The MBA program is designed to develop candidates for positions of leadership in modern organizations.
Objective
Analytical Skills
A graduate of the MBA program will have the analytical skills necessary to function in the current business environment.
Indicator
Quantitative Skills
Students will have an understanding of financial, statistical and other quantitative techniques used in business decision making.
Criterion
Performance On Embedded Quantitative Questions In FIN 531
Embedded questions on the final exams in FIN 531 (a course taken by all MBA students) will be used to assess the ability of MBA students to apply quantitative skills. MBA students should average 85% correct responses on these questions.
Finding
FIN 531 - Spring 2009
Twelve students were assessed using 6 conceptual questions and 14 quantitative questions. The average percentage of correct responsees for the conceptual questions was 88.8. The average percentage of correct responses for the quantitative questions was 80.9. The overall average was 83.2.
Criterion
Performance On Embedded Quantitative Questions In FIN 537
Embedded questions on the final exams in FIN 537 (a hybrid course available to all MBA students) will be used to assess the ability of MBA students to apply quantitative skills. MBA students should answer 85% of the questions correctly.
Finding
EMBA FIN 537 Performance
Overall class average was 77.47%, with a concept question average of 72.94% and quantitative questions’ average of 78.24%. Detailed analysis revealed that the students are weak in the areas of risk and return evaluation and time value of money. Therefore, more emphasis needs to be placed on teaching these topics with special emphasis in doing some of the more difficult examples in class.
Indicator
Performance On TACTS Critical Thinking Instrument
The Texas Assessment of Critical Thinking Skills (TACTS)instrument is a 45 minute, multiple choice test which evaluates 12 thinking skills that the SHSU team identified as important in the business disciplines.
Criterion
Performance Difference Between Undergraduates And Graduates On The TACTS Instrument
The mean score on the TACTS critical thinking instrument for students in the graduate level class will be statistically higher than the mean score for the student in the undergraduate level class.
Finding
TACTS Results From FIN 536, FIN 531, And GBA 587
The TACTS exam was administered to a total of 28 MBA students during the the second summer session of 2010. The seventeen students in FIN 531 achieved an average score of 17.6. The seven students in GBA 587 achieved an average of 16.0. The four studnets in FIN 536 achieved an average of 20.25. The overall average was 17.6.
This is better than the undergraduate students in general. The BAN 232 scored 14.3 on average and the MGT 475 students scored 15.7 on average. However, the undergraduate BAN 363 students also scored an average of 17.6.
Indicator
Students Should Have The Skills Necessary To Organize, Process, And Interpret Data
Students will be able to organize, process and interpret data to provide options for decision-making.
Criterion
85% Of BAN 568 Students Will Score Higher Than 85% On Semester Project
Students taking BAN 568 during the Spring 2009 complete semester long projects which involve the gathering of data, organizing/processing the data to be used in modeling, and interpreting the statistical results. 85% of the students should demonstrate their mastery of these skills by earning at least 85% of the points for this project. (See attached rubric.)
Finding
Spring 2010 BAN 568 Project Results
The semester project was divided into two parts. The first part involved the use of descriptive statistics to describe a population. 100% of the students scored 85% or higher on this portion of the project. The second part involved the application of regression analysis to model a real world process. Only 55.6% of the students scored 85% or higher on this portion.
Action
BAN 568 Project Design
Students in BAN 568 have a diverse background. Online course materials will be developed to assist students better develop analytical skills.
Action
TACTS Data From MBA Classes
Graduate faculty must be approached early in the semester with regards to allocating class time to administer the TACTS exam. This will allow us to have a larger sample of students and more valid results.
Objective
MBA Students Should Excel In Their Knowledge Of Management Fundamentals
MBA students should demonstrate a solid understanding of modern business management fundamentals.
Indicator
IDEA Score
Question 22 of the IDEA student evaluation form asks students to rank on a scale of 1-5 how well the course helped the student learn the fundamental principles, generalizations and theories of the discipline. A score of 1 is the lowest score, and 5 is the highest.
Criterion
IDEA Score
MGT 567 is the rcapstone course for the MBA. All MBA students must take this course, that encompasses the key skills sets required of all MBA students. While the ideal goal is to achieve an average score of 5 on question 22 which concerns mastery of the material, a more realistic yet still ambitous criteria is a target of 4.75.
Finding
Spring 2010 IDEA Score For Question 22
During Spring 2010, 22 students completed the MGT 567 course. The average score on question 22 concerning the mastery of the fundamental concepts of the discipline was 3.86. This was about the same as the 3.9 average of all schools using the IDEA system and below the discipline average of 4.1. It was below our stated goal of achieving a 4.75.
Action
Assessing The Mastery Of Management Fundamentals
We realize that IDEA scores are an indirect measure of performance. A more direct measure of the level of mastery needs to be developed.
Objective
Interpersonal Skills
A graduate of the MBA program will have the interpersonal skills necessary to work with all types of people in a wide variety of settings.
Indicator
Team-building And Leadership Skills
Students will be able to work with groups/teams so as to lead, influence, organize, and delegate tasks, to motivate and develop people, and to withstand and resolve conflict.
Criterion
IDEA Scores For The Acquisition Of Team-Building/Leadership Skills
The IDEA system is a standardized evaluation/development tool developed, validated, and tested for reliability by the IDEA Center at Kansas State University. Scores and results from IDEA are normed (using data from all institutions using the IDEA system) and compared across similar disciplines. The IDEA Student Rating includes a question concerning the acquisition of skills in working with others as a member of a team. Compared to other institutions, more than 50% of our students should indicate a progress rating of 4.0 or better on this question.
Finding
IDEA Scores From MKTG Spring 2010
The Spring 2010 graduate marketing class had 33 students in two sections. The average score on question 25 (concerning teamwork) was 4.25. This was above the 3.9 average for all schools using the IDEA system and above the 4.1 average for the discipline.
Action
Teamwork Assessment
The IDEA Score is an indirect measure of performance. A more direct measure of teamwork performance must be developed.