Assessment of Student Memo Assignments in Management Science

Abstract

Frequently in Management Science courses, instructors focus primarily on teaching students the mathematics of linear programming models. However, the ability to discuss mathematical expressions in business terms is an important professional skill. The authors present an analysis of student abilities to discuss management science concepts through memo homework assignments. The findings indicate that average student grades on homework problems for linear programming formulations were always higher than average student grades on homework memos in which they write about their formulations. These results suggest that teaching managerial writing about analytical work is an important area for future business education research.

Keywords:

• assessment
• business education
• management science
• managerial writing
• memos

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank colleague Gayle Baugh for helpful discussions regarding this project.