Delivering Management Education via Tutored-Video Instruction

Abstract

The University of San Francisco (USF) initially contracted with a Hong Kong-based, Chinese multinational firm, China Resources Holding Company (CRC), to deliver an entire MBA program to approximately 40 of its fast-tracked employees. The technologies known as Tutored-Video Instruction (TVI) were selected as the means of delivery. The success of the first cycle resulted in a contract with a second Chinese company, Guangdong Enterprises (GD), based in Guangdong (Canton). During 1989–2000, a total of five academic cycles were undertaken, each lasting approximately two years. Three of the cycles involved students from CRC, designated in this paper as CRC1, CRC2 and CRC3, and the remaining two cycles involved students from GD, designated GD1 and GD2. Both programs utilized lock-step cohorts; that is, a group of students taking the same classes at the same time throughout the MBA program, with no elective course choices. Each cohort group averaged about 35 students; a total of 175 students received their MBA degrees during the five cycles of instruction.