How can a young professional gain the skills necessary to effectively, compassionately and strategically engage with others in the workplace? At Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics, graduate students with a focus on management are well prepared through the insights and advice of professors such as Rommel “Bombie” Salvador, chair of the Department of Management. A Ph.D. alumnus of the University of Central Florida, Salvador conducts research on ethical decision making, safety training and management education.  

Salvador’s course is part of the Fully Employed MBA program, which offers a general management concentration, and the Flex MBA, which offers 11 concentrations including human resources, organizational leadership, supply chain and general management. 

Salvador teaches the eight-week MGMT 524 – Seminar in Organizational Behavior, which is offered for both Fully-Employed MBA and Flex MBA students. The course is an introduction to the human side of managing companies. “In terms of course content, because it is the first full class FEMBA students take, in addition to course content, there is also a bit of socialization to MBA academic life. This dovetails well with the discussion of people in companies,” says Salvador.  

Technical skills, people skills and conceptual skills combine in this course, which make an MBA graduate a versatile and invaluable member of any company or organization.  

Case analysis in MGMT 524 facilitates rich discussions. “I walk students through what I think are essential to be successful managers. Many of our organizations are facing chaos in one way or another. I challenge students to step back so they can define the problem, which is a huge value-add to an organization. Once you have this, analysis and recommendations follow,” says Salvador.  

Another major aspect of MGMT 524 is experiential learning. The students participate in a variety of interactive exercises, such as role plays or simulations. Debrief discussions following these exercises cover topics such as conflict management and decision-making. 

Salvador has taught management at Cal State Fullerton for more than 10 years and has taught FEMBA coursework for more than five years. He notes the high level of maturity in MBA students, wrought by years of work or life experience. “The classroom discussions tend to be very rich, with students drawing on their own experiences. There is variety and maturity leading to vibrancy,” he says. “Evidence-based competencies are a major feature of this course. I enjoy the ability to share what the scholarly literature says and how it is often counterintuitive.” 

At the graduate level, Salvador points to the world-class quality of faculty, who have a broad breadth of interests and insights, as a benefit to studying at Cal State Fullerton. “Many of our students come here because of proximity to where they live. But they discover the value of our experts, who produce some of the knowledge that they study,” he says. The high-quality of faculty translates into a wide range of electives for an MBA program. In the Flex MBA program, students mix and match electives, shaping their own MBA program at a level difficult to find elsewhere. “I love buffets, and I know students appreciate they can pick and choose. Students are attracted to the notion of specializing,” he says.  

Salvador currently serves as Section Co-Editor of the Behavioral Business Ethics Section of the Journal of Business Ethics, and editorial board member of the Journal of Management. 

For more on Business Graduate Programs at Cal State Fullerton, read more of our articles about grad school at the College of Business and Economics.