The Impact of Business War Games: Quantifying Training Effectiveness

Abstract

Does participation in a business simulation exercise change people’s perspectives on decision problems? Does it change their approach to solving those problems? These are fundamental questions positively confirmed by this research. Using the semantic differential technique and a one-group pretest-posttest design, tests are conducted to assess changes in characterization and approaches to business decision problems. A matched pair t-test confirms significant change in ten of twelve key hypotheses; while the Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirms nine. The measurement methodology developed and results presented provide quantifiable justification for the use of business simulation exercises to induce targeted change in a decision maker’s decision problem perception.