Abstract

This study has been particularly concerned with one aspect of evaluation of program effectiveness how participants perceive effects of their attendance on their own development. An organization, of course, must consider this aspect of an educational course as well as a before and after appraisal of the individual's effectiveness in accordance with organizational goals. In many cases goals and results will converge often they will differ. Questions such as what are mature managers seeking when they come to a business school? Can a shorter, non degree executive development program have approximately the same effectiveness for the older, experienced manager as the traditional master of business administration course? These questions arise as business schools begin to share in the widespread examination of objectives and effectiveness of higher education despite the phenomenon of experienced managers participating in continuing education and periodic educational renewal to a degree that has taken place in no other profession.