This study was intended to examine the present direction of development and implementation of non-credit management education programs by companies and colleges and universities. This study presented specific information that illustrated that many industrial and service organizations have developed their own management education programs to satisfy their perceived current needs. The research was intended to provide information into the changing needs of management education as well as the deficiencies of academic institutions in successfully meeting those needs. It was intended to assist both business and higher education to understand the long-term needs of management education and the effects that the fulfillment of these needs will have on business, schools of management, schools of education, and divisions of continuing education. A survey questionnaire was developed and sent to 308 businesses. A different survey questionnaire was developed and sent to 60 colleges and universities. The business survey included small, medium, and large sized companies in the north, east, south, and west in both manufacturing and service sectors. The survey of colleges and universities included small, medium, and large sized institutions from the north, east, south, and west including both public and private colleges and universities. The findings indicated leadership/management issues are the critical needs of business in management education programs and that the majority of the companies use in-house programs to address those needs. The finding indicated that there is a need for better communications between business and higher education on the needs of business in management education and how colleges and universities can satisfy those needs. The findings indicated that higher education and corporations have completely different objectives in sponsoring management education programs. It was indicated that the objective of business is to design management education programs to fit specific immediate situations whereas programs sponsored by higher education are broader in context and are not designed to fit specific immediate situations. The findings also indicated that management education programs have an impact on business and higher education and a cooperative effort can result in a positive benefit to each other.

Thesis (EdD.)--Open University.