Design and Implementation of a Business Simulation Game Tool for Services and Digital Economy Courses in Engineering Degrees

摘要

Engineering education is increasingly introducing business administration and management courses in order to adapt engineering curricula to the needs of the labor market and 21st century competencies. Traditionally, business simulation games have proved their efficacy in enhancing learning of business-related subjects in graduate and post-graduate courses. However, business simulation games focus on training on operation of traditional markets, characterized by a strong emphasis on manufacturing, promotion and distribution of physical goods, and thereby they might not be suitable to apply concepts specific to the digital and services economy. This research covers this gap by presenting a new business game simulation tool adapted to this new economy. The paper outlines the design and implementation of such a tool, and it proposes an instructional plan that uses the tool in order to fulfill the new training needs of engineers in business and management courses.