Business game (also called business simulation game) refers to
simulation games that are used as an
education
Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. ...
al tool for teaching business. Business games may be carried out for various business training such as: general management, finance, organizational behavior, human resources, etc. Often, the term "
business simulation" is used with the same meaning.
A business game is defined as "a game with a business environment that can lead to one or both of the following results: the training of players in business skills (hard and/or soft), or the evaluation of players' performances (quantitatively and/or qualitatively)".
Business games are used as a
teaching method in
universities
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which ...
, and more particularly in
business schools, but also for
executive education.
Simulation are considered to be an innovative learning method, and are often computer-based.
History
Computer-supported business simulation originated from military war games, and came into existence during the late 1950's.
s, including non-computer-based board games and experiential activities, have since been used as a learning tool for teaching management . It is regularly in use at universities, and in particularly by major business schools. As an example, the
University of Washington
The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington.
Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seat ...
has been using business simulation game in classes since 1957 .
The INTOP tool was developed at the
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...
in 1963, and was employed for teaching in 160 institutions worldwide from 1963 until 2005. Its successor
INTOPIA
Intopia (or INTOPIA) is a strategic management simulation tool in the form of a business game, and is used in a variety of undergraduate and graduate university courses. It is used to teach students the concepts of strategic management of multina ...
was first released in 1995, and it has been used by universities in over 55 countries around the world, including 18 in the U.S.
Business games are also used within companies for management training and development .
See also
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Beer distribution game
The beer distribution game (also known as the beer game) is an educational game that is used to experience typical coordination problems of a supply chain process. It reflects a role-play simulation where several participants play with each oth ...
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Friday Night at the ER
Friday Night at the ER is an experiential team-learning game. Played on game boards at tables with four players per board, each gameplay session is followed by a detailed debriefing in which participants relate the simulation experience to their ...
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Military simulation
Military simulations, also known informally as war games, are simulations in which theories of warfare can be tested and refined without the need for actual hostilities. Military simulations are seen as a useful way to develop tactical, strate ...
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Project management simulation
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Roleplay simulation
Roleplay simulation is an experiential learning method in which either amateur or professional roleplayers (also called interactors) improvise with learners as part of a simulated scenario. Roleplay is designed primarily to build first-person expe ...
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Serious game
A serious game or applied game is a game designed for a primary purpose other than pure entertainment. The "serious" adjective is generally prepended to refer to video games used by industries like defense, education, scientific exploration, he ...
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Simulations and games in economics education
A simulation game is "a game that contains a mixture of skill, chance, and strategy to simulate an aspect of reality, such as a stock exchange". Similarly, Finnish author Virpi Ruohomäki states that "a simulation game combines the features of a g ...
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Training simulation
References
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Learning methods
Management education
Simulation games
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