PERCEPTIONS OF SIMULATION GAMES AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN CREATING AN ENTERPRISING AND EMPLOYABLE GRADUATE

Abstract

Purpose -The aims of this paper are to examine the type of employability skills students develop through participating on a Business Strategy Game (BSG) and how these business simulation games can address the graduate skills gap. Methodology - The research used a mixed methodology, in the first instance employing a face-to-face survey with 105 participants of a business simulation game, the BSG, and using semi-structured interviews with 10 past participants (graduated students) and 4 academic facilitators of the BSG to explore themes to emerge from the quantitative component of the research. Findings - The research found that participants were positive about engaging with the BSG, they enjoyed playing the BSG and generally felt it helped improve their understanding of business. In terms of their employability skills, the majority thought the BSG improved their hard skills, specifically team working, problem solving, and project management skills but were less convinced that the BSG improved their softer skills, namely confidence and communication skills. In other words, the BSG partially addresses the graduate skills gap. Significance - The findings consolidate existing literature on the effectiveness of simulation games to enhance learning and the employability skills set of participants. The findings also take research forward in terms of identifying the potential barriers to learning, the employability skills participants develop while participating on the BSG and the role the BSG plays in the preparation of graduates for employment.