Article: Learning from online beer distribution simulation game Journal: International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education (IJIOME) 2011 Vol.4 No.2 pp.179 - 192 Abstract: With an online beer distribution simulation game (BDSG), we attempt to answer the following three questions: (1) How does students’ learning on the game affect the BDSG performance? (2) Can we reproduce and practice meaningful conceptual knowledge in SCM with the BDSG? (3) How to improve the performance of the game using any operations management tool? To answer the first two questions, the linear regression-based total cost adjustment approach (LRTCAA) is designed to evaluate the effects of learning experience, demand pattern and communication level, and is applied to the online BDSG experiments conducted by students. The results revealed that students obtained significant knowledge and learning when the game was repeated, suggesting that the online BDSG be a good learning tool. It also turned out that the communication level was a significant factor, whereas the demand pattern was not. Regarding the third question, an Excel spreadsheet model with a chase strategy and an Excel solver formulation is proposed as a guidance to improve the performance of the game. We observed that the solutions from the Excel spreadsheet model outperformed all previous results. Thus, we believe that the LRTCAA framework and the Excel model presented would provide a useful insight to many educators. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Learning from online beer distribution simulation game

Authors: Ki-Young Jeong; Jae-Dong Hong

Addresses: Engineering Management, University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Houston TX 77058, USA ' Industrial Engineering Technology, South Carolina State University, 300 College St. NE, Orangeburg, SC 29117, USA

Abstract: With an online beer distribution simulation game (BDSG), we attempt to answer the following three questions: (1) How does students’ learning on the game affect the BDSG performance? (2) Can we reproduce and practice meaningful conceptual knowledge in SCM with the BDSG? (3) How to improve the performance of the game using any operations management tool? To answer the first two questions, the linear regression-based total cost adjustment approach (LRTCAA) is designed to evaluate the effects of learning experience, demand pattern and communication level, and is applied to the online BDSG experiments conducted by students. The results revealed that students obtained significant knowledge and learning when the game was repeated, suggesting that the online BDSG be a good learning tool. It also turned out that the communication level was a significant factor, whereas the demand pattern was not. Regarding the third question, an Excel spreadsheet model with a chase strategy and an Excel solver formulation is proposed as a guidance to improve the performance of the game. We observed that the solutions from the Excel spreadsheet model outperformed all previous results. Thus, we believe that the LRTCAA framework and the Excel model presented would provide a useful insight to many educators.

Keywords: BDSG; beer distribution simulation game; SCM; supply chain management; operations management education; online games; online gaming; leaning-by-game; learning experience; student learning; higher education; conceptual knowledge; demand patterns; communication levels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIOME.2011.042668

International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education, 2011 Vol.4 No.2, pp.179 - 192

Received: 27 Aug 2010
Accepted: 05 Dec 2010
Published online: 07 Feb 2015 *

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Title: Learning from online beer distribution simulation game

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