An Inspired Model... or a Misguided One? Oprah Winfrey's Dream School for Impoverished South African Girls Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

Home >> Human Resource Cases >> An Inspired Model… or a Misguided One? Oprah Winfrey’s Dream School for Impoverished South African Girls

In 2000, media celeb Oprah Winfrey promised the recently retired Nelson Mandela, first president of post-apartheid South Africa, that she had constructed his state a top-notch boarding school for girls that were disadvantaged. Her twin intention was to use the power of instruction to help impoverished young girls with exceptional assurance-girls much like herself as a child-realize their potential and transform their lives and, at the same time, to train a cohort of strong new leaders who would bring about the success of post-apartheid South Africa. To that end, Winfrey assembled a $40 million dream school-huge, thoughtfully-designed, and elegantly-appointed, with modern facilities, small classes, outstanding teachers, and extensive grounds.

In South Africa and elsewhere, the opening of the school that was extraordinary garnered much attention, praise, and imitators, but also drew major criticism. Some of the critics were dismayed at using cash that was so much to create posh a facility for so few kids, when so many were in urgent need. Winfrey was chided by others for neglecting to take a community-based approach, and for distinguishing the kids from their houses and communities. Winfrey, confident in her model, stayed the course. The case allows students to contemplate numerous dilemmas: what's the appropriate role of private philanthropy, the way to think about private resource allocation in a poor state, what kind of school is in the best interest of the students, and what kind of school is in the best interests of the state.

PUBLICATION DATE: July 29, 2010 PRODUCT #: HKS129-HCB-ENG

This is just an excerpt. This case is about LEADERSHIP & MANAGING PEOPLE