Studying Management Science: Difficulties and Ease of Students in the Philippines (The Case of St. Scholastica’s College Manila)

Abstract

Abstract - Management Science is concerned with developing and applying mathematical models and concepts that help to illuminate management issues and solve managerial problems. In most cases, it involves quantitative business analysis that is normally applied in operations management. Management Science or Quantitative Techniques in Business is one of the general education subjects under the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) course in the Philippine BSBA curriculum as prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) 39 series of 2006. This paper will look into the difficulties and ease in taking Management Science as a general business education subject in BSBA course under the following six (6) majors: Business Information System Management, Business Management, International Business Economics and Diplomacy, Financial Management, Entrepreneurship and Franchise Management, and Marketing Management. The sample will be taken from the students taking Business Administration course at St. Scholastica’s College – Manila, enrolled during the first and second semester of SY2010-2012. Findings of this research may be useful in coming up with appropriate teaching/ learning methodologies and materials that aptly responds to student’s need. Further, the difficulties encountered by the student in studying Management Science subject will be properly addressed by providing a more learner-centered approach in teaching mathematical/quantitative business analysis, models and equations. Keywords - management science, quantitative business analysis, general business education, management, business administration