But citing McArthur's own claim that the timehas come for a new generation to take on theleadership of the Business School," the sameprofessor notes that "a mandate for a youngergroup of people" seems to be present.

Yellow Brick Road

Despite the speculation about the identity ofthe next dean, professors agree that whoever fillsMcArthur's post will be assuming responsibilityfor a number of important tasks.

"I think the next dean is going to have to besomeone who can lead the faculty into thechallenges of the next century," Aguilar says."The present dean has sort of provided a goodbase, a launchpad for that next task."

"The more immediate task for the next dean willbe to take the enormous work that's been done toredefine the MBA program and to implement thechanges," Aguilar says. "[It will] take a greatdeal of organizational skills and leadership."

"The business environment is more challengingthan it was 15 yrs ago," says Kaplan, who was deanof Carnegie Mellon's business school before hecame to Harvard. "There's more competition fromother schools and corporate training programs."

For the most part, members of the faculty saythey will trust the final judgement of Rudenstineand the advisory committees.

"There are capable people inside, there have tobe capable people outside, so Harvard is notworking from weakness in this case," Aguilar says."It's a selection among strength to find the rightperson."

"I think [the business School] has a culturethat will permit the community to rally aroundwhoever is chosen," Cash says.

How Soon?

In a letter to faculty and administratorsexplaining his retirement decision, McArthurexpressed hopes that his replacement would be"settled in" by next fall.

Members of the Business School faculty saythey, too, hope this timetable follows through.

"Interregnum is never a good idea, andcertainly not in an academic institution,"Uyterhoeven says.

But many interviewed say they doubt that thesearch will end as quickly as is hoped.

"I think it's going to be a longer process thanwas envisioned in the announcement [of McArthur'sretirement] that I read," Aguilar says."[Planning] to have a dean in place by the timeSeptember begins is very optimistic."