Education Commons^™

Facilitating Executive Learning: Development And Application Of A Conceptual Model, Anthony J. Mento, Raymond M. Jones

Journal of Executive Education

We developed our required ten-week Executive MBA Leading Organizational Change course to specifically maximize meaningful learning according to the stipulations of Ausubel’s (1968) cognitive assimilation theory. The centerpiece of our work is the implementation of an eight-step explicit conceptually transparent learning model whose components are internally consistent and require the assimilation of new concepts and propositions into existing conceptual frameworks held by the learner. Concept maps (Novak, 1998), which are presented, help explicate our model, and generalizations to other learning milieus are addressed. While we address specific strengths and weaknesses with our approach, we conclude that we have met Ausubel’s …

E.M.B.A. International Field Studies: A Comparative Perspective, John S. Cotner, Darlene Brannigan Smith

Journal of Executive Education

Almost 80% of EMBA programs include a significant international study experience. The content and process, though, vary considerably in length, location, and method. To provide insight to the scope, format, of different approaches, the researchers conducted extensive interviews with 40 EMBA program directors. Results of the investigation are presented providing information that EMBA directors, faculty and administrators may find useful in improving the quality and effectiveness of their international field studies.

Adapting Stock-Trak® In Executive M.B.A. Investment Education, Weiyu Guo, Curt Bayer, Dave Blair

Journal of Executive Education

STOCK-TRAK®’s on-line stock market game, adapted to the Executive M.B.A. format, provides a valuable, motivational learning tool for the program’s more mature and experienced students. At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Executive MBA student reaction to STOCK-TRAK® has been overwhelmingly positive each of the three years it has been employed. Given Executive M.B.A. programs’ focus on applicative knowledge, STOCK-TRAK® provides a relevant, hands-on investment experience that promotes learning, retention and application. Educational values derived from use of STOCK-TRAK® can be better assured by understanding the limitations of the game, particularly when employed in an Executive M.B.A. program delivery format.

University Certification Of Work-Based Learning In The U.K., Christopher Prince

Journal of Executive Education

This paper explores a number of important issues surrounding the certification of work-based learning (known as accreditation in the UK) for the award of university level qualifications. The paper is divided into two main sections. Section one of the paper defines, and explores the historical development of work-based certification and qualifications in the UK. This is followed in section two by defining various types of certification that are open to organizations, drawing upon real life case histories. The paper concludes by highlighting a number of factors certificating institutions and potential clients should consider when entering the certification marketplace.

The Enron/Andersen Collapse: Ongoing Implications For Executive M.B.A. Programs, David J. Springate

Journal of Executive Education

[This article is based on David Springate’s presentation at the 2002 E.M.B.A. Council meeting in Keystone, Colorado, USA.]

The premise of this article is that we can help develop leadership among the business men and women that are our executive students and, at the same time, serve society and the economy better if we move to modify Executive MBA programs given recent events. Given corporate and ethical lapses by some executives, our programs need some new emphasis, courses and exposures. Parts of our existing programs need tweaking. Further there is need for increased emphasis on judgment formation. I offer below …

An Integrated Emba For An Integrated World, Douglas R. Moodie, Deborah M. Roebuck

Journal of Executive Education

Internal and external stakeholders to the academic community have expressed concern about the MBA and have urged systemic transformation in curriculum content and course delivery. Corporations want business leaders who can provide creative solutions for problems that cut across business functions. Organizations want business graduates who have been taught how to think about business not as a series of functional smokestacks but as an integrated whole.

Toward A Competency Model For Directors Of Management And Executive Development, Jan Varner, Barry Bales, William Lindsey

Journal of Executive Education

In addition to academic programs, many universities across the country offer continuing professional development courses and programs through centers focused on management and executive development. Although these centers fall under the broad umbrella of continuing education, the location of these centers in schools of business or public affairs and their program emphasis on management development cause these centers to differ from traditional divisions of continuing education. The general dividing line between management/executive development and continuing education lies in audience focus and reporting hierarchy within the institution.

