Evolution in Business Statistics Curricula: Learning from the 'Making Statistics more Effective in Schools of Business' Conference

Abstract

Summary. Reforms recommended over a decade ago at the inaugural 'Making statistics more effective in schools of business' conference have made only minimal headway, despite popular acknowledgement and academic endorsement. Longitudinal evidence collected from a near census of Master of Business Administration programmes and undergraduate business courses in Australia and New Zealand confirms the lack of progress. We find that the content of courses (with emphasis on statistics of quality), computer integration and the use of real data have not reached the ideals proposed. We argue that the large core courses need urgent attention. Statisticians also need to communicate with other staff and to promote statistics. The findings carry strategic implications for statisticians and statistics educators beyond the geographic domains examined here.