Using Business Based TV Shows to Expand the Boundaries of the Traditional Classroom.

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Abstract

Television shows can be a powerful teaching resource and business-based reality programs offer an excellent opportunity to expand the boundaries of the traditional classroom. The goal of this paper is to provide instructors with teaching materials based on “The Profit”, a television show that stands out for its potential to teach managerial concepts, to enhance the learning process of their students. To reach this goal, I provide targeted episodes of this program that exemplify some of the most relevant decisions managers face such as adding or dropping product lines, making or buying the components of their finished products, and setting the optimum price and product mix. For each one of the episodes, I present a brief profile of the company and its challenges, followed by a set of questions and accompanying teaching notes that can be used to guide the conversation. This paper can be used by instructors to expand their teaching toolkits and bridge the gap between the classroom and the business world.

Author

• Virginia Cortijo, Stonehill College