Discussion: View Thread

At the Sawyer School (Suffolk University), we follow a process of
continuous improvement of our MBA curriculum. As a part of this, we
introduced a required course for all MBA students in their first semester
that was aimed at building skils and included topics such as problem
solving, written and oral communication, team management, understanding
the business environment, etc. An underlying objective was to be future
oriented, relevant to the workplace, and multi-disciplinary.

The course content was team-taught by faculty from different disciplines.
The materials used were articles on relevant topics supplemented with
experiential exercises.Apart from some common material reflecting the
course objectives, the course has included content pertinent to the
specialities of individuals teaching the course. We have used internet
based delivery of materials, chat rooms, etc. to bring technology closer
to the students.

It has been two years since introduction of the course. Students' express
a mixed response about its worth. Some feel the lack of an integrating
theme. Adjusting to different faculty styles has also been an issue.
Faculty regret the inordinate amount of time taken in coordination (due to
the team teaching principle). There continues to be desire to learn and
improve the course from our experience and from that of others.

I am interested in hearing from other faculty who have been involved in
similar courses in their schools. Any experience you can share about
the material you have used, and process issues in delivery will be most
welcome.

peace,

gopi

******************************************************************************
C. Gopinath, Ph.D. Phone : (617) 305 1934
Suffolk University Fax: (617) 573 8345
Management Department Internet: cgopinat@acad.suffolk.edu
Sawyer School of Management
8 Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108, U.S.A.
******************************************************************************

Dear Gopi, We also developed a course similar to yours which we call
Executive Skills. While we do involve some outside folks in course
dilivery (outwaard bound/Covey), we use a common template for the
instuctors so each section gets the same material in a similar fashion (at
least as best as we can manage). Most of our students express strong
satisfaction with the course, though interestingly, there are significant
differences on the instructor's evaluation.

Regards, Kim

At 01:18 PM 4/14/99 -0400, you wrote:
>At the Sawyer School (Suffolk University), we follow a process of
>continuous improvement of our MBA curriculum. As a part of this, we
>introduced a required course for all MBA students in their first semester
>that was aimed at building skils and included topics such as problem
>solving, written and oral communication, team management, understanding
>the business environment, etc. An underlying objective was to be future
>oriented, relevant to the workplace, and multi-disciplinary.
>
>The course content was team-taught by faculty from different disciplines.
>The materials used were articles on relevant topics supplemented with
>experiential exercises.Apart from some common material reflecting the
>course objectives, the course has included content pertinent to the
>specialities of individuals teaching the course. We have used internet
>based delivery of materials, chat rooms, etc. to bring technology closer
>to the students.
>
>It has been two years since introduction of the course. Students' express
>a mixed response about its worth. Some feel the lack of an integrating
>theme. Adjusting to different faculty styles has also been an issue.
>Faculty regret the inordinate amount of time taken in coordination (due to
>the team teaching principle). There continues to be desire to learn and
>improve the course from our experience and from that of others.
>
>I am interested in hearing from other faculty who have been involved in
>similar courses in their schools. Any experience you can share about
>the material you have used, and process issues in delivery will be most
>welcome.
>
>peace,
>
>gopi
>
>***************************************************************************
***
>C. Gopinath, Ph.D. Phone : (617) 305 1934
>Suffolk University Fax: (617) 573 8345
>Management Department Internet: cgopinat@acad.suffolk.edu
>Sawyer School of Management
>8 Ashburton Place
>Boston, MA 02108, U.S.A.
>***************************************************************************
***
>
--------------------------------
Kim Boal
College of Business Administration
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409
(806) 742-2150
KimBoal@ttu.edu

Hi Gopi,

We're just talking about setting up a course like this so it would be very
useful if you could publicize a summary of the responses get. I'm sure
others would find value in this. I'm particularly curious about how you
found place in the curriculum for such a new course. How handle a situation
where no one disagrees about the need for such a course or the fact that we
cannot increase the number of required courses but is unwilling give up any
of their required courses to fit this one in?

pax,

Max


Max Elden Ph.D.
Professor
School of Business and Public Administration
University of Houston Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77058-1098

PHONE:

(281) 286-3455 [home]
(281) 283-3258 [office]

FAX:

(281) 286-9943 [home]
(281) 283-3951 [office]

EMAIL: elden@uhcl.cl.uh.edu




> ----------
> From: C. Gopinath[SMTP:cgopinat@ACAD.SUFFOLK.EDU]
> Reply To: Management Education and Development Discussion
> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 1999 12:18 PM
> To: MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: Management skills course
>
> At the Sawyer School (Suffolk University), we follow a process of
> continuous improvement of our MBA curriculum. As a part of this, we
> introduced a required course for all MBA students in their first semester
> that was aimed at building skils and included topics such as problem
> solving, written and oral communication, team management, understanding
> the business environment, etc. An underlying objective was to be future
> oriented, relevant to the workplace, and multi-disciplinary.
>
> The course content was team-taught by faculty from different disciplines.
> The materials used were articles on relevant topics supplemented with
> experiential exercises.Apart from some common material reflecting the
> course objectives, the course has included content pertinent to the
> specialities of individuals teaching the course. We have used internet
> based delivery of materials, chat rooms, etc. to bring technology closer
> to the students.
>
> It has been two years since introduction of the course. Students' express
> a mixed response about its worth. Some feel the lack of an integrating
> theme. Adjusting to different faculty styles has also been an issue.
> Faculty regret the inordinate amount of time taken in coordination (due to
> the team teaching principle). There continues to be desire to learn and
> improve the course from our experience and from that of others.
>
> I am interested in hearing from other faculty who have been involved in
> similar courses in their schools. Any experience you can share about
> the material you have used, and process issues in delivery will be most
> welcome.
>
> peace,
>
> gopi
>
> **************************************************************************
> ****
> C. Gopinath, Ph.D. Phone : (617) 305 1934
> Suffolk University Fax: (617) 573 8345
> Management Department Internet: cgopinat@acad.suffolk.edu
> Sawyer School of Management
> 8 Ashburton Place
> Boston, MA 02108, U.S.A.
> **************************************************************************
> ****
>