Effectiveness of Computer Based Management Simulations -- A Case Study

Management simulations are designed to provide experiential learning bridging the gap between theory and practice. The purpose of this study is to understand the factors that promote the effectiveness of computer based business simulations in management education. The study was conducted in a premier B-School based in Hyderabad. The knowledge component of the course is often delivered to the learners as participative classroom based lectures and business simulations for courses in operations research, strategy and marketing are offered to provide an effective immersive learning experience. This paper explores the effectiveness of simulations in management education in terms of: (1) Learning assimilated from the simulation (2) Team dynamics observed (3) Ease of use of simulation (4) Realism in simulation. The paper reports findings of a survey administered to the students of an executive program offered for experienced working professionals at the B-School'sHyderabad campus in India. The paper also puts forth enhancement measures that can be taken up to make the learning process more effective.