Business game

A business game is a learning approach that presents realistic situations from everyday working life in reduced complexity, either virtually or analogously, and makes them tangible for learning groups.

As a rule, learners play through various dilemmas in small, competing teams. In each round of the game, the teams make decisions that have an unpredictable influence on the outcome. These results are then evaluated in the plenary session.

Idea:

Ziel ist die Förderung der inhaltlichen Fachkompetenzen, aber auch der sozialen Kompetenzen, Kommunikation und Urteilsfähigkeit, indem neue Perspektiven eingenommen und argumentativ verteidigt und bewertet werden.

Implementation:

Introduction: The scenario, the rules of the game, the roles and the procedure are introduced. Open questions are clarified and the learners receive their role descriptions. 

Information phase: The learners familiarize themselves with their role in the scenario, analyse the situation and gather background information in order to make decisions according to their role.

Game strategy: Options for action are discussed within the groups and strategies are developed to achieve the role objectives within the scenario and to support their own position.

Game phase: The groups act in the simulated environment, make decisions, negotiate, cooperate or compete according to their roles and pursue their goals. The trainer moderates the process with event cards or impulses if necessary.

Reflection: After completion, the results are presented, the course of the game is reflected upon and learning experiences are evaluated together.

In diesem Artikel stellt die DHBW Karlsruhe das Planspiel als Lehrmethode vor: https://www.karlsruhe.dhbw.de/planspiellabor/lehrmethode-planspiel.html