Bridging Disciplines Through Practice: Simulating Collaborative Decision-Making in Management Education

Abstract

This JRA Market Case provides management educators with a replicable experiential exercise that simulates complex managerial decision-making by requiring MBA students to collaborate with Social Work peers to navigate real-world organizational crises. The case engages students in solving a complex, real-world problem faced by a grocery store chain during the COVID-19 pandemic, simulating workplace dynamics that require communication, coordination, and cross-disciplinary decision-making. Grounded in principles of Interprofessional Education, the activity provides a controlled environment in which students can reconcile disciplinary differences, examine decision-making processes, and navigate communication challenges. Through collaborative analysis and structured reflection, participants learn with, from, and about one another while integrating organizational and human-centered perspectives. Thematic insights from student reflections show increased appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration, reduced stereotypes between the fields, and a deeper understanding of multi-stakeholder problem-solving. The JRA Market Case offers an adaptable pedagogical model that prepares students for the complex, interconnected challenges common in contemporary managerial practice.