Introducing Problem-Solving Method in the Business School of a Brazilian University

Lilian A. P. Miguel, Adilson Caldeira

This article has as the primary objective discussing the cultural roadblocks faced as part of the process of introducing a new method in a traditional educational institution, as well as showing the preliminary results of that effort, besides proposing some ideas of breaking the resistances. It also emphasizes the difficult to break the institutional mental model of producing only academic theoretical works as a way of achieving goals, no matter the quality of new knowledge and expertise created. The first results showed that 30% of the professors are “risking” themselves on the new method. The students involved – almost 400 – seem to be a little more confident, choosing the new rather than the “traditional”. It appears that they foresee much more opportunities than the professors do. The preliminary results show that some new steps are required. If the resistances are deeply understood, they maybe can be diminished and broken. Another important point to be emphasized is that being in strict contact with the market would help them to develop their classes, enriching with updated and local examples.

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