Business and Society: An In-Basket Simulation the Need and Development of an Integrative Experience for Business Students

Abstract

This paper shares the need for and development of an integrative in-basket exercise for use in management courses that focus on “business and society”. It indicates that the present scene and future projections reveal that more attention will be directed to this area within colleges of business administration. The paper shares the method by which the author researched and developed the exercise, including the selection of items, industry, etc. The objectives for the instructor and learner are specified, and a major portion of the paper provides examples and outlines of how the exercise can be integrated into courses. These range from using the exercise to form the sequence of your sessions, using the exercise as an examination, series of term reports, team exercise, or for selected units in other courses. The administration is discussed and participants will be given extracts from the Student Book for review. The methods for review and analysis of the in-basket are discussed, as well as the problems and direction for future research.