Personal Lines Risk Management and Insurance Simulation Game

Abstract

This article examines the use of a Personal Lines Risk Management and Insurance Simulation Game in an introductory risk management and insurance (RMI) course. Business simulations and other case study teaching methods are a way to increase student engagement in the classroom, which can translate into a greater likelihood of higher learning outcomes. Because no one knows for sure what will happen in the future, there is a fundamental trade‐off that influences all RMI decisions: incur a known cost today in order to reduce risk in the future even though a loss may never materialize or refuse the immediate cost that would have reduced risk even though a future loss event might still occur. It is difficult to convince students of the consequences of such decisions because most realize that the individual likelihood of suffering an insurable loss is quite small. Students also fail to understand the complexity of making these trade‐off decisions multiple times in a given period for each different loss exposure they face. A description of the purpose of the game, innovative features, Smith Family Case Study, game specifics, and objectives and grading for the game have been provided. This article can be used as a step‐by‐step guide to implement this simulation in RMI courses at other universities to increase student engagement and enhance student learning.