Strategic Planning For University-Based Executive Education Programs: Success Factors And Design Alternatives, Newton Margulies, Jack R. Gregg

Journal of Executive Education

There appears to be a growing interest among B-schools in providing continuing management education. The trend toward meeting demands of changing business and learning environments – and responding to the obsolescence of various management disciplines -- has encouraged growth in non-degree, professional development programs. Some of these programs are generic in nature, while others are more specialized, depending on the perceived strengths and interests of the schools and the areas faculty choose to emphasize.

Interdisciplinary Learning In An Emba: Making It Happen, Stephen A. Stumpf, Walter G. Tymon

Journal of Executive Education

The Executive MBA (EMBA) market, once a niche market served by the most elite schools, has become highly competitive. This competition is being driven by an increase in the number of B-schools offering an EMBA, corporations reducing their level of support for employees interested in an EMBA, and changes in the work histories and occupations of EMBA applicants. With the increased competition, EMBA programs have had to actively market and sell their programs to corporations and prospective students. Most B-schools have chosen one of three approaches: [1] promote the B-School brand while offering essentially the same curriculum to MBAs and …

Analyzing E.M.B.A. Student Feedback, Ernest A. Capozzoli, David Gundersen

Journal of Executive Education

The results of an executive Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program assessment are analyzed and interpreted against the backdrop of increasing competition between universities to attract and retain qualified students. The public education environment is currently in a turbulent state. This turbulence is in part caused by such factors as: reductions in public funding for higher education due to constrained state budgets, student expectations, requirements imposed by accrediting bodies, and other outside constituencies requesting more accountability. The pressure to hold education institutions accountable is increasing at a rapid rate. To provide a measure of accountability and quantify program quality, education …

The Experiences Of Adult Education Instructors Adapting To The Online Teaching And Learning Environment, Janet Groen, Myra Baynton, Jo-Anne Willment, Lorraine Slater

Journal of Executive Education

This case study tracks the narrative journey of four faculty women as they discovered ways to handle the transitional experience of moving from face-to-face classroom teaching into an online asynchronous adult learning environment. It is the intention of the study that, by documenting the experiences of these faculty, we will be able to provide recommendations that will assist and support other faculty beginning to teach in an online environment.

Outcomes-Based Courses: Using Pre And Post Course Measurements To Examine And Enhance Course Success, Jocelyn Lockyer, Richard Ward, Herta Fidler, John Toews, Margaret Churcher

Journal of Executive Education

Questionnaire-based pre/post course testing can be used to extend the cognitive processes provided in short (2- to 6-hour) courses. When participants participate in pre-and post-course assessments and implement the changes they commit to at the end of a course, course designers can have an impact on knowledge and workplace practices. A carefully designed pre-course assessment offered prior to an educational activity can help professionals draw upon their workplace experiences prior to a course and during that course.

Integrated Team Development Methodologies For Managers In An E.M.B.A. Program: A Case Study, Anthony J. Mento, Raymond M. Jones, Harsha B. Desai

Journal of Executive Education

Established in 1973, Loyola College’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program is one of the first ten such programs in the United States. A primary focus of our program is the development of effectively functioning executive teams. The main contribution of our paper is the integration of several creative team development methodologies that are applied over the course of the EMBA program. Specific practices are described which are transferable to a broad range of organizational contexts. The paper concludes with a set of lessons learned regarding team functioning based on our collective forty-four years experience in executive development and education.

E.M.B.A.: One-Year Versus Two-Years?, Harold F. Rahmlow, John Panaseny

Journal of Executive Education

Saint Joseph’s University’s Executive MBA Program, which began in 1990, is an innovative graduate degree program for experienced managers and emerging business leaders. The program provides a challenging, interactive learning environment to help working professionals realize their full leadership potential and prepare for the challenges of senior management positions. This non-traditional program encourages students to risk, probe and solve problems in a multi-task format.

