Teaching Managers to Do Policy Analysis–The Case of Corporate Bribery

by Ralph Kilmann, Ian Mitroff


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Fall 1977

Volume 20
Issue 1


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Abstract

The article focuses on formal training of managers for solving problems. The formal training of most managers, whether it be in management per se or in some related field such as industrial engineering, has prepared them for solving academic exercises or what is called well-structured problems. Various systematic efforts have been made to teach managers how to solve real-world problems. Managers are continually beset with real problems, these are precisely the kinds of problems with which they are charged all the time. While managers may be charged with the responsibility of handling real-world problems, few have been adequately and systematically trained to handle them. Handling such problems adequately requires a deep appreciation of the differences between real-world problems on the one hand and academic exercises on the other it requires a deep appreciation of the various aspects of the problem-solving process itself. Well-structured problems possess the general characteristics of being easily definable, consensual, and amenable to standardized, already existing, and easily available methods of problem formulation, solution and implementation. One of the most fascinating problems in this regard has concerned the issue of corporate bribery.

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