Business simulation games: impact on SOLO taxonomy learning outcomes, learning performance and teamwork competency

Abstract

Despite the increasing use of simulation games in business education,only few studies have explored the cognitive processes that learners employwhile playing the game, with quite controversial results about the students’learning outcomes. The current study analyses the impact of a BusinessSimulation Game (BSG) on the cognitive processes related to the "Structure ofthe Observed Learning Outcome" (SOLO) taxonomy. Moreover, overalllearning performance and perceived teamwork competency have beeninvestigated. A quasi-experimental pre and post-test design was applied. Eighty(80) university students played a marketing simulation game to practise abusiness marketing plan. The results showed a significant improvement in theunistructural and extended abstract levels of the taxonomy after playing thegame. There was no significant difference in the multi-structural level while theeffect on the relational level was negative. Also, a strong, positive correlationbetween perceived teamwork competency and learning performance was found.Implications for instructional designers and educators are discussed.