Business Games and Simulations
Like the case method, business games are intended to develop or refine problem-solving and decision-making skills. However, this technique tends to focus primarily on business management deci- sions (such as maximizing profits). A study by the Gartner Group predicted a major increase in game-based learning in corporate learning.Paul Schumann and colleagues provide an example of a computer-based simulation to introduce ethical dilemmas and discussion in business courses.
One example is a business game titled Looking Glass, Inc., developed by the Center for Creative Leadership.99 The game requires participants to role play deci- sion makers in a fictitious glass manufacturing company and use realistic organizational data to make a variety of decisions. The three-day Looking Glass training program includes one day each for performing the simulation (in which partici- pants operate the company), giving feedback, and practicing the skills emphasized during the feedback sessions.100 Martin Marietta Inc. has used Looking Glass as a diagnostic and feedback tool in its executive development program.The developers of Looking Glass report research showing that the activities of trainees in simulations are similar to those of managers in the field, and suggest that the program is effective, at least in the short term.102 Strauss provides an example of a different business simulation, called “Merkis,” which is intended to promote team- work and communication skills. Finally, there is a web-based, interactive simulation called “Turning Gears, Inc.” that focuses on business ethics.
Business games, particularly computer simulations of organizations and indus- tries, are widely used in business schools. A review of sixty-one studies reports support for the effectiveness of business games in strategic management courses. Whether these results can be generalized to organizational settings remains an open question, though some recent anecdotal evidence appears promising.
