Problem-Based Learning: Lessons From Medical Education and Challenges for Management Education

The call for greater emphasis on relevant skills in the preparation of business and management majors spans several decades, but progress remains elusive. For example, the Porter and McKibbin report (1988) was accepted as ground shaking at the time; however, it seems that the ground has not shaken very much since. Critics suggest the need for greater emphasis on development of relevant management skills appears just as evident today as it was decades ago (Mintzberg, 2004; Rubin & Dierdorff, 2009). Problem-based learning (PBL) is an approach to education focused on skills development (Savery, 2006). In an effort to understand PBL's potential as a pedagogy, the first part of this article briefly reviews its use in medical schools, the arena of professional education in which PBL has its longest and most widespread use. In the second part, we draw upon medical school experience, research literature, and personal experience with PBL to identify and discuss seven critical challenges in applying this approach to skill building in managerial education.