The history of business administration education: theoretical-methodological contributions and a proposed research agenda

Abstract

Debate about the importance of the field of history within the area of business administration has principally been restricted to studies about business or company history, the history of management and organizational history (Costa, Barros & Martins, 2009). In order to broaden this debate, this article presents the historiography of its teaching and proposes four research levels for the history of business administration education: a) the lives of the masters (teachers) who have constructed thematic fields, teaching modes and institutions; b) the educational legacy of these programs; c) the history of school subjects; and d) the history of institutions of education. Furthermore, it uncovers theoretical-methodological possibilities for the historiography of education and thus proposes an activity agenda towards the institutionalization of the subfield of the history of business administration education within the field of the history of business administration. It concludes with a proposal to teach the history of business administration education in Brazil -- a subject practically nonexistent within the area's curricula -- and specifically proposes that this topic should become a curricular component within the subjects or activities that constitute master's and doctorate education.