AN INTEGRATED BUSINESS INSTRUCTION SYSTEM Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, Volume 25, 1998 AN INTEGRATED BUSINESS INSTRUCTION SYSTEM David A. Jordan, Geneva College ABSTRACT This system is a compilation of six computer- based programs with companion cases which allows the business student to apply business decision making to a single enterprise. The programs are divided into three levels. The Introductory level is designed to acquaint the underclassman with a limited number of business decision variables. The Analytical level programs contain an expanded set of variables and are designed to accompany functional core business classes as an aid to application and decision making. The Comprehensive level is designed to integrate all the business functional areas and focus on strategy development and profitability. PROBLEM As a result of analyzing student performance in the business capstone course at Geneva College, it was apparent that students were having difficulty applying previously covered material. The nature of a capstone course is to require each student to integrate what he or she has learned in other core business courses in an applied decision making experience. What was found was the inability of the student to use the data and analysis in making effective decisions. They could “crunch the numbers,” but did not understand how to use the results. SOLUTION The initial step in solving this dilemma was to utilize computer simulations in several functional classes. This required an intensive search to identify relevant high quality commercial products. These simulations vary considerably as to format, group/individual usage, and single run/multiple run capabilities. In addition each simulation uses a different business environment. It was determined that while there was a marked improvement in student performance, there was still a slow learning curve effect and continued weakness in analysis. In response, it was apparent that the goal should be to provide a better methodology to prepare students for the integrating experience of the capstone course. In so doing I believe that this methodology will further improve students integrating skills in their professional careers. The integrated business instruction system is currently under development. New Methodology The first step in the development of a new methodology was to design a new course, Business Systems, at the sophomore level. The purpose of this new course was to help the student apply and integrate basic business decision variables presented in introductory classes. These classes include accounting, economics, statistics, computer applications and management. The Business Systems course uses a new simulation and companion case especially designed to introduce students to the simulation process. The case provides the necessary business environmental data which the student will need to make effective decisions in the simulation. By applying and integrating early in the program of study, I believe the student has a better likelihood of grasping the business functional material presented in their junior and senior years. Once students have been introduced to the introductory simulation and case, the plan is to 232 Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, Volume 25, 1998 FIGURE 1 MODEL FOR AN INTEGRATED BUSINESS INSTRUCTION SYSTEM provide a similar simulation and case in each core business class. The model for this approach is shown in Figure 1 above. The overriding goal is to make these simulations and cases continuous and integrative. I hope to accomplish this by adding new decision variables appropriate to the area of study while at the same time maintaining the basic decision variables from the introductory simulation. I believe by factoring out the operation of the simulation and maintaining a familiar business environment, the student will be able to focus on integrating the new decision variables and their effect on the operation. The simulations developed thus far for this instructional system are Excel-based models. Excel was chosen because of its integrative dialog features (a Windows environment) and the ability to write the simulation code in Visual Basic. Other benefits of using this technology include: 1) full control of the decision and environmental variables, 2) easily generated tables of data, 3) student familiarity with the product, and 4) the ability to visually depict trends and analyze student performance at any point during the simulation process. Students make decisions by entering values onto a dialog screen. This information is transferred to a spreadsheet which provides a full history of all decisions made each period. The student workbook is then saved to his/her network folder. The instructor’s module reads all the student workbooks (decisions), processes the data and writes the results of the simulation run back to the student workbooks. Students can then read and analyze the results in preparation for the next decision. The tools provided in this package are very instructor oriented. In order to assess student performance at each stage of the decision process, appropriate displays must be provided to the instructor. This system is very simple to operate. Decisions made during a class period can be simulated and returned to the student within the class period. By using a common simulation process and maintaining a familiar business environment (case), the student will be able to focus on decision making. Their ability to integrate the effect of changes in the decision variables to the business operation should be improved. 