Evaluating the Value-Added Impact of Outdoor Management Training for Leadership Development in an MBA Program

Abstract

This study examined the benefits of Outdoor Management Training for the leadership development of students enrolled in an MBA-level Organizational Behavior course. Students enrolled in one of two experiential courses. Both were identical, except one included an intensive outdoor training component called Leadership on the Edge. The quasi-experimental design indicated that students in both sections increased levels of self-efficacy, leadership motivation, and emotional intelligence over the course of the semester. Students in the outdoor training section did not show greater improvements than those in the experiential classroom section. Implications for leadership educators are discussed.

Keywords

Outdoor Management Training Experiential Learning Leadership Development

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