Excelling in the Capstone Simulation: An Application of Spreadsheet Technology as a Decision Support Tool

Abstract

A wide variety of pedagogical methods have been employed over the years in the presentation of business capstone courses. Most methods have used some combination of case studies, lecture, and term-length projects. More recently, with the advent and widespread availability of personal computer technology, business simulations have been gaining increasing acceptance. The introduction of a business simulation is generally to offer a “hands-on” experience for the student. Therefore, if a capstone simulation is for the purpose of “experiential learning,” then integration of the techniques taught for business analysis should, likewise, be incorporated. This paper presents one scenario of how a business simulation is incorporated into a business capstone course. The simulation then provides the data for analysis using spreadsheet techniques as a basis for decision support.