Is it Here to Stay? A Roundtable Discussion of the Inter-Group Interaction Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, Volume 26, 1999 IS IT HERE TO STAY? A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF THE INTER-GROUP INTERACTION Peter Markulis, SUNY at Geneseo Dolly Malik, SUNY at Geneseo Barbara Howard, SUNY at Geneseo Daniel Strang, SUNY at Geneseo ABSTRACT This session will be a roundtable discussion on Inter-Group Interactions – a cooperative learning technique that requires teams of students from one class to work with teams from another class to accomplish a common goal. The authors will present a brief overview of the concept and provide the participants with some of their experiences with Inter-Group Interactions. The remainder of the session will be an open discussion of the possibilities and pitfalls of the Inter-Group Interaction as a pedagogical method. INTRODUCTION Teamwork has become common place in the business world. The ability to work well with others and be able to adapt to diverse groups is critical to success. Cooperative learning techniques provide students with an excellent opportunity to venture into the teamwork mode. The idea of students working together, to complete a single task, relying on others, and receiving the same grade can be implemented in a number of ways. One of the more effective methods is the Inter-Group Interaction (IGI). The IGI requires students to work within teams and between teams. It consists of two (or more) groups interacting with each other to achieve a common objective. A fundamental purpose of the IGI is to encourage cooperation across different but related disciplines. While the authors feel that this is an effective experiential methodology, it is not always easy to implement. The logistics of coordinating two groups from different academic disciplines is quite difficult. The project requires a considerable time commitment by the instructors, careful planning, continual feedback to the students and a thorough debriefing at the conclusion. This may make it sound like the costs must surely outweigh the benefits, but we don’t agree. The students are exposed to the functional interdependence of business units, management skills are developed, the students learn to think creatively, and the process of management is enhanced. No other exercise incorporates all of these aspects in such an effective manner. There is evidence in the literature that a few of our colleagues have experimented with IGI type activities. Others would like to but are often constrained by the perceived difficulties associated with this type of experience. The purpose of this session is to broaden the usage of the IGI through a discussion of the experiences of those who have successfully implemented an IGI and to benefit from the thoughts and ideas of our colleagues on this topic. SESSION OVERVIEW The session will consist of two parts – a brief presentation and an open discussion. The authors will present a brief overview of the Inter-Group Interaction concept. They will discuss the framework developed, the advantages and disadvantages of the IGI, and some of their specific experiences. Student reaction and evaluation issues will also be introduced. The presenters will then lead a discussion which will focus on the Inter-Group Interaction as a viable component to the business school curriculum. Session participants who have utilized an IGI or would like to do so, will be invited to share their experiences, make suggestions, raise concerns, ask advice and/or ridicule the concept. 193 Table of Contents Volume 26, 1999 ABSEL's Historical Research Interests Back From the Future: An ABSEL Merlin Exercise for the Year 2005 The Contributions of ABSEL During the 1980's ABSEL's Contributions to Experiential Exercises in the 90's ABSEL's Contributions to Experiential learning/Experiential Exercises: The Decade of the 1970's Business Simulations - Algorithms and Model Enhancements: A 25 year Review A Study of the ETS General Field Test as an AACSB Assessment Tool and the Impact of Experiential Exercises and Simulation on Learning A Framework for Assessing the Competencies Reflected in Simulation Performance Developing A Learning Culture: Assessing Changes in Student Performance and Perception Financial Simulation Using Distributed Computing Technology Analyzing Managers' Judgements and Decisions with an Educational Business Simulation Understanding Your Business through Home-Made Simulator Development An Examination of a Reanalysis of the Impact of a Market Leader on Simulation Competitors' Strategies Applying Shocks to TE Simulations: A Demonstration Increasing Efficiency of Management Skill Assessment A Testbank for Measuring Total Enterprise Simulation Learning Developing Leadership Skills - Video Live! LEADSIMM: Collaborative Leadership Development for the Knowledge Society A Team Approach to Producing Multi-Media Laptop and Video Formatted Presentation Tