Customising management education: designing learning episodes using an open system perspective

This paper presents a holistic framework for designing effective learning episodes for management students. Based on a synthesis of adult learning theory and open system theory, the paper proposes a model of learning design which can guide the customising of management education to account for the particular requirements of the four key elements in a learning episode. Effective learning requires careful consideration of and alighment between these key elements, and flexibility to change when any of these elements varies from prior expectations.