Sofy Carayannopoulos and Vesna Damnjanovic
Case competitions are growing in popularity, in part because they are believed to build the skills and employment opportunities that higher education institutions are struggling…
Abstract
Purpose
Case competitions are growing in popularity, in part because they are believed to build the skills and employment opportunities that higher education institutions are struggling to provide. We add to the nascent research on case competitions and answer calls for more exploration of career-related aspects of case competitions by exploring their employability benefits and opportunities.
Design/methodology/approach
We use extant research and experiential learning theory to identify four key benefits and their interrelationships. These are tested using survey data of 212 international case competition students.
Findings
We confirm four dominant benefits of learning through feedback, broadened horizons, the development of skills and enhanced employment opportunities, and confirm the interrelationship between them. Importantly, we demonstrate the critical role that feedback plays in the development of skills and broadened horizons.
Practical implications
The findings confirm that HIEs should encourage students to participate in extracurriculars, and in particular, case competitions. The implications provide guidance on how to structure extracurricular and case competition activities to maximize skill development and employment opportunities. Insights are also relevant to coach training.
Originality/value
Prior work has focused on individual benefits and largely ignored the critical role of feedback. We build and test hypotheses on benefit interrelationships and validate the impact of feedback. We thereby extend experiential learning and research on the employability benefits of case competitions and extracurricular activities in general. Our insights are relevant to maximizing the value of extracurriculars and maximizing the value of case training and competitions, in particular to achieve employability advantages.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to examine how chatbots can be used to address two key struggles that students face in first year – a sense of being disconnected from the instructor…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how chatbots can be used to address two key struggles that students face in first year – a sense of being disconnected from the instructor, and information overload. The authors propose that chatbots can be a useful tool for helping students navigate the volumes of information that confront them as they begin attending university, while at the same time feeling somewhat personally connected with the instructor. This is achieved without increasing instructor time commitment, and perhaps reducing it in large classes. The paper reveals the results of applying this tool in a large first year class and proposes improvements for future iterations.
Design/methodology/approach
A tool was designed and implemented and tested against research insights.
Findings
Chatbots are an effective means to reduce student transition challenges.
Research limitations/implications
Technology which feels social and personal as well as functioning on a tool that students use will make the student feel more connected to the course and the instructor.
Practical implications
Tools aiding transition should be easy to use and allow customizable information access.
Originality/value
Chatbots are an unexplored tool. They have the benefit of addressing information overload as well as making the student feel socially connected without increasing instructor workload.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
By preparing students to improve skills, broaden their horizons, and learn from feedback, these courses create competitive employees well-prepared for their prospective fields.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations of this paper include the small sample size and a focus on international case competitions which left a research gap on domestic competition outcomes.
Practical implications
Higher education institutions should promote and integrate international case competitions into their curriculum offerings to give their students stronger employment opportunities. Teachers should prioritize professional lectures and feedback in their competitions to optimize learning outcomes. Teachers should further ensure the balance of theory and practice to optimize course outcomes, ensuring knowledge is modern and forward-thinking to prepare students for future markets.
Originality/value
The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.