By far, my favorite teacher ever. He demands alot, but it's only because he knows you can do it. He's very charismatic and personable.

Prof. Shields is an amazing professor. He keeps you interested, he's very charasmatic and he really makes sure he knows you. He is very personable, approcable and fair. I would recommend him to anyone, and in my mind, he is the ONLY professor to take for MGT 6890.

Shields is one of the best professors I've ever period. The classes don't get out early and there is a lot of work, but he makes it interesting and helps you to understand. He values the students' opinions and genuinely wants them to learn. He's the kind of guy who would check up on you in ten years to see how you're doing. Shields is good people.

Rambles a bit. Keeps lectures interesting. Wants students to do well. Give students a hard time (devil's advocate) to make them think. Only problem was his tendency to be so long-winded that some topics were glanced over. Exams are fair. Recommend for this class.

Good guest speakers. He has good insight into the course material. The class will keep your interest, but the tests & projects are challenging.

Taught this class from experience, which is really unique in this MBA program. Gary and the guest speakers both shared some great personal experiences. If you're truly interested in becoming an entrepreneur, take this class.

Well, I don't know how successful or unsuccessful he is in his own business ventures, but please, if you can't pass this class, please do the world a favor and take up another subject because you ain't business material. Aside from that, you have numerous attempts to redo papers and all tests are open book. Some advice, find a good group.

What a great experience! His knowledge of business is immense, and clearly ties lectures to the book and to the real world. Also a very cool guy willing to have a cup of coffee with you outside class if you need to talk. Lectures based on personal experience. Yes, there is a lot of work, but well worth it. I learned a lot from this guy.

I thought I was paying him to talk...knows his stuff inside and out and bent over backward to make sure I got it too. Doesn't tolereate slackers (lets you kick people out of your group if the group wants to) but gives you plenty of chances to improve your grade all semester.

I had professor Shields for 2 classes and I was a little nervous when I first started because of some of the comments on this site; however, I really enjoyed him as a professor and found him extremely fair and helpful. His classes were also very interesting and he is pretty funny. If you go to class and do the work, you'll do fine.

Good Instructor, talks alot but, make sure you're taking notes test revolves around some of his examples. You have to write a case. Important note: Try to work on one of first two cases they're the shortest and less complicated.

Class started 1.12.09. Loves to talk! And talk! But engaging. 1st day, stayed until 8:45p.m. & started ch. 1 material. Will write again after class is over. Mandatory attendance, sign in sheet. Loves participation (will keep records). Group assignments the 1st day! Detailed and challenging in discussions.

Good Professor...very energetic and interesting. Can be intimidating because he challenges your comments in class, but it provokes good conversation. Tests are essay based and take home. I did well but know others that didn't, so you have to work for your grade.

Very interactive class.Lot of group work and role playing.Very talkative but knowledgeable, helpful prof.Make sure you share your ideas/thoughts atleast 2-3 times(his memory isnt that great!) each class because he gives marks for participation as well.Totally 2 individual papers and 1 group paper need to be submitted in the course.

Gary Shields is a man among boys. You will learn a lot from him. This and his MGT 7040 are the greatest things since canned beer.

AWESOME TEACHER!! Definitely take him you will learn alot and the class is NOT boring. Exams are great he lets you use Your book for the essay questions on the exam GREAT TEACHER! attendance is very important and speak in class those points count too!

GREAT teacher! Your grade is based on three individual paper and the third is optional and one group paper and presentation. 20% of your grade is class participation. There are generally a lot of people saying anything just to get the points but unfortunately he forces you to do that. He's an easier grader and the class is engaging and enjoyable!!

I loved this class. It was a lot of work - had to do a 35+ page business plan but it was interesting and fun. The textbook was really interesting, too. Got to know my teammates well. Recommend for anyone who wants to own/start their own business one day. Attendance is mandator but who would want to skip? Literally the best class I've taken a

Guest speakers were great. Book was very helpful. Case studies were a little outdated. In my opinion in order to get an A 1) he has to like you 2) just keep referencing anything & everything that is said in class (no matter how mundane). Group project makes up a large % of the grade. Wouldn't recommend class if you have no entrpreneur interest

Best Professor EVER!I took Mgt5530&5650 with him and I loved his classes.He makes the class fun, but at the same time you learn so much.If you are afraid to speak up in class,and want to get over your fear,this is the class for you!You will be comfortable enough to speak up,and you will have to speak if you want an A.I got read of my fear&got an A!

