Business Games within Service Learning: A Model for Developing Future Business School Graduates
A. Andrea Licari, Division of Administration and Economics, College of Professional Studies
Albert C. Ovedovitz, Department of Computer Information Systems/Decision Sciences, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Abstract
The application of basic management concepts is put into action with the use of a business game that provides a frame of reference to what young inexperienced college students see as abstract. When management concepts are used within a service learning environment, active learning creates a foundation for the abstract management concepts and helps the students to focus on the real issues confronted by organizations today. The following study evaluates teaching methods that provide a frame of reference in understanding management concepts. A comparison of three teaching techniques, traditional lecture, business game project and a service learning project was undertaken to measure the effectiveness of the techniques in concept acquisition of management principles. The study explores the use of role-play games set in a service learning organization. The combination of a business role-play process applied to a service learning environment may help students overcome some problems of “lack of experience” in the concept acquisition of management theory.