Title: Project detective - a game for teaching earned value management

Authors: Christiane Gresse Von Wangenheim; Bruno Rausis; Gustavo M. Soares; Rafael Savi; Adriano Ferreti Borgatto

Addresses: Department of Informatics and Statistics – INE, Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC, 88049-200 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil ' Department of Informatics and Statistics – INE, Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC, 88049-200 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil ' Department of Informatics and Statistics – INE, Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC, 88049-200 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil ' Department of Informatics and Statistics – INE, Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC, 88049-200 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil ' Department of Informatics and Statistics – INE, Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC, 88049-200 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

Abstract: Game-based learning has gained attention as it can effectively reinforce concepts and contribute to teach higher-cognitive competencies while at the same time making learning fun. Teaching project management competencies can also benefit from games by simulating life-like situations. We present a game to reinforce earned value management (EVM) concepts and to teach their application - an important competency for project managers. The game is designed as an investigation, in which students analyse data and status reports, calculate EVM indicators and interpret them in order to identify what went wrong in a fictitious software project. The game has been developed based on theory and teaching experience and has been applied in undergraduate computing programmes. First results indicate its potential to support learning effectively and efficiently on the cognitive levels of remembering, understanding and application. The game also has shown to be engaging, offering the possibility to complement traditional strategies.

Keywords: project management; game-based learning; serious games; educational games; earned value management; EVM; teaching; case study; undergraduate computing; computing education; higher education; software projects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2014.067787

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2014 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.216 - 234

Received: 12 Apr 2014
Accepted: 26 Apr 2014
Published online: 13 Mar 2015 *

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