Using the Real World: Interviews with Women Managers

Abstract

" This paper describes an experiential learning design to be used in an undergraduate course on ‘Men and Women in Organizations. The design is comprehensive in its scope, providing students the opportunity to apply and synthesize their academic learnings. Specifically, each student identifies a woman manager, interviews her three times during the term on assigned subjects, writes papers analyzing the interviews, and discusses information about his or her woman manager with others in a small group. Each interview must be carefully planned to incorporate questions and issues which have been raised in the readings and in class sessions. The purposes of this design are: (1) to provide live case studies for each student to analyze, (2) to facilitate the exchange of information and opinions among students and (3) to reduce the distance between classroom and workplace. The design is especially useful in combating the idealism and naivete of juniors and seniors who have had little experience in the business world. "