A STEM Graduate’s Application of STEM Knowledge in Banking Operations and Decision-Making: An Exploratory Qualitative Case Study

Shaneille Samuels^1, , Corey Williamson¹ and Conroy Hall¹

¹University of Technology, Papine Campus, Shortwood Teachers’ College, The Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, St. Andrew, Jamaica

Cite this paper:
Shaneille Samuels, Corey Williamson and Conroy Hall. A STEM Graduate’s Application of STEM Knowledge in Banking Operations and Decision-Making: An Exploratory Qualitative Case Study. Journal of Business and Management Sciences. 2026; 14(3):36-58. doi: 10.12691/jbms-14-3-1

Abstract

Now more than ever there is a call for individuals with STEM qualifications, especially in Jamaica to innovatively use their skills to build STEM infrastructure. As such, there have been several initiatives to promote STEM Education in Jamaica with a focus on teacher quality, student engagement, and equipping schools with resources. This research was developed as a qualitative exploratory single case study that focuses on the impact of STEM Education within the banking sector. It facilitated an interview with one STEM Education graduate who works in the banking sector and has applied STEM knowledge in his/ her professional practice. Furthermore, this study captures the graduate’s experience offering insights into the increasing importance of STEM competencies, particularly with the evolution of non-traditional professional fields. The research explored the applicability of STEM methodologies acquired through the STEM Education programme to financial services, including the challenges faced and opportunities that emerge to utilize these techniques, impacting decision-making and operational efficiency. It also explores the role of professional development. This was further informed by document analysis of publicly available banking reports and official publications to garner a rich, contextualised understanding of practice. The findings suggest that, within this exploratory case, STEM Education contributed to digital banking, customer engagement, and operational efficiency, by strengthening analytical reasoning, data-driven decision-making, and problem-solving. However, the participant identified challenges associated with applying STEM knowledge such as time constraints, limited preparation for banking-specific issues, and insufficient structured professional development. Additionally, the case highlighted opportunities arising from exposure to fintech, data analytics, and AI-driven innovation. The study shows the potential transferability of STEM Education across various sectors, particularly to financial services. Based on these findings, the study suggests the need for stronger alignment among education, industry, and policy to better support the effective and sustainable application of STEM skills across emerging professional contexts, including the financial sector.

Keywords:
STEM knowledge banking operations banking decision-making STEM methodologies

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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