How to Create Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions are questions that have a variety of answers. Use open ended questions to
stimulate discussion.
Here are some ideas to help you create open-ended questions.
1. Integrate two different ideas. Open-ended questions occur when an idea is compared or
contrasted with another idea.
a. Compare and contrast an idea from the textbook with an idea from the Bb reading.
b. Compare and contrast an idea from this weeks material with an idea from last week.
c. Compare and contrast an idea from this weeks material with an idea from a different
class.
2. Place the learning in other settings. The person answering your question has a solution. But
would that solution work in a not-for-profit? Or another industry? Or another country? Why or
why not? Asking questions such as these can stimulate much discussion.
3. Application. Would the solution suggested for a case situation work in real life? What
could major issues be?
4. Time. Compare and contrast two different eras in the history of the firm and ask about the
differences. How did the firm strategically move from one time period to another?