Dr. Jochen Runde, newly appointed director of the MBA program at Cambridge’s Judge Business School, brought up an unusual talking point for a business school function: the philosophical discipline of ontology—the study of what exists and modes of existence.

At the QS World MBA Tour Singapore Fair on November 23, Runde explained during the MasterClass in Management Seminar that the identity of all of the technological objects that surround us flow from both their physical form and social function. This seemingly esoteric topic cuts right to the heart of business in terms of user-innovation, and shows that disruptive technologies don’t always destroy markets.

Taking the case study of the rise of “turntablism” – the musical form of scratching records created by hip-hop bands and DJs in 1970s New York – Runde explained how a consumer group can radically change the way a product is used. In so doing, the users create a completely new identity for what is essentially the same object, offering opportunities for astute manufacturers.

Commenting on the MasterClass, Dr Runde says, “This talk is an example of the kind of multi-disciplinary thinking students can expect to benefit from at Judge Business School. In this particular case, starting from what appears to be quite an abstract philosophical question, one arrives at some interesting and unusual insights from a management perspective about the emergence and adoption of new categories of products.”

The MasterClass in Management Seminars is a series of lectures organized by QS as part of the World MBA Tour, which looks at themes such as strategy, entrepreneurship, marketing and leadership. Presented by leading professors from some of the world’s top business schools, the series offers potential MBA candidates a taste of the business school classroom and an insight into best practices drawn from case studies around the world.

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Each week, we bring you news from the front lines with business school bloggers sounding off on life in the trenches.

Anand (Darden) confesses to enjoying this unique stage in life, aka business school, when spending a significant portion of time playing video games is possible, despite being considered a less-than-valuable activity by greater society. In this post, he delves into real game theory and how the elements of strategy and execution apply equally well to the MBA program.

N.A.S. raves that attending the Indo-German Business Forum in Dusseldorf last week was the most fun he’s had since starting at London Business School. The cross-cultural experience included a false fire alarm, Jack Daniels-marinated merriment, and fantastic keynote speakers that included Walter Bender from the MIT Media Lab, Amit Mehra from Reuter’s Market Light and Madhav Chavan, the founder of Pratham.

Reflections at LBS wonders whether an MBA is an expensive lesson in time management, and offers ramblings on alumni. “For those who would call me a skeptic,” he says, “I am neither casting doubt on the value of an MBA nor am I poo-pooing it in comparison to a medical or law degree. I mean come on, don’t we have more than enough lawyers already in the world?”

To MBA or Not to MBA (Chicago Booth) has logged many a post this quarter devoted to ranting about the economic crisis and a lack of faith in her chosen career. She lets us in on what else she’s doing when not griping with a recap of some of the more enjoyable (or at least non-academic/recruiting) moments of the fall quarter.

The Socialist Capitalist (Rotman School of Management) has been procrastinating, as anyone working full time while in a full-time program is wont to do. In addition to sharing highlights from this term, he shares an important lesson in these trying times: Your bonus is your job. Though he’d like to claim it was foresight that guided his decision to keep working during the MBA, in reality, it was avoidance of a massive financial anxiety attack.

Run Forrest, Run (Chicago Booth) takes a look at the economic downturn…as seen through the recruiting lens. Even thoguh dismal recruiting stories are the order of the day at consulting firms, big pharma and tech companies, he remains optimistic that he and his peers can fight their way through the process toward soemthing they enjoy.

The Naked MBA espouses the importance of shoring up your networking karma and shares a Chinese proverb: A wise man is one who knows everything, but a smart man is one who knows everyone. But that’s only part of the equation, she says. Networking is quid pro quo; it’s how you connect with them that really matters. Out of b-school for almost three years now, she should know.

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For a concise, thoughtful guide that will help you navigate the MBA admissions process with greater success, order our NEW book, The MBA Application Roadmap.

Stacy Blackman’s Weekly Roundup of B-School Intelligence

Will and Beverly O’Hara have pledged $16 million to the University of Texas McCombs School of Business, the largest individual gift to the school since Red McCombs donated his name and $50 million eight years ago. It may be small potatoes next to David Booth’s recent endowment to the University of Chicago business school,  but their gift will create scholarships for the school’s business honors program, more fellowships for doctoral-level research in accounting and a pool of money to help fund new methods for teaching today’s students.

In a new FT Management podcast, Tim Cullen, Director of the Oxford Programme on Negotiation at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, talks about how to negotiate in the climate of mistrust engendered by the current financial downturn. The key to effective negotiation, he says, is to fully explore the interests on both sides. Information gathering in advance is essential, and getting to know the people involved is also highly desirable. To listen to this podcast, click here.

Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies have announced a new strategic collaboration in executive education. Both schools will also expand their menu of offerings in executive education, through collaborative open enrollment programs and the development of a joint certificate.

Thunderbird has also launched “Doing Business in Russia” — a comprehensive, online certificate program on the dynamics of Russian business. The new four-week program offers working professionals the tools and knowledge they need to work effectively within Russia’s business, political and cultural environment.

People are willing to perform the most menial of tasks, even for little pay, as long as they consider the work meaningful or are recognized for their contributions, according to new research from Fuqua School of Business professor Dan Ariely. Ariely’s findings contain important lessons for managers, and result from a series of novel experiments, including one that literally turned play into work by paying participants to assemble Lego figurines.

In a new podcast from London Business School, associate professor of management practice in entrepreneurship John Mullins answers key questions about entrepreneurship and investment that are even more important to new businesses in the current economic climate. Mullins comments that, “broadly the credit crunch is good news for entrepreneurs, but it’s not a time for the faint of heart,” going on to explain that in a downturn bigger companies become more conservative, leaving new business opportunities open to entrepreneurs.

Spain’s IE Business School now offers open access to its multimedia materials for individual use under a Creative Commons license. The main advantage for users is that they can access high-quality content free of charge. According to a press release, the move is in line with IE’s philosophy of innovation and knowledge-sharing and has led the school to develop 200 teaching materials covering all areas of management.

And now, a glimpse into the crystal ball…

Harvard University Business School will be closing its doors following an unprecedented drop-off in applications this fall, New York Times reports. The school will be renamed the Harvard University School of Integrity, and students will receive Masters in Integrity and Compassion, or M.I.C.s. “We believe that the recent increase in visibility of progressive movements and ideals, coupled with the demotion of free-market capitalism as a viable belief system, has led students away from training in accumulation for its own sake and into fields where they can advance peace and justice,” said Harvard spokesperson Susan Morrison.

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For a concise, thoughtful guide that will help you navigate the MBA admissions process with greater success, order our NEW book, The MBA Application Roadmap.

A fair number of folks find that romance and hook-ups are a natural by-product of B-school. But, says The Times of London, most postgraduates prefer to separate their management education from matrimony.  It’s no wonder that rarest demographic, the couple taking an MBA together, generates such open curiosity.

How do business schools view couples who aim to study on the same MBA course? “It is not unusual to have at least one couple apply,” says Karen Siegfried, MBA executive director at Judge Business School, which admitted four couples this fall who are profiled in The Times. “However, it is unusual for both members of the couple to be equally strong candidates, as we had this year.”

Sharing this major life event on a day-to-day basis may give couples the chance to grow closer together, but is it really the best way to pursue an MBA?

Why it works

• MBA couples have tossed the adage “familiarity breeds contempt” out the window. Having a study partner on hand, especially if you are good at different subjects, is useful.

• Sharing study problems with your spouse, rather than with a stranger, is a huge plus. You trust that person 100 percent, so there’s no vulnerability in letting your partner know when you’re finding something difficult.

• Many spouses find it difficult to relate to each other when one is back at school and the other remains at home or in the workforce. But a couple going through the experience together can lean on each other to survive the ups and downs of MBA life.

• Also, school gives you the opportunity to see other sides of your spouse, says Michele Martin, who attended Kellogg School of Management with her husband Brian in 2001. “We’ve realized we work well together because of our different personalities. We have totally opposite work styles. But we seem to complement each other.”

Why it doesn’t

• In a word: poverty.  If you are studying for an MBA together, there will be some testing times with the switch from two incomes to no income, with two big tuition bills to pay. Couples must be committed to saving money and sticking to a budget, or the financial stress could spell doom.

• Enticing offers usually come through at the end of the program, but what happens when the offers come from different corners of the globe? Compromise, a word most couples are overly familiar with, will be key to navigating those tricky post-degree waters.

• When you commit to study for an MBA at the same time and on the same course as your partner, inevitably your home life is taken over. Maintaining your identity as a couple amid the all-consuming MBA experience is a delicate balancing act.

So, does the couple that studies together really have more fun? Drop us a line and let us know what you think.

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We are now on Facebook – please join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman. I am posting news about MBA related events, job listings, and of course MBA news.

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For a concise, thoughtful guide that will help you navigate the MBA admissions process with greater success, order our NEW book, The MBA Application Roadmap.