233 Table of Contents Volume 25, 1998 Marketing Goes to the Movies Bringing Experiential Learning to a Principles of Marketing Course Investment Analysis Application Using In-house Spreadsheet Models SugarCoated Statistics: An Exercise for the First Day of Class Improving Undergraduate Student Involvement in Management Science and Business Writing Courses Using the Seven Principles in Action Establishment and Funding for Interuniversity / Multidisciplinary Student experiences The Prospects of Creative Teaching: A Discussion with Patricia Sanders The Simulation and Classroom Assessment Techniques Developments of Management Skill Assessment Games as Instruments of Assessment: A Framework for Evaluation The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Business Curricula Threshold Solo Competitor: A Management Simulation (V1.0) a Windows-Based. Play Alone, Total Enterprise Simulation and Assessment Instrument Toward An Understanding of One's self-concept Total Enterprise Simulations and the Internet: Improving Student Perceptions and Simplifying Administrative Workloads The Expatriate an Assignment Orientation Game An Expatriate's Nightmare: An Experiential Exercise in Coping with Overseas Assignments Analyzing Experiential Exercise: Using the Scientific Method for Problem Solving The Second Component to Experiential Learning: A Look Back at How ABSEL has handled the Conceptual and Operational Definitions of Learning Predictive Models of Learning: Participant Satisfaction of Experiential Exercises in Business Education Accelerating Moral Development through Use of Experiential Ethical Dilemmas Ethical Dilemmas to use with Business Simulations to Teach Ethics The Class Approach in Behavioral Simulation in a Business Policy/Strategic Management course: A Progression toward Greater Realism An Exploration of the Emergence of Process Prototypes in a Management Course Utilizing a Total Enterprise Simulation How Organizations Are Improving Their Performance Utilizing Electronic Commerce: Examples From The Internet The Market Access Planning System (Maps): A Computer-Based Decision Support System For Facilitating Experiential Learning In International Business An Excel Workbook For Student Planning And Interface With A Simulation Game Design Of Multi-Media Based Pedagogy For Leadership Training Panel Discussion On Using The Internet For Courses Valuing And Enhancing Teaching: Sharing Tips Via The Web The Buddy Project: A Semester Long Project Aimed At Developing An Appreciation For Diversity Enhancing The Excitement And Learning Retention In The Classroom: The Power Of Magic The Supervised Management Internship: A Job Or Learning Experience Team Ware™ An Online Moderated Class Discussion Facility And Beyond A Neophyte Distance Educator's Experience Learning Management By Practicing Management: A Report Of Significant Student Service In 1997 Integration Of Academic And Service Learning: Students' Perceptions About Its Effects And Outcomes The Value Of Incorporating A Service Learning Component Into Course Content: A Presentation And Roundtable Discussion Business Games Teach: Thoughts on the Sources of Conflicting Conclusions on their Effectiveness Antecedents Of Learning In The Simulation: A Replication Using Student Journals To Enhance Learning From Simulations Technological Change And Intertemporal Movements In Consumer Preferences In The Design Of Computerized Business Simulations With Market Segmentation Integrating The Marketing Curriculum Using Collaborative Learning Teaching Time Management In A Sales Program: The Application Of A Computer Simulation Game Adapting Interactive Computer Simulations For Content Based Esl Instruction Multimedia And Student Expectations Synthesizing Data For Media Simulations Composing A Team Health Promoting Behaviors-A Decision Making Exercise Does it really Work? An Application of the Group Interaction Framework Administering the MIT Beer Game: Lessons Learned A Paperless Economy? Instructing Students on the Aspects of Successful Electronic Commerce Maximizing Learning Gains in Simulations: Lessons from the Training Literature Observing General Ability in a Total Enterprise Gaming Simulation FReach Teach: A Computer-Based System for Teaching Advertising Media Planning An Integrated Business Instruction System An Experiential Exercise you can Tinker With Experiential Exercises or Computer Simulations? Cash Flow Statements: Are They Important in Business Simulations? Holistic Cognitive Strategy in a Computer-Based Marketing Simulation Game: An Investigation of Attitudes Towards the Decision-Making Process Barnga: A Game on Cultural Clashes The Many Faces of Culture: Understanding Country and Corporate Culture Students' View of the Use of Business Gaming in Hong Kong Assessing General Management Interest What is the Future of Business Gaming? Starting a Small Music Trivia Business Exercise and Other Innovative Icebreakers An Integrated Approach to Behavioral Skill Development Career Focus: A Student and Business Learning Experience The Use of Concept Mapping in Teaching Strategic Management An Experiential Approach to Developing Mission Statements Business Games in Brazil-Learning or Satisfaction A Simulation within a Simulation: Job Layoff's and Emotional Reactions