Brain-friendly learning with business games

What are business or serious games?

Business games make entrepreneurial challenges liveable and enable participants to gain practical experience in a risk-free environment. Business games are exemplary illustrations of companies or their subdivisions. In business games, the participants take on the role of managing a company. They have to make decisions in a team under time pressure and experience typical conflicts of objectives at first hand. They learn to use business management methods and information tools in a protected environment and how to deal with uncertainty in decision-making. Through the practical application of theoretical knowledge, business games enable sustainable learning.

You achieve these learning objectives with business games

• They recognize the effects of their own decisions and those of their competitors on their company.
• They can analyse business key figures and reports.
• They learn how to consider the primary conditions for economic success in a dynamic competitive environment.
• They can select and implement strategies and thus achieve the company’s goals.
• They improve their ability to work in a team by working in groups. They improve their ability to make decisions effectively and to find a consensus together. Communication is a critical factor in decision-making in business games.
• Furthermore, they will learn and develop their analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Business games as online training? Yeah, absolutely!

In blended learning concepts, the business game typically assumes the function of a dynamic case study and thus forms the central thread through a seminar lasting several days. The decision-making phases in the business game are directly integrated into the seminar through the online training. Theory units, additional group tasks, decisions of the single period and evaluations by the trainer alternate. This enables the learners to integrate the acquired knowledge and to apply the learned methods.

Training methods

Everything that is active learning. Interaction characterizes the courses. Due to the camera obligation presentations and lively discussions are possible. Modern webinar rooms enable partner and group work. Big plus: A trainer is present and approachable during the entire seminar. If questions arise, they will be answered immediately. The break-out rooms of the webinar system provide the necessary silence to work together in groups (in their companies). Nevertheless, the trainer can be called in at any time without disturbing the other groups.

General course information

The price includes access to the TOPSIM business game which is provided in the TOPSIM cloud. In addition, study materials are made available via the learning management system (LMS). The online course will be conducted in a virtual classroom.

It takes place at the following times:

• 09:00 – 10:30
• 10:45 – 12:15
• 13:00 – 14:30
• 14:45 – 16:15

After completion of the seminar, a COLCONS certificate of attendance with a unique signature will be sent. Information on proof of authenticity can be found here.

Minimum number of participants

For educational reasons, business games courses will only be held if at least 6 participants register.

Technical requirements

Adobe Connect is used as the learning platform. The technical requirements are described here.

Microsoft Teams is also possible.

You also need either a notebook or a desktop computer with a camera, microphone and speakers.