre Dame enhances a values-based education, focusing on moral leadership and building trust within teams and communities.

Step 2: Content Analysis

  • Explicit Mention of Social Capital Themes:
    • The program highlights collaboration, trust, and ethical decision-making as core tenets of its curriculum.
    • Team-based coursework and experiential learning projects encourage strong interpersonal relationships and professional networks.
  • Implicit Demonstration of Social Capital Values:
    • Global Immersions: The program offers international projects, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and network building.
    • Alumni Networks: A robust alumni network spanning industries supports students with mentorship, job placement, and lifelong connections.
    • Community-Centric Initiatives: Emphasis on service-oriented projects, such as social impact courses, encourages collaboration and trust-building.
  • Key Social Capital Variables Observed:
    • Trust-Cooperation Complex: Ethical leadership focus fosters trust among students and stakeholders.
    • Shared Values: The mission-driven approach creates a cohesive community with aligned goals.
    • Voluntary Association: Student clubs and experiential projects promote meaningful social ties.
    • Node Positioning: Access to influential alumni and global networks strengthens students’ professional positioning.
    • Prestige and Influence: Notre Dame’s global reputation and values-driven focus elevate its students’ social capital.

Step 3: Meta-Analysis Insights

  • Strengths:
    • Notre Dame’s mission-driven approach fosters strong relational capital through ethical and service-oriented projects.
    • The program’s focus on global immersion and alumni mentorship provides students with extensive networking opportunities.
    • Experiential learning initiatives strengthen trust, collaboration, and professional skills.
  • Gaps:
    • Limited explicit framing of “social capital” in program marketing materials, despite strong alignment with its principles.
    • Could benefit from a formal framework to measure and track social capital development among students and alumni.

Preliminary Social Capital Score:

  • Website Accessibility and Clarity (9/10): Well-structured and user-friendly with detailed program descriptions.
  • Explicit Mention of Social Capital Themes (22/30): Strong emphasis on collaboration and trust but lacks direct reference to social capital as a concept.
  • Implicit Demonstration of Social Capital Values (30/30): Program activities and principles strongly align with social capital metrics.
  • Innovation in Social Capital Development (18/20): Service-oriented projects and global immersions provide unique relational growth opportunities.
  • Community Engagement and Alumni Integration (10/10): Strong alumni network and collaborative culture enhance social ties.
  • Total Score: 89/100

Recommendations for Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business MBA Program:

  1. Incorporate Social Capital Metrics: Introduce tools and frameworks to measure and evaluate students’ social capital development throughout the program.
  2. Highlight Social Capital Outcomes: Share stories and data demonstrating the program’s success in fostering trust, collaboration, and professional networks.
  3. Expand Experiential Learning Opportunities: Enhance service and community-based projects to provide broader contexts for relationship-building and skill development.

Leverage Alumni Influence: Develop structured mentorship programs and global alumni networking events to strengthen students’ professional positioning.