Teaching Problem Solving Techniques to MBA Students Through Supply Chain Management

Michael J. Fry - mike.fry@uc.edu
Department of Quantitative Analysis and Operations Management, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221

Abstract

This paper describes the use of a supply chain management course to teach problem solving techniques to MBA students. An introduction to problem solving techniques and a step-by-step methodology are presented that can be used in supply chain management courses. We discuss two specific supply chain management cases and provide examples of how these cases can be used to illustrate steps in the problem solving methodology. We also describe how problem solving skills can be reinforced and assessed through case study write-ups. We conclude with some feedback from students who have taken this class.

Key words
problem solving; supply chain; case studies

History
Received: August 7, 2006; accepted: August 13, 2007. This paper was with the author 5 months for 2 revisions.

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10.1287/ited.8.2.65

Supplementary Material
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Citation Information
Fry, M. J. 2008. Teaching problem solving techniques to MBA students through supply chain management. INFORMS Trans. Ed. 8(2) 65-74. Available online at http://ite.pubs.informs.org/.

DOI: 10.1287/ited.1070.0003