A Model For Developing Student Skills And Assessing MBA Program Outcomes Through Outdoor Training Paul F. Buller

Authors

  • Glenn M. Mcevoy

Abstract

"The recent Porter and McKibbin (1988) report has given greater impetus to the concern that MBA students are not well prepared in behavioral skills such as leadership and interpersonal relations. This paper presents a model for assessing and developing the behavioral skills of MBA students through the application of assessment center and outdoor management training technologies. The benefits and limitations of the model are discussed.* Ever since the publication of Mintzberg’s (1975) landmark study, which criticized management education for its lack of attention to behavioral skills, there has been a growing interest among business educators in developing effective interpersonal and leadership skills among students. Indeed, critics of higher education in general, and business education in particular, have argued for a greater emphasis on competency or outcome-based measures of the educational process (Grant et al, 1979). While there exists some agreement on the specific skills to be developed, there is still considerable debate on the appropriate methods for developing and measuring these skills. This paper presents a novel approach for developing and assessing behavioral skills among MBA students. The approach is based on the learning model proposed by Whetten and Cameron (1984) adapted to the outdoor environment. "

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Published

1990-03-09