Readers Ask the Slacker: Management Game?
October 25, 2007 by Phil Gerbyshak
Filed under Business
One of our loyal readers shared this request:
I have been on the hunt for a software gaming program that would help maintain
or enhance management skills. I have looked at Sims2 business but would like
more real-life. I have e-mailed a couple of other companies but they are
designed more for Corporate. The level that I am looking for is more along MBA
degree programs (I recently graduated with my MBA). Would you or your readers
have any suggestions?
Any ideas? I’m drawing a blank, and as we have MANY smart readers, I thought I’d throw it out to you. If there isn’t one that you recommend, perhaps a smart software developer might be able to make one?
You look into Second Life? Heck even the CIA has offices in that one!
I hope your readers are kidding. There is no substitute for good practice at management. It actually involves getting OFF your computer. Then it involves actually talking to other people. So, maybe simply talking to other people would start. Don’t look for ways to do less of this! That’s not management. Management is all about people.
Mike:
I appreciate your comment. A simulation can have value but in this era of very limited time and too many demands I think the people first approach makes good sense for practicing managers. As an MBA learning tool it may have some value to supplement but not supplant face-to-face real interactions.
David
I used a software tool during my MBA classes, which was basically simulating the process of allocating resources appropriately to reach certain business goals. I’m not sure on the actual name though – you can try contacting Professor Guido Krickx at UCLA to know more. There is also quite a well known one called Capitalism which is http://www.games2download.com/free-tycoon-games/capitalism2.htm
Here’s an interview with the developers:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/capitalism/news.html?sid=2833574&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;1
I agree that reality is no subsitute for experience. But if the person is a recent MBA graduate seeking employment in management and the point of having and playing the game(s) is to keep his/her new skills fresh until he/she DOES get into the position of practicing what he/she has learned in school?
The research that I have done on this is that Universities and even some business have this type of training for their students and managers. Again, it is far better to practice these skills in some manor first. But the issue here is that many of these software programs are designed for mass participants. Also there is a downloadable program called IndustrialPlayer which is an Internet based game.
Also, isn’t it better to make the business mistakes virtually rather then in a live situation? How many of you out here, fresh out of business school jumped in to a company and right into a face-to-face business situation without any additional training or guidance?
I have read that even the Government uses virtual training in some of their programs – including NASA. Isn’t it better to sim a shuttle landing rather than doing it live for the first time and ending up doing a ‘crash & burn’ in real life? Would you want you to ‘crash & burn’ in your career fresh out of school without gaining SOME type of experience first?
I agree with the others, face to face practice certainly is the number one choice.
On the other hand, if the reader is set on a simulation based training, I’d recommend VLeader2007. Link here:
http://www.simulearn.net/leadership_training/leadership_training.html
I have personal experience with Virtual Leader and can vouch for the quality of the learning it provides. They use a blended approach to the learning and it is far superior to anything else I’ve seen. The scenarios are easy to understand, the program comes with a personal coach, and the system keeps score so that you can see the progress of your growth.
It’s absolutely worth checking out. Feel free to contact me if I can help further.