Terms Of The Contract: The Role Of Ethics In Higher Education, Betty L. Siegel, S. Craig Watson

Journal of Executive Education

The subject of ethics is never far from the surface in most university classrooms. Imagine, for example, a literature professor teaching the close of Saul Bellow’s novel Mr. Sammler’s Planet. In the novel’s powerful final scene, the main character sits at the deathbed of a lifelong friend and quietly speaks a prayer, asking God to watch over the soul of his friend, someone who met at all costs the “terms of his contract, the terms which, in his inmost heart, each man knows. As I know mine. As all know. For that is the truth of it—that we all know, …

Teaching Business Ethics At A Distance, William I. Sauser Jr.

Journal of Executive Education

Without question “business ethics” is one of the hot topics of the day. Over the past months we have seen business after business charged with improper practices that violate commonly-accepted ethical norms. This has led to a loss of confidence in corporate management, and has had severe economic consequences. From many quarters business educators have heard the call to put more emphasis on ethical practices in their business courses and curricula. This paper describes an innovative method used to teach business ethics to Executive MBA students using distance education methodology. Now in its second year of inclusion within the curriculum …

The Balanced Scorecard And Curriculum Integration In An Executive Mba Program, Darlene Brannigan Smith, Harold D. Fletcher

Journal of Executive Education

The Executive MBA Program at Loyola College recently undertook a comprehensive revision of its program. The goal of this revision was to develop a program that provided an integrated and systematic view of the enterprise, along with a basic understanding of all management functions and a cross-functional approach to complex organizational issues. To achieve these goals, the Balanced Scorecard became a key, integrating component in the second year curriculum. This paper presents the development of the EMBA program, in general, and demonstrates the use of the Balanced Scorecard as an integrating framework.

Training New Executive Mba Faculty And Staff: A Case Approach, Daniel M. Gropper

Journal of Executive Education

Teaching new faculty and staff how to handle Executive MBA students can be an interesting challenge. Even skilled and experienced educators may not be prepared to translate what has worked well for them with other student groups to the EMBA world.

It is generally well established that case teaching can be an effective way to teach Executive level students (Barnes, et. al. 2001). They engage in active learning, and often can bring their experiences to bear on issues in a case that others did not see.

Epiphany: A Story Of Improving Teaching Effectiveness In An Executive Mba Economics Course, Anthony J. Mento, John Larson

Journal of Executive Education

This paper discusses the reengineering of an executive MBA economics principles course. Traditional lecture-test structure was changed to a seminar style. Events leading to this change are described. Many years of evaluation results are presented to quantitatively and qualitatively depict the dramatic impacts of the changes. Learning theories that help explain the effects are then discussed, especially as they may help others redesign their teaching methodologies. Non-theoretic learning strategies for students and seven research-based principles for more effective teaching are also presented to help explain the results achieved.

Financial Literacy After Sarbanes-Oxley: Building It; Sustaining It, Edwin I. Malet

Journal of Executive Education

The core theme of the article is that financial literacy is a challenging goal, but an achievable one. Contrary to popular belief, finance is a diverse subject and the meaning of “financial literacy” varies on a business-by-business, job-by-job basis. Practically speaking, “financial literacy” is interwoven with “business literacy”, i.e., understanding the transactions, processes, markets, stakeholders, etc., that together comprise a business. This makes it hard to deploy generic educational solutions. Some managers need more than others. Some need different than others. My recommendation is not to look for a universal definition of literacy, but rather to treat your company as …

The Global Competitive Challenge For Emba Students, Thomas W. Sharkey, Don R. Beeman

Journal of Executive Education

This article describes the birth and development of an innovative international business course called the Global Competitive Challenge. The paper highlights the process of developing the course and how the course is being updated to meet the requirements of current participants in an EMBA program.

