Page-1- of 16 pages A Strategic Management Learning Laboratory: Integrating the College Classroom and the College Human Resource Management Environment

This innovative course extended the classroom activities to include practitioner-focused research projects, presentations to senior management of project content and business functional areas, plus group process, decision making, and leadership activities. The primary course objective was to serve as a learning laboratory for students to experience working-world expectations by facing working-world problems in a working-world setting. These projects were conducted in the controlled environment of a college human resource management office, and student results were presented to senior management to support the mission of the college and its human resource management functions. Although practitioner-oriented, the projects utilized the framework, analytical skills, and group interactions necessary for success after graduation to create several positive student learning outcomes. Among the many learning outcomes demonstrated by these students were 1) the effective use of business communication skills, collaboratively and individually, in speaking, writing, listening, and using electronic presentation media; 2) applying quantitative and qualitative reasoning for problem solving and the developing the ability to integrate, synthesize and apply complex information effectively for addressing practical problems; 3) experience in adapting to a real-life, changing environment, and 4) making management decisions that reflected the dynamic interrelationships of the major functions of business to achieve the mission of the organization. Finally, the students reported a heightened sense of task identity, personal commitment to their college and their education, and a legacy of contribution for their role in helping shape the human resource management policies for college governance