SAM ADVANCED MANAGEMENT JOURNAL

Teaching Introduction To Business With The Patterns Film

Michael J. Provitera and Mostafa Sayyadi

DOI:

Citation: Provitera, M.J. & Sayyadi, M. (2023). Teaching introduction to business with the Patterns film. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 88(4),53-66.

Abstract

Undergraduate business students in North America are often unfamiliar with the business process and they frequently fail to identify why employees want to work in the corporate world.  This article suggests the film titled “Patterns” created by United Artists in 1956, as an effective exercise for familiarizing management students with the fundamental topics in the area of business. Topics introduced in the viewing of the movie and the discussions that take place in the classroom before and after the viewing of the movie are relevant to the study of business, leadership, corporations, and management. Such topics include but are not limited to hiring and firing, unions, leadership practices, mission, vision, guiding principles, values, and strategic management.  In addition, students can further explore such things as the source of individual attitudes toward leaders, being usurped, fired, pushed out, and efforts toward quiet quitting and quiet firing. Suggestions are offered for using the film in the classroom to engage students in the topics of management and leadership and a discussion-learning exercise is offered as one way to familiarize students with the many facets of business. 

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