ERIC Number: EJ887219
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0011-8052
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Factors Influencing Success in Integrating the Four-Year Business School Curriculum: Implications for Business Educators
Athavale, Manoj; Myring, Mark; Davis, Rodney E.; Truell, Allen D.
Delta Pi Epsilon Journal, v52 n1 p4-15 Win 2010
Background: Previous research has advocated the use of an integrated business curriculum, and has examined issues related to content, design and delivery of an integrated curriculum. However, no study was found that evaluated deans' perceptions of the importance of integration, the status of integration efforts, and the resources necessary for implementation. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the status of curriculum integration in business schools, factors influencing deans' perceptions of an integrated curriculum, and the actual implementation of such a curriculum. Method: Business school deans were surveyed. Then, survey logistic regressions were used to identify factors influencing a deans' perception of the importance of integration and resources influencing the actual implementation of an integrated curriculum. Results: The respondents indicated that the strongest motivation for curricular integration was the belief that it is critical to the future success of students. Faculty support was perceived to be one of the necessary resources for implementing curricular integration, and only 10% of respondents believed that an integrated curriculum would lack faculty support. The only significant stakeholder variable was encouragement from the advisory board. Conclusion: The results generally indicated that resource availability is crucial to both the deans' perception of the importance of curriculum integration and to the actual implementation of the integrated curriculum. Interestingly, while the deans' perceptions of the importance of integration are not influenced by perception of faculty support for the task, faculty support is a key resource necessary to ensure implementation of an integrated curriculum. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Integrated Curriculum, Curriculum Development, Educational Change, Business Education Teachers, Deans, Performance Factors, Curriculum Implementation, Regression (Statistics), Mail Surveys, Administrator Attitudes, Educational Resources, Influences, Educational Assessment, Predictor Variables
Delta Pi Epsilon, Inc. P.O. Box 4340, Little Rock, AR 72214. Tel: 501-219-1866; Fax: 501-219-1876; e-mail: dpe@ipa.net; Web site: http://www.dpe.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A