Differences Between Management Teaching at Universities and the Used Practice

This study investigates the differences between what is taught at business universities and what is used in practice by SME managers and owners.The research involved 11 semi-structured interviews with teachers of general management courses, specialist management courses, SME managers and SME owners in the Czech Republic.Based on their responses, a difference diagram was developed.The diagram derived from the study's findings visually represents the gap between academic teachings and practical applications, particularly emphasizing areas such as cost-cutting strategies and ethical management, where significant divergences occur.This visual representation not only clarifies the extent of these differences but also underscores the importance of bridging the gap through a more practice-oriented curriculum in business education.The answers show that there are big differences between the curriculum of general courses and management practice, but if we look at other specialized subjects like Operations Management or Project Management, the differences become significantly smaller.Thus, if a student takes a comprehensive management education, and not just the basic general courses, the student should have a sufficient knowledge base to function successfully in practice.