Decomposition as a Complex-Skill Acquisition Strategy in Management Education: A Case Study in Business Forecasting

Authors

Monica Adya, Marquette UniversityFollow
Edward J. Lusk, SUNY Plattsburgh
Moncef Balhadjali, Norfolk State University

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

28 p.

Publication Date

1-2009

Publisher

Wiley

Source Publication

Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education

Source ISSN

0011-7315

Abstract

Graduate business education has been criticized for utilizing simplistic teaching strategies that compromise the presentation of real-world complex skills in the classroom. In this article, we propose that complex management functions can be effectively taught using decomposition strategies. We demonstrate the usefulness of this strategy in the domain of business forecasting by comparing the forecast accuracy of students instructed in decomposition (RBF-Instructed) with that of students not exposed to such instruction (Uninstructed), as well as with an expert system called Rule-Based Forecasting (RBF). RBF-Instructed students demonstrated significant improvements over Uninstructed students and were at least as accurate as the RBF system. Our findings suggest that academics engaged in teaching complex domains can benefit from building their teaching environment on a decomposition framework.We further suggest strategies for measuring the effectiveness and endurance of classroom knowledge thus imparted. Implications for academia and practice are discussed and a research framework is proposed.

Comments

Accepted version. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, Vol. 7, No. 1 (January 2009): 9-36. DOI. © 2009 Wiley. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Adya, Monica; Lusk, Edward J.; and Balhadjali, Moncef, "Decomposition as a Complex-Skill Acquisition Strategy in Management Education: A Case Study in Business Forecasting" (2009). Management Faculty Research and Publications. 40.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/mgmt_fac/40