Integrating interpersonal skill development in an MBA accounting course

ABSTRACT

Despite recognition of the high value placed on interpersonal skills (IPS) by education, business and government stakeholders, this area of skills development only has a limited place within MBA programs. This paper introduces and tests the effectiveness of a mock-business simulation named ‘Practice Aspects of Management’ incorporated into an early-stage accounting course within an MBA Program, with the aim of accelerating students’ IPS development. We investigate whether embedding a client interface simulation within an MBA course can improve the IPS that employers are now seeking. Following the science of training and Bedwell and colleagues’ ‘stepping stones’ to assist IPS integration within existing MBA programs, we outline a successful initiative to address the IPS deficits. We contribute to the literature by detailing how IPS can be integrated into an accounting course and utilised to equip students with both the technical and IPS attributes now desired by employers.

KEYWORDS:

• Interpersonal skills
• simulation
• accounting education
• MBA education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 To avoid repetition, the Pre-PAM survey demographic characteristics are reported in Table 2. The demographic characteristics are highly similar to the Post-PAM survey sample.