The rise of generative artificial intelligence has sparked a debate among educators: should AI be embraced as a tool for learning, or should it be restricted to preserve traditional teaching methods? While some scholars integrate AI into their courses, guiding students in effective AI prompting, others resist its use, fearing it undermines core competencies essential for professional success. However, as AI becomes a standard tool in the business world, the question is not whether to use it but how to leverage it to develop critical thinking skills in students.
AI as an Opportunity, Not a Threat
In management and strategy, AI is already deeply embedded in professional practice. Consultants rely on Microsoft Copilot for meeting summaries, financial audits incorporate automation, and ChatGPT is consulted for quick insights. Given this reality, educators should focus on preparing students to use AI effectively rather than avoiding it.
Traditional assessments, such as dissertations and strategic analyses, have long served as tools to develop students’ analytical and critical thinking abilities. Instead of barring AI from these assignments, integrating it can elevate academic standards by pushing students to engage more deeply with their work.
Teaching Critical Thinking Through AI
Master’s Dissertations: Training Future Researchers
Rather than treating students as passive learners, integrating AI into dissertation work positions them as researchers-in-training. Professors should increase their involvement in reviewing drafts, discussing research framing, and analyzing data alongside students. By raising expectations, students will confront AI’s limitations firsthand—just as Wikipedia and blogs once demonstrated the need for deeper academic inquiry, AI, too, falls short in providing original and unique perspectives.
Furthermore, assessment criteria must evolve. In the past, students were graded on structure, writing style, and citation accuracy—tasks now easily managed by AI. Shifting the focus to originality and critical thinking ensures that students engage in meaningful academic discourse, culminating in a defense where they must articulate and defend their intellectual positions.
Strategic Analysis: Developing Consultants-in-Training
When using AI to analyze a company’s strategy and propose recommendations, students should be treated as consultants-in-training. AI can assist in organizing industry data, but it lacks access to proprietary business insights, making human analysis indispensable. This reality challenges students to move beyond AI-generated summaries and provide actionable recommendations that add value to executives and board members.
AI’s role in this process mirrors real-world expectations—consultants must work efficiently, and AI can aid in gathering data quickly. However, the responsibility for strategic insights remains with the student, reinforcing the importance of critical thinking in business decision-making.
Reflective Essays: Strengthening Personal and Professional Insights
AI’s integration into reflective essays encourages students to develop their ability to connect theoretical concepts with personal experiences. AI-generated content may provide initial ideas, much like input from peers or mentors, but true reflection requires personal engagement. Professors can use AI-assisted assignments to emphasize the development of authentic, independent thought rather than formulaic responses.
Redefining the Educator’s Role
Rather than viewing AI as a threat, educators should see it as an opportunity to refine their teaching approach. By raising expectations and positioning students as professionals-in-training, AI can be leveraged to strengthen the very competencies that will define their future careers. As business and strategy education evolves, embracing AI thoughtfully ensures that learning remains rigorous, relevant, and forward-looking.
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