Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning(Texas Digital Library - TDL E-Journals)
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Augmenting Engagement and Learning via Decision Support
No full textBased on learning and engagement theory, this paper provides evidence on behavioral and affective (perceptual) engagement among competing simulation team members as well as value-added to the learning experience with the use of decision support systems (dss). Behavioral evidence on engagement includes aggregate download statistics of online dss packages, dss package demo videos (suggested by students), and dss-related articles. Affective (perceptual) engagement evidence on dss package effectiveness and value-added to the user learning experience includes individual participant survey responses on dss package usage, usefulness, effectiveness, usage experience, and value-added to the learning experience. The results suggest that (a) dss-induced user autonomy, relatedness and competence foster engagement. Further, complex heavy workload demands under time pressure can be offset by range of decision-making freedom and the amount of support provided
The Conference: Finagle Gets Educated About Research (A Case Study)
No full textIan Finagle, a doctoral student, wants to know how to become a productive researcher. At a conference, he and some colleagues from his Alma Mater discuss various tactics and strategies. Finagle receives considerable, but conflicting, advice. This case study asked learners to consider which advice is helpful and what advice is potentially unethical. As a result of reading and analyzing this case study, Ph.D. students and junior faculty members should have a better idea of the tactics they can employ to increase their research productivity
Teachers, Students & Alumni: Benefits & Challenges of Developing a Virtual Online Learning Community
No full textThis paper explores online learning communities as a basis for sustainable academic organizational culture wherein learning, multi-directional mentoring and ongoing social network development are foundational for complex problem solving and enduring relationships among community members
Business Management Simulations as a Pedagogical Tool to Improve Student\u27s System Dynamics Thinking
No full textThe leading business management simulations used in higher education and organizational training programs provide multiple benefits. Used primarily in strategy courses and other related areas, these simulations have been found to effectively introduce business concepts, inculcate a cross-functional understanding of business, build team skills, enable better translation of data into information, and improve overall decision-making skills (Kulkarni and Sivaraman, 2013.) Although the most popular strategic management simulations do not explicitly incorporate system dynamics theory, this paper argues that the implicit characteristics of system dynamics in these simulations have powerful learning potential. We also argue that the key characteristics of system dynamics- multiple feedback cycles, time delays, the differences between stocks and flow, and nonlinearities- are non-intuitive and therefore are more easily learned in experiential exercises such as simulations. This paper first lays out systems dynamics theory and its application to simulations. Second, one of the most popular strategic management simulations is analyzed and its primary features that exhibit system dynamics are presented. Finally, the implications for enhancing student decision-making abilities are discussed
Business Simulations: Reality .......... AND BEYOND!
No full textThe importance of reality is often cited in the literature and promotional materials as essential to quality learning from business simulations. But, commonly, these assertions do not define reality and do not explain why it is good. Two definitions of quality for business simulation are discussed - one measures is how accurately the simulation replicates the real world (reality) and the second how well the business simulation improves real-world performance. Measuring simulation effectiveness is reviewed and two measures of simulation efficiency are proposed. Effectiveness and efficiency are explored in terms of how meta-composition impacts cognitive processing and cognitive load. Meta-compositional elements are the design aspects that are independent of simulation subject and take design beyond reality! The discussion is illustrated using an actual simulation
Expert Scripts for Changing Attitudes of Student Entrepreneurs
No full textAn emerging goal for many entrepreneurship educational programs is to change the attitude of the entrepreneurship student from one of learning about entrepreneurship to one of thinking entrepreneurially and ultimately thinking of oneself as an entrepreneur. The Lean LaunchPad (Blank and Dorf 2012) framework is widely considered to be one of the dominant frameworks in experiential entrepreneurship curriculum, and an expert model of the entrepreneurial process. The model process incorporates many of the skills, characteristics, and approaches shown to be effective by researchers in new venture creation and when applied as an experiential teaching method is a form of cognitive apprenticeship focused on new venture creation.This paper describes how practicing entrepreneurs use an interrelated set of tools, and apply scripts acquired from industry experts to these tools, and to the process as a dynamic system. Viewed from this perspective there is an opportunity to bring to students a collection of additional expert scripts to better implement Blan
Engaging the Business Community in an Accelerated Human Resource Management Course
No full textThis paper describes how five local businesses were involved in an experiential human resource management course project during a six-week summer term. Lessons learned from the professo
What if You had Been in Charge? Exploring Historical Case Studies through Experiential Learning and Tabletop Exercises
No full textThis paper discusses the advantages of the experiential learning concept when teaching through the use of historical case studies. Historical case studies that focus on decision-making and problem-solving become more engaging and interesting to students and teachers alike when played out as very simple tabletop exercises. When students struggle with the decisions faced by historical players through role-play and the carrying out of the consequences of their decisions using tangible models on a tabletop map they gain a depth of insight into the situation which is impossible to recreate through study and discussion alone. When combined with prior study and followed up by focused discussion, the tabletop exercise becomes deeply embedded in the student
PriceWize: an Exploration of Pricing
No full textFor budding entrepreneurs, small and medium sized business leaders and marketing executives from larger companies setting prices is perhaps their most crucial and difficult task. It is not a matter of knowing relevant costs and adding a margin. It requires an understanding of how customers differ in terms of needs, wants, values and the ability to pay. It requires an understanding of the factors that influence customer\u27s sensitivity to price and how you adjust value to optimize profitability. As implied by the name, the PriceWize simulation is designed to help business people develop and hone their pricing ability, knowledge and skills in an interactive, practical and fun way -help them set prices wisely.PriceWize is designed to be a major part of a one-day workshop. Following participation there is a detailed review to extend and advance learning about pricing. During the simulation participants move from Cost-Based Pricing to Value-Based Pricing and then on to changing value purposefully.As an ABSEL Game-Ready-to-Play time will constrain the full experiences but never-the-less will provide a challenging introduction to the simulation and price setting
Building Social Communities as a Foundation for Entrepreneurship: A Game-Based Approach
No full textNovel entrepreneurs have the strong need to build social communities. Concerning this need, entrepreneurship has been related to enterprise development, social capital, and other topics, whose teaching has failed in appropriately incorporating social community building. Games can help in this kind of teaching, since they are used in several aspects of entrepreneurship and management. In this paper, we propose a game for understanding the dynamics linked to the construction of social communities. The game was practiced with a group of master students from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the results are summarized. People tend to act in games as in real world, and this game helps to understand how social communities can be built