Opportunities For Non-Degree Executive Education In Taiwan, Robert D. Winsor, Annie Liu, Xiaoyan Yu, Kim Huynh-Willis

Journal of Executive Education

Few organizations today have remained untouched by globalization. Whether they are in direct competition with multinational businesses or simply experiencing the pressure of operating within a large competitive universe, virtually all firms now operate in a global economy. As a result of this global competition, U.S. and foreign executives alike have been confronted with the need to broaden their conceptualization and understanding of the impacts of these trends. In response to these needs, both universities and independent training organizations have developed innovative programs for executive training and education. Observers predict that demand for this type of education will grow substantially …

Incorporating Customer Experience Management Concepts Within Your Executive Mba Program, Francis Petit

Journal of Executive Education

The primary thesis of this research is to illustrate the importance of Customer Experience Management (CEM) and why CEM principles must be rigorously applied to the successful management and execution of Executive MBA programs.

Expectations Of Executive Mbas, Ernest A. Capozzoli, David Gundersen

Journal of Executive Education

Currently there are over 200 EMBA programs worldwide. These programs have grown in popularity and have increased by over a third in the last three years. Overall, schools are aggressively marketing their EMBA programs, and, as a consequence, prospective EMBA participants have numerous options for EMBA program enrollment. To successfully compete in the current environment, EMBA programs must understand and market to the expectations of prospective EMBAs. This paper explores the suitability of using the Teaching Goals Inventory (TGI) developed by Angelo and Cross (1993) as an instrument to analyze the expectations of EMBA candidates in the United States and …

Human Capital Indicators And Academic Success In Executive Mba Programs: A Multi-Program Study, Bradley K. Hobbs, Daniel M. Gropper

Journal of Executive Education

This paper investigates various human capital indicators as predictors of academic success for students in Executive MBA programs. Previous literature has focused on student performance in traditional full-time MBA programs and typically only for a single school. Data was examined from two different universities, with over 130 Executive MBA students. Undergraduate GPA had a statistically significant, positive relation to academic success in the Executive MBA program, while other factors, including GMAT scores and age, were not found to be as important in predicting academic success in the Executive MBA programs.

The Impact Of An Accounting Simulation On Performance And Perception In Accounting Courses, Steve Smalt, Gary L. Selden

Journal of Executive Education

The accounting profession has given ever-increasing focus and attention to the effectiveness and nature of accounting education. Executive education struggles with how to make accounting understandable and applicable to those responsible for other functions. Graduates of Executive MBA programs often have a negative perception of the accounting field before entering the EMBA. Adult education literature clearly touts the value of simulation, gaming theory, and modeling. This empirical study was designed to investigate the effect of integrating an accounting simulation, The Accounting Game, into an accounting course, on students’ self-reported perceptions and on course performance. Additionally, the simulation was instituted …

Enhancing Global Executive Education: A Pedagogy That Changes Perceptions About International Business, John Gallagher, Glen Schuler

Journal of Executive Education

The University of Tennessee (UT) has pioneered an innovative approach to development of global executives in its Senior Executive MBA (SEMBA) program. The program, which has always required an international residency in emerging economies, has adapted a methodology developed by Pankaj Ghemawat that takes into account cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic distance factors and is known by its acronym, CAGE. The methodology demands that executives more closely examine these distance factors—similarities and differences between the home and the emerging economies—in the context of a specific, but hypothetical, investment decision. This paper provides an overview of the CAGE approach as modified …

Reflections On The Value Of A Mid-Career Mba, Justus Breese

Journal of Executive Education

No abstract is currently available.

The New "Silver Savvy" 55, Jim Deupree

Journal of Executive Education

No abstract is currently available.

U.S. And Romanian Executive Mba Students: A Cross-Cultural Comparison, Ernest A. Capozzoli, David E. Gundersen, Marcel Duhaneanu

Journal of Executive Education

Currently, there are over 260 EMBA programs worldwide with approximately 180 programs resident in the United States. The number of programs available for EMBA students has increased competition for those students. One characteristic of this increased competition between EMBA programs is the addition of global initiatives to expose students to other cultures. Part of this global initiative has resulted in alliances and the establishment of working relationships between educational institutions. To facilitate and enhance the learning experience while in an EMBA program these alliances should consider the impact culture plays in shaping student expectations. This paper addresses the question of …