Buying subject-matter expertise : an innovative approach to business classes

Purpose: This paper introduces a new instructional design for executive programs that combined a flipped classroom methodology and experiential learning to address the challenge of teaching highly technical material in a compressed time frame. In practice, when decision-making executives lack technical expertise and face a highly technical problem, they contract for subject-matter expertise (SME) within the firm or through hiring consultants. The authors show how this can be done in a classroom setting to enhance the learning experience. Design/methodology/approach: The classroom approach utilizes students from other programs as analysts for executive MBA (EMBA) teams faced with case analysis that involves technical issues in finance. The analysts act as subject-matter experts for the EMBA students. Findings: Executive student learning is not eroded by relying on the analysts, and, moreover, the use of analysts enhances EMBA student understanding Practical implications: Executives are able, in a short time frame, to produce high quality analysis by utilizing the subject-matter experts. Executives also learn how to ask the right questions and evaluate the quality of the analysis created by the subject-matter experts. The subject-matter experts, who are also students, derive added benefits of an employment experience in finance, learning how to interpret instructions about the analysis and how to respond to feedback. Originality/value: The paper illustrates a new course design where the course's technical analysis aspects mimic work environments enhancing student learning.