THE BOSS: A Competitive Game That Shows Some Aspects of the Management of a Software Development Company


Page 260 - Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, volume 42, 2015 

 

ABSTRACT 

 
The Boss simulates aspects of the management of a software 

development company in a competitive market scenario. It stim-

ulates players to handle different important business functions, 

such as sales, development, human resources, and administra-

tion. During a game session, teams compete for clients, hire 

employees, control workspace availability, and deal with mar-

ket variation, from blooming to recession times. 

Desiring to have the best company, players must manage their 

resources and pay attention to the competitors’ actions. Cus-

tomer relations policies have to be created to better balance the 

interests of the company and maintain a relationship of trust 

with current clients. Projects are classified into one of four 

quadrants of the BCG Matrix, according to their attributes and 

have to be carefully analyzed, since a declined project can be-

came a treasure in the hands of a competitor. 

The game aims at its classroom use at undergraduate courses of 

entrepreneurship in the context of a computer science or com-

puter engineering curricula; however, one can easily exchange 

its theme to focus at any human and knowledge intensive enter-

prise, such as advertising or architecture companies. Several 

perspectives can be discussed after the game sessions, to rein-

force learning: hiring policies, criteria for purchase of services 

and others. Although designed for education, The Boss also has 

shown to be fun and entertaining in tests, and has a high replay 

value.  

THE BOSS: 

A COMPETITIVE GAME THAT SHOWS  

SOME ASPECTS OF THE MANAGEMENT  

OF A SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY 
 

Fabio Ferman 

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 

fferman@cos.ufrj.br 

 

Geraldo Xexéo 

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 

xexeo@cos.ufrj.br 

 

Luan Barbosa Garrido 

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 

lbgarrido@cos.ufrj.br 

 

Tiago Santos da Silva 

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 

tiagoss@cos.ufrj.br