The Walton Executive MBA program’s Fall 2020 classes have provided students with a strong base of business knowledge while also challenging the students to be creative in their problem solving.
This semester, first-year EMBA students are taking MKTG 5223 Marketing Ideas, Products & Services and SCMT 5133 Quantitative Methods & Decision Making. These are their very first MBA classes and provide a preview of what to expect for the next two years of the Walton MBA program.
MKTG 5223 Marketing Ideas, Products & Services is a class that Dr. Jeff Murray has taught since the Executive MBA program started. A major focus of the class is equipping the students to solve problems.
“My goal is to articulate a toolbox of perspectives that is useful for defining problems and potential solutions,” Murray said. “This toolbox consists of paradigms designed to understand or ‘see’ different facets of the problem. In this way, we create a strategy that enhances the students’ creative inspiration.”
The students then take those problem-solving skills and strategies and apply them to the workplace.
“The three paradigms developed in the course include the cognitive (what are consumers thinking?), the behavioral (what are consumer doing?) and the cultural (how do values and norms shape the consumer experience?),” Murray said.
One thing that makes Murray’s class unique is the emphasis on storytelling.
“Stories are illustrative, easily memorable, and connect to emotions, making them sticky and incredibly useful for education,” Murray said. “They also allow for a more personal connection, which increases involvement and participation. Since this is a blended format, I use storytelling in my face-to-face presentations and storytelling in my podcast series for online learning. The face-to-face and online formats use different stories, but cover similar concepts, theories and applications – each reinforces the other to amplify comprehension.”
Building upon the skills they learn in first-year classes, second-year Walton EMBA students continue to build a knowledge base with SCMT 5663 Supply Chain Management and MGMT 636v Innovation and Strategic Decision Making.
SCMT 5663 Supply Chain Management, taught by Dr. Christian Hofer, is another class with a heavy emphasis on problem solving and decision making.
“The class is about logistics and supply chain management, with a focus on inventory management and forecasting,” Hofer said. “But in reality, what we do applies to many other contexts as well. In essence, we focus on how to make good (optimal) decisions that appropriately consider and weigh relevant factors and their associated tradeoffs. In my mind, this is pretty powerful and greatly facilitates decision-making throughout firms and supply chains.”
“I still remember that first cohort well (and fondly),” he said. “And I have thoroughly enjoyed every other group I’ve taught since. The students are, without a doubt, what makes this program so valuable and fun.”
Amanda Earhart is a second-year student enrolled in both classes and taking a third class for her entrepreneurship focus track. The increased workload has provided challenges, but Earhart has been impressed by the coursework and her professors.
“Classes this semester help me feel in control and moving forward in a time when uncertainty is a constant companion,” she said. “The most challenging aspects are staying focused and positive. Thankfully, my professors help by bringing enthusiasm to the material and constant support.”