Very passionate teacher. Really wants students to apply concepts in the real world. First class in two years at WSU that allowed me to apply learnings to real world. Lots of reading. Easy midterm. Business plan was a lot of work. Lectures are a bit long-winded. Rare to get out on time in the beginning of semester. Better towards end.

Awesome professor. Class participation will help you progress and grasp concepts perfectly.

Professor Shields delivered THE most rewarding and challenging courses in the MBA program. He does a wonderful job at bringing in valuable key speakers, integrating the reading in his lectures/discussions and setting expectations for the course. We were challenged to come up with a business plan, as a group- an excellent exercise in business!

Definitely take this class with Shields! He explains everything clearly and ALWAYS allows for students to ask questions if topic isn't clear enough. If you participate and read the book *before class* you will get an A for sure!!! Wish I could take all my MGT classes with him! He is a FANTASTIC professor!!

Professor Shields is the absolute best professor I have had to date at WSU and in an online class at that. He made the course so engaging that I missed it when it was done. His class involves lots of writing on ethical topics and stretched me to really consider issues from multiple perspectives. He takes time to read and respond to every post.

This class requires lots of time, reading, and focusing on the first few chapters. The professor seems to be fair but watch out, he may penalize you for writing against his opinions.. Try to link course concepts to your work as possible, but don't overdo it. Group project can be a problem too with crazy teammates so watch out

Excellent Course. A lot of Discussion Board Work. Cannot BS your way through this. If you want to learn something and discuss differing viewpoints, this is a course you would like. If you are looking for an easy A, Go to a tech school. This is an MBA Course and you should expect to learn something.

Great professor! and interesting class. You can only miss 3 classes or you'll fail. Participation (raising your hand and contributing) is 20% of your grade, but it helps make the class interesting.

Professor Shields is by far my favorite professor! He is entertaining, engaging, and encourages participation and conversation. I will admit, the tests are very difficult, simply because they are hard to prepare for. Thankfully they are graded on a curve. I learned A LOT, and really enjoyed my time in his class.

Good professor. Material is common sense & all discussion board & group papers. Not hard. He clearly doesn't value outside research. Detailed instructions are contradicting. Key to his class is to ramble on for as much as you can while providing endless citations to the book. Slow grader but provides feedback on everything. Big picture type of prof

Wow! A two-page paper every week in graduate school! Maybe you shouldn't be in graduate school if too much? Actually the syllabus said that quantity and quality both matter and he gave lots of examples of both, a great grading rubric with over 200 examples. Um, since it was an online class did you not figure out there would be lots of writing?

The class was primarily based around a popular press book that each team had to present and a bunch of in class assignments. These assignments helped out with the leadership presentation and paper. The most important part of the class is the development plan. He has you write 8-10 pages correlating the assignments with your future career plan.

Anyone who complains about Shields is just lazy. This is an advanced college course which he clarifies for you and you get what you give. The first exam is tough for everyone because he is unclear about what is on it, but after that you should receive almost full credit for everything. His lectures were far from boring and he is very reasonable.

I took 5530 last semester. You have to come to class prepared for discussion as you get participation points. Since this is an upper level class, it isn't easy. But work hard and you'll do fine. Shields is a great professor and really gets to know his students. I am taking 6995 online with him in the spring.

Why sign up for the class then if you knew participation was required and you couldn't be there to participate? Too bad, great class, interesting discussions, graduate school is work- get used to it.

Intense online class- 16 graded assignments in only 11 weeks but he gives great feedback and the topics were very interesting- he really makes you think and explain your reasoning. You'd better be a good writer though- lots to write and he reads every word!

My last class in the the business school and the best one I had. Prof is funny and enthusiastic- great lectures

Great teacher. but will not hand you an A. you need to work for it. Attendance and participation are super important and is 30% of your grade so do not miss class and make sure to answer the question during the lectures. be engaged, it will say your butt in the end. He grades the papers kinda tough but he gives you a good rubric to use.

Hands down, one of my favorite professors at Wayne State. Shields is a funny, down to earth guy who truly teaches because he loves to see students succeed. I would take him again if I was given the chance!

Awesome class. Every week there is an interesting project in class plus a great lecture. He gives tons of feedback on assignments including the team assignments. One of the best classes I had at WSU.

