The managerial intellectual learning (MIL) trajectory model: a note

From my experience of teaching on and supervising my MBA students' dissertation projects, I recognize that quite some students have difficulties to comprehend and learn from the literature search and literature review exercise. As a result, they feel frustrated. I think the frustration partly arises from the insufficient understanding of the managerial intellectual learning trajectory involved. In this respect, I offer the following model (re: Diagram 1) on the managerial intellectual learning (MIL) trajectory to shed light of the MIL process:

Diagram 1: the managerial intellectual learning (MIL) trajectory model

The MIL trajectory depicts a life-long intellectual learning journey with several learning rounds. Each round comprises two stages: evolutionary stage is followed by a transformational stage. The evolutionary stage involves learning progress toward higher learning levels as anchored on a particular research paradigm while in the transformational stage, the learner experiences a research paradigm shift (e.g. from an objective [positivist] to a subjective research [interpretive] paradigm).

The condition of each stage is understood in terms of two dimensions, namely, the learning level pattern dimension (measured by the y axis) and the cognitive structure complexity dimension (measured by the x axis).  The notion of "learning level" is taken from Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains which comprises 6 levels, namely, in ascending order, remember (level 1), understand (level 2), apply (level 3), analyze (level 4), evaluate (level 5) and create (level 6). The notion of "cognitive structure complexity" draws on the literature of the multi-perspective, systems-based research (MPSB Research) of Joseph, K.K. Ho. For this MIL trajectory model, such complexity is gauged in terms of the systems idea of "elements and linkages". A structure is more complex if (i) the nature of the elements [of the structure] is more complex, (ii) there are more elements [in the structure], (iii) there are more linkages [in the structure], and (iv) the nature of the linkages is more complex. Briefly, in the context of the MIL trajectory model, the elements are about academic ideas in the management field.

A learner at the higher position along the MIL trajectory has higher managerial intellectual competence as well as stronger managerial intellectual learning competence. He/ she is thus able to employ management concepts to investigate research topics in a more sophisticated way. Via literature review, an MBA student is at the same time conducting managerial intellectual learning (MIL). If the student is under time pressure to achieve theory-driven analysis sophistication level at round 3 (create level) while he/she is at round 1 (understand level), the student could feel very frustrated and helpless. Specifically, the level of felt frustration is affected by the state difference between the target position and the actual position of the student in the MIL trajectory. This is depicted in Diagram 2.

Diagram 2: on "state difference" (distance between the target position and the actual position)

Some students try to study YouTube videos as more comprehensible e-learning materials while others might employ private tutors to provide intensive tutoring on specific management topics relevant to their dissertation projects. Lastly, the agile literature review approach (ALRA) offers agile guidelines to conduct literature review. These attempts do help to make the MIL more efficient and effective, under time pressure. It needs to be pointed out that, if the student is quite incapable of managerial intellectual learning by himself/ or herself required to do a proper literature review for his/her dissertation project, it will lead to very poor literature review output quality as a result. This, inevitably will be reflected, in a highly unsatisfactorily way, in the dissertation report academic performance. [Noted: (i) Dissertation project supervisors are not responsible for providing tutorials on management theories to their supervisees; (ii) outsourcing the analysis, evaluation and creation of new insights with academic ideas from literature review is not an option to consider as it amounts to academic cheating.]

I hope the managerial intellectual learning (MIL) trajectory model enables students to better comprehend the MIL challenges and efforts involved. E-learning and other coaching support could speed up the MIL process somewhat, but, at the end of the day, they cannot perform miracle on learning. Students need to bear this in mind in their time management on their MBA dissertation projects as well as in overcoming the MIL barriers with short-term and long-term measures.



Concepts for revision:

What are the meanings of these concepts introduced in this blog note?

1. Managerial intellectual learning
2. Managerial intellectual learning trajectory model
3. Managerial intellectual learning (MIL) rounds
4. Evolutionary MIL stag and Transformational MIL stage
5. Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains
6. Learning level pattern
7. Cognitive structure complexity
8. Managerial intellectual learning trajectory
9. MIL actual position, target position and state difference
10. Paradigm shift
11. Multi-perspective, Systems-based Research