One of the most frequent complaints voiced in developing countries is the shortage of well-trained local managers. Firms, NGOs and governments have a hard time hiring and retaining local managers. Even massive amounts of foreign aid often fail to deliver good services because of a shortage of able managers "in the trenches". Bringing in expatriate managers is too costly and unsustainable. Training people abroad often encourages brain-drain. The only sustainable way to enlarge the pool of well-trained local managers is to nurture local management schools, building up their capacity by mentoring professors, modernizing pedagogy and crafting teaching programs that meet local needs. Such capacity building in developing countries, whether in existing or new management schools, is the primary mission of the Global Business School Network.

Local management schools have not received much assistance from government aid agencies and philanthropic institutions. Indeed, the importance of good management schools in national development has not been widely recognized. In advanced industrial countries, business schools play an important role in knowledge networks generating and diffusing innovation. It is our firm belief that local business schools in developing countries can play a similar role, helping for example to improve local health systems and speeding up progress in agriculture and agri-business.