Clinical Laboratory Tycoon case study: are you management material?

Many clinical laboratory scientists find themselves in a management position during their career, but have limited training to assume this role. The Clinical Laboratory Tycoon case study was designed to submerge students into the laboratory business by having the participant act as a laboratory manager with the capacity to make all the decisions about his or her own lab.

The student participant completed a set of modules that each related to varying aspects of managing a laboratory including selecting what tests to offer, hiring employees, marketing the services, setting goals, budgeting, and evaluating overall success.

This Clinical Laboratory Tycoon case study was used to instruct clinical laboratory science students in a university based clinical laboratory science program as part of their seminar in teaching, research, and management course. The size of these classes range from ten to twenty students and results reported in this paper are collected from a class size of sixteen students. The study could also be adapted for use in a hospital based program or as continuing education for laboratory employees.

At the conclusion of the study, the student participants reported what they had learned during their time as managers and how their perspective changed.

Student participants reported that they gained an understanding and appreciation for the responsibilities of the laboratory manager. For some, this study helped to define career goals.