Presentation at the HEA-funded workshop 'Exploring innovative approaches to experiential teaching and learning in management decision making education' This one day workshop provided a platform to critically examine various innovative approaches to experiential teaching/learning in Management Decision Making in order to provoke and stimulate educators. The workshop consisted of invited speeches, participants’ presentations, group debate and discussion, and panel Q&A. There were also opportunities for professional networking and socialising. This presentation is part of a related blog post that provides an overview of the event: For further details of the HEA's work on active and experiential learning in the Social Sciences, please see: http://bit.ly/17NwgKX

1. Dr Marion Schulze – Senior Lecturer Systems & Operations
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Is Kolb’s Experiential Learning
Model useful for Teaching
Business Decision Models?
Examples of applications in
Operations Management

2. Challenges of
Teaching Business Decision Models
❖ Explain the decision problem
❖ Explain assumptions and
mathematical algorithms of the
decision model
❖ Apply the decision model - use Information Systems
❖ Interpret the solution for the decision problem

3. My Background: TraditionalTeaching Strategy
Demonstration of its application
Explanation of Decision
Problem & Model
Encourage student to apply the model
Give feedback (= show correct solution,
discuss interpretation of solution)

4. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model
Concrete
Experience
Reflective
Observation
Abstract
Conceptualisation
Active
Experimentation
Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood
Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Kolb, D. A. (1981). Learning styles and disciplinary differences. In A. Chickering and Associates, The Modern
American College (pp. 37-75). San Francisco: Jossey- Bass.

5. Traditional Learning Model
Concrete
Experience
N/A - Listen to explanation
of the decision problem
Reflective
Observation
N/A
Abstract
Conceptualisation
Listen to abstract explanation
of the decision model, its
application and interpretation
of results,
read about it
Active
Experimentation
Use the model and solve
decision problems (case
studies, practical tasks)
Reflective
Observation
Reflect on feedback
for solutions,
discuss solutions

6. Experiential Learning Model
Concrete
Experience
Solve a given decision
problem and present your
solution
Reflective
Observation
Discuss the solution
and realise what
needs to happen to
improve your
decision
Abstract
Conceptualisation
Listen to practical explanation
of the decision model, its
application and interpretation
of results,
read about it
Active
Experimentation
Use the model and solve
decision problems (case
studies, practical tasks)
Reflective
Observation
Reflect on feedback
for solutions,
discuss solutions

7. Give students a decision problem
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
-£300,000 £0 £100,000 £120,000 £120,000
Would you make this
investment?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FsGpi_W9XI

8. Reflective
Observation
Concrete
Experience

9. Explanation of the Net Present Value Model
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
-£300,000 £0 £100,000 £120,000 £120,000
£254,764.02 10%
-£45,236
Abstract
Conceptualisation

10. Active Experimentation
 Computer exercises
 Online multiple choice questions with solutions
 Support material: MS Excel guide, NPV
literature, NPV youtube videos,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FsGpi_W9XI
 Assignment

11. Evaluation
PROs
❖ Students are more motivated
❖ Social interaction helps
learning
❖ Good mid-module review,
satisfied students
❖ Pleasant teaching
CONs
❖ Time-consuming, less
teaching content
❖ Some students want to know
more theory / theory first
❖ Does not work for every
decision model

12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION