Engagement Overview

  • Institution: Troy University, Sorrell College of Business
  • Researchers: C.J. Duan and Graham Sterling Pierce
  • Duration: Multiple semesters of implementation and refinement
  • Publication: Academic paper on innovative teaching methodology

Challenge

First impressions matter in education. Traditional operations management courses often begin with dry syllabus reviews and theoretical lectures that fail to engage students or demonstrate the real-world relevance of OM concepts. Students struggle to see how abstract principles like productivity measurement, supply chain management, and workforce motivation apply in practical settings.

Our Approach

Developed an innovative teaching methodology centered around “The Work Song Nanocluster” episode (Season 2, Episode 18) of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, where characters help Penny grow her hair accessories startup into a full-fledged operation.

Key Teaching Elements:

  1. Legal Compliance – Ensured full compliance with the TEACH Act for educational use of copyrighted materials in classroom settings

  2. Pause-Discuss-Go Method – Structured the episode into six key scenes, each illustrating specific OM concepts:
    • Scene 1: Third-party logistics and bailment principles
    • Scene 2: Labor productivity and profit margin calculations
    • Scene 3: Time-motion studies and assembly line optimization
    • Scene 4: Workforce motivation and the Hawthorne effect
    • Scene 5: E-commerce integration and marketing-operations interface
    • Scene 6: Profit sharing and employee motivation

  3. Interactive Learning – Students computed real productivity metrics (4.9 units/hour pre-optimization vs. 5x improvement post-optimization) and analyzed supply chain mapping

  4. Conceptual Bridging – Connected sitcom scenarios to historical OM innovations (Henry Ford’s assembly line, interchangeable parts, work songs for motivation)

Impact

Quantitative Results:

  • 93% of students agreed/strongly agreed the episode contributed positively to their OM learning experience
  • 91% recognized the supply chain management issues related to e-commerce
  • 97% understood the impact of workforce morale on productivity
  • 85% preferred the sitcom approach over traditional textbook introduction

Qualitative Feedback:

  • “I am engaged and excited to come to the next class”
  • “I will definitely remember the episode”
  • “Much more effective than reading first chapter of book”
  • Students retained twice the information compared to reading alone and four times more than traditional lectures

Pedagogical Innovation

The methodology demonstrates that:

  • Humor creates a relaxed learning environment and overcomes cultural barriers
  • Audio-visual content dramatically improves information retention
  • Pop culture references make abstract concepts concrete and memorable
  • First-class engagement sets a positive tone for semester-long learning

This approach has been successfully replicated across multiple semesters and represents a scalable model for teaching complex business concepts through entertainment media.

Publication: Duan, C.J. & Pierce, G.S. “Starting Operations Management with a ‘Big Bang’: Using Sitcom to Introduce OM Concepts to Students”