An Analysis of Orientation Programs for Entering MBA Students to Shape Graduate Education

摘要

This paper examined the prior literature on new MBA student orientations and noted that, while sparse, it does suggest that such orientations may aid in increasing new MBA student self-efficacy. Preliminary interviews with a small, national sample of MBA business faculty members were then reviewed. These suggested that new MBA student orientations are guided by two basic design issues: 1) Whether the orientation is for administrative purposes or to increase student self-efficacy, and 2) If the latter, is self-efficacy to be increased by external cues through persuasion and vicarious experience conveyed by faculty or by current or former students, or by internal cues through direct experiences during the orientation. These design issues were used to develop a framework and typology of new MBA student orientations and to design an online survey questionnaire, which is to be distributed nationally in the second half of 2013. Results of the survey questionnaire will be reported in a subsequent paper. This paper suggests that the factors that determine the design of a new MBA student orientation extend beyond cost and location. The paper suggests that the desired level of manipulation of student self-efficacy - if any - is an important consideration along with cost and location. The proposed survey questionnaire will provide important data for further examination of these questions.