All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten: How Dr. Seuss Reinforces Management Concepts and Promotes Community Citizenship

Abstract

The authors recommend that management educators add the works of Dr. Seuss to their repertoire of teaching tools. After describing why instructors should use Dr. Seuss's stories to foster understanding of concepts in management and organizational behavior, the authors describe a Seuss-based project at two levels that (a) helps students identify and apply course concepts and (b) cultivates their sense of civic responsibility. The authors also provide story recommendations, plots, and sample concepts, and end by encouraging others to design new pedagogical techniques using other culturally relevant media.

Story Hour in the Management Classroom

“…In recent years, storytelling has entered the management classroom as evidenced by three articles in the Journal of Management Education (Billsberry & Gilbert, 2008; Comer & Holbrook, 2005; Verbos, Kennedy, & Gladstone, 2011). One thing these articles have in common is that they do not use stories from business settings; the first is from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , the second references a Dr.…”

Oh, the Economics You’ll Find in Dr. Seuss!

“…Another article (Comer and Holbrook 2005) dealt with teaching management concepts and promoting citizenship using four short stories ("The Sneetches" [1961], "The Zax" [1961], "Yertle the Turtle" [1958], and "Gertrude McFuzz" [1958]) and two books (Green Eggs and Ham [1960] and Horton Hears a Who! [1954]).…”

From Persona Non Grata to Mainstream

“…The recommended films became more unusual or extreme as scholars looked to push the frontiers of what might be used in the management classroom. Comer and Holbrook (2005) saw benefit in using material designed for children and advocated the use of Dr. Seuss. Billsberry and Gilbert (2007) argued that there is value in using material based in fantasy and suggested Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a useful resource for teaching recruitment and selection.…”