The Use of Pre-Plays in Management Education

Abstract

"The American Management Associations is in the fourth year of management education programs based upon a competency model. The model was developed for the AMA by McBer and Company and involves 18 competencies related to managerial initiative and planning, analytic skills, human resources management, direction of subordinates, and organizational leadership. Clients of the program are active managers from Fortune 500 companies. In its assessment center, courses, and developmental programs, the AMA has utilized pre-plays of expected situations which participant/managers are likely to face when they return to their work places. Such simulations provide a realistic scrimmage for participant/managers who learn in that situation whether they do in fact have a handle on the competencies they seek to utilize. The group, video recording, and the faculty mentor assist in the evaluation. "