Second time with this prof and was even better class this time. Even helped me find a job after the semester. Follow his comments on papers, he gives tons of them, and the papers are no problem. Good lectures , not just read from slides or book, makes you think and funny. Class discussion big part of grade.

No other class like it! So good it should be a required class for all MBAs Great mixture of readings videos and games that the 8 hour class was never boring. I even looked forward to going to class. Both profs were awesome!

Best class in my MBA- wish they could all be this good. Tons to read but don't think I ever learned so much while having so much fun. Definitely recommended, 2 great profs!

Hands down to this professor. Great professor!!!

Awesome prof, tons of feedback. Only one or two articles to read per week and a short essay. Follow the rubric and it's an easy class-7 out of my nine essays were perfect scores.

Very interesting for an online class. Prof read and responded to every single thing that anyone in class posted-hundreds of posts. Pretty fast too. Easy to see what he wants since everyone can read the comments he makes to everyone. Follow the rubric in the syllabus, don't bs and you'll be fine. Half the class got perfect scores discussing.

How is this class not required for all business students? I learned more about communication in this class than in any previous class. It's great that they let you try out what they are talking about as part of the class- not just boring lectures! Rico and Gary made this the best class I have taken at this school.

Participation and reading are what makes up this class. I took this class thinking it was something else but ended up getting a lot out of the class. It was a ton of reading and participation but I never thought I would have fun and learn in a class. If you need an elective or a class that you want to complete quickly consider this one with Shields

2 cases, 3 exams, and participation. Gary is a nice guy and has a lot of knowledge about business which makes the discussions interesting. The textbook is not required but he teaches out of it, all of the course material for exams can be found in the slides. The exams are a little difficult, but he goes easy on grading the cases.

Lots of in-class exercises and assessments make the class really interesting. He is always trying to help students get jobs too. Participation is graded but discussions are easy-even played improv games once!

No team projects was nice. Be sure to take good notes during lectures as he tests from the lecture and the text. Exams are m/c only but use the online quizzes to get ready for exams. Really good lectures with lots of examples that make it easy to understand. Cases are interesting but do the research and the math- opinions not enough.

Very easy to understand lectures and cases that aren't just a rehash of the usual Google, Apple, etc. Most of the exam questions are actually covered directly in class so show up and take notes. Participation is actual talking and its a big part of the grade so speak up. He did not teach an online section, recommend the inperson section.

Maybe best class I have at WSU. Assessments done in class are interesting and will be useful as a manager. Two group projects, plan to participate every week in class. Take the in-person section- lectures are really interesting. Prof is very active in helping students get jobs and he comes to commencement to personally congratulate students.

Got 3 credit hours for doing this paid internship that he found for me. Very easy requirements with just a short report due each week and a final paper at the end. He gave very good advice about how to turn the internship in a regular full time job too. Very helpful in other areas too and always available, even on weekends.

Class isn't as bad as it seems, Be ready to read and participate each week in class. He will assign a book to your group to teach the class about its main concepts, another group project focused on a leader which you must interview, and a final individual reflection paper about your life's goals and how they relate to what you learned in class.

Took this class last in my MBA, wished I would have taken it first- best class in program. For the first time I felt as though I really knew what it was like to work on a true team. I never had a class where I learned so much AND enjoyed the class so much!

The improvisation in business class should be a required class and it should be required that this prof teach it, it's that good. Don't take it if you are looking for a class where they just read you the book and slides. In this class you spend half the class on your feet doing exercises and games based on the readings, practice, not lectures!

The improv class is fun and you learn a lot of useful tips for business. caution.. you will be forced to uncomfortable but super worth it!

3 exams and 2 case studies= 5 graded submissions plus class participation (6). Some of the best lectures I had in the program since he used current real life examples as well as case studies. He did a great job getting class discussions going and making me think about possibilities, not just answers from the book. Lots of energy, enthusiasm

This class should be mandatory for all students, undergrad and grad because it teaches so many skills like communication that apply in every business and every career. The profs make it fun as well- half the class is participating in "games" that teach the ideas so the 6 hour classes fly by.!

Does not read the textbook to you but adds news articles and current business discussions to class-never boring! Lectures and class discussions are part of the exams. Walks up and down aisles getting people to participate. Great feedback on cases - went from a C to an A from the first to the second case. Cases are original, not in text.

Go to the classes in person- it's worth it! Uses really good examples and stories from the businesses he has owned and current articles that make the lectures interesting. Calls on students to participate too. He even helped me get an internship after the semester was over.