Polytechnic Summit 2013

Master of Science in Construction
Management
 Operations Management- MGMT820
▪ Hybrid Course
▪ Only on-line offering in the program
 Three Cohorts taught to date

Course Components
 Homework
 Tests
 Weekly Discussions
 Book Review
 Final Team Project

Observations
 Each Cohort seemed to have its’ own
personality
 Many years of work experience
 No work experience
 Most students don’t seem to see themselves as
on a management track

Discussions, Tips, Comportment
 Discussion instructions asked that responses be from the
point of view of they as managers
 Discussions began- “Management needs to….” or “I don’t
understand why management doesn’t……..”
 Tips and tricks section for extra credit- some cohorts did not
use or did not help one another
 Overt rejection of the on-line learning concept versus in class
experience

Comportment and Communications
 Unprofessional conduct, attitudes, and
communication
▪ Discussions aren’t tweets
 Unexpected amount of complaints regarding
difficulty of course
 Lack of respect and self discipline in completing
assignments
 Lack of maturity
 Possible cheating

Learning Style
 Most students from an experiential learning
background
 Industry is primarily visual and tactile
 We are asking that they work on more abstract
ideas
 If they see it they can deal with it, if they touch it
they can duplicate or improve on it.

Learning Style
 The closer a discussion problem approached a
physical or visual issue, the better students
performed
 The more abstract and virtual the problem
became, the more difficulty they had identifying
and addressing the core issue and offering
appropriate solutions

What is required to increase the chance of
student success and elevate thinking?
 One cannot assume that students, young or old,
understand the different and additional
demands of on-line learning. Far more energy is
wasted by instructors dealing with student online “drama” than they would in a classroom
environment.

What is required to increase the chance of
student success and elevate thinking?
 Instructors and program administrators need to
understand the potential pitfalls and employ
actions at the outset to set a level of
expectation and context to fully realize on the
promise of virtual learning.

What is required to increase the chance of
student success and elevate thinking?
 Minimum amount of field/work experience is a must
 Need to understand that in a virtual course they must take the
initiative
 Create a tutorial for successful on-line learning
▪ Communications etiquette
▪ Preferred and appropriate communications
▪ Sample discussion responses

What is required to increase the chance of
student success and elevate thinking?
 Improve discussions
▪ More synchronous
▪ Become more collaborative and find opportunities to “teach”
each other based on relevant experiences
▪ Practice the opportunity to communicate professionally
▪ Encourage the option to disagree respectfully with a point of view

What is required to increase the chance of
student success and elevate thinking?
 Fill in the blanks
▪ The course doesn’t cover every aspect of operations or
issues to encountered as a manager
▪ Ask the industry expert-required each week from at
least one student

What is required to increase the chance of
student success and elevate thinking?
 Team up
▪ Construction is a team game, use each others
strengths.
▪ Be a leader -help those not getting it
▪ Manage time and resources better for final project
▪ Look for and practice opportunities to add value

Summary
 Operations management is at the heart of running
a successful business. As on-line Master degree
aspirants, students must be prepared experientially,
have appropriate quantitative and communications
skills, be mature, self-starting, and willing to work
with others.
 The institute and instructors must provide the
environment to help students understand the
context of management and hold students
responsible for the rigor they will encounter in
industry.