Article ID: | iaor20072143 |
Country: | United States |
Volume: | 36 |
Issue: | 2 |
Start Page Number: | 126 |
End Page Number: | 137 |
Publication Date: | Mar 2006 |
Journal: | Interfaces |
Authors: | Krass Dmitry, Ovchinnikov Anton |
Keywords: | decision theory, decision theory: multiple criteria, education in OR |
Business schools look for ways to teach MBA graduates effective group work skills, generally through group-based assignments and projects. However, if not monitored carefully, group work can undermine the learning process; group composition is important. The Rotman School has developed a multiple-well-balanced-study-groups strategy to ensure that students are assigned to several balanced and nonoverlapping groups, which are used in different courses. We formulated the group-creation problem as a mathematical optimization model and implemented it in a user-friendly software package that Rotman MBA office administrators use to create student groups. Switching to computer-generated groups produced better balanced groups, saved much manual effort, and increased levels of satisfaction among students, faculty, and the MBA office personnel.