Part-time MBA Students Research Articles

The Teachers' Forum: Breaking the Mold—A New Approach to Teaching the First MBA Course in Management Science

In our first MBA course in management science, we integrate management-science concepts and modeling software for immediate application in the students' working environments. In our opinion, the proof of the pudding is in the application. Our approach has empowered part-time MBA students to produce and often implement high-quality management-science application projects. Students learn to appreciate the value of management science as an applied discipline. We plan to improve this course, while steadfastly emphasizing student practice.

Attitudes and Knowledge of Work-Based Learning Amongst MBAs 1996-1998

Draft working paper on part-time and full-time MBA students' awareness and attitudes towards Work Based Learning (WBL) compared to other forms of learning such as academic study. Use was made of the Honey and Mumford Learning Development Questionnaires.

FREE-FORM REPORTING AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE AUDIT

This paper explores the ability of an audit report which is ‘free-form’ to change the reader's perception of the auditor, the auditee and the auditee's financial statements, as against a standard SAS 600 report. The paper reports the results of an experimental study using part-time MBA students as a surrogate for audit report readers. The ‘free-form’ report used in the experiment is based on a style of report already offered by a ‘big six’ firm to boards of directors on a private basis. It is found that the recognition and disposition of audit problems detailed in the free-form report generates a user perception of a more rigorous and useful audit.

Part-Time MBA Students' Expectations of Their Academic Experience

A survey of 114 part-time MBA students in various stages of program completion indicated students expected professors with business experience, knowledgeable in theory and high quality instruction, in thier MBA program. Sensitivity to student needs, AACSB accreditation, increased management skills and a well balanced curriculum were also expected of the program. Students also expected professional treatment from university employees (which implies staff and faculty). The only issues not identified as part of the MBA experience which was highly rated by these students was to have better career opportunities. Five factors were identified as important to students. These were labaled institutional support activities, academic experience, ethical standards and image and staff professionalism. Chi-squared analysis of program reputation showed a significant (p < .05) difference in program evaluation associated with percentage of program completed.

Interpretive styles that contribute to job-related stress: Two studies of managerial and professional employees

Abstract A recent study by Thomas and Tymon identified a set of interpretive styles that appeared to contribute to job-related stress symptoms in workers. This paper reports two new studies that extend that research. These studies use survey data from 142 part-time MBA students and 408 project engineers, respectively. Results identify three interpretive styles that explain a significant proportion of variance in self-reported stress symptoms. Deficiency focusing involves a tendency to focus on what is wrong or can go wrong. Necessitating involves thinking in terms of what one “needs” to do. Low skill recognition involves a tendency not to attribute successes to one's competence. These interpretive styles appear consistent with constructs proposed by Beck, Ellis, and Seligman in clinical populations. The styles are asserted to increase stress by skewing subjects' primary appraisal process toward higher perceived threat. Possible interventions for modifying these interpretive styles are discussed.

Further Evidence for the Discriminant Validity of Four Facets of Work Commitment: Occupation, Value, Organization, and Job

Using a sample of 328 repeat-respondent part-time MBA students, four facets of work commitment at Time 1, occupation, value, organization, and job, showed statistically different relationships with scales for job and career withdrawal cognition at Time 2.

On Developing a General Index of Work Commitment

The first study tested for work commitment redundancy across four facets-career, job, value, and organization (Morrow, 1983). The sample consisted of 328 repeat-respondent part-time MBA students. Results indicated that an 11-item occupational commitment scale best represented the career facet. Other changes (e.g., consistency of referents across items) were made in several work commitment scales. In Study 2 these four work commitment facet scales were further tested using 339 nurses. Results showed that the changes made from Study 1 helped to increase the discriminant validities between the work commitment facet scales. Results are discussed, including implications for the definitions of career-related concepts.

The Expanded Audit Report—An Empirical Investigation

Abstract There is a widespread concern about the ‘expectations’ gap in auditing. To help close this gap the profession in the United States has recently expanded its standard audit report to give a fuller understanding of the scope, nature and significance of the audit. The primary research question addressed in this paper is whether a UK derivative of the US expanded report has the power, compared to the current short form report used in the UK, to help the reasonably intelligent reader to understand better the audit and the auditor's role. The research was conducted by experiment with 140 part-time MBA students from the University of Edinburgh. The results provide clear evidence of the ability of the UK derivative to change reader perceptions. Moreover significant changes are not limited to matters directly addressed in the expansion of the audit report. A ‘halo’ effect is observed whereby the expanded wording seems to generate a feeling of well-being which spills over to matters not directly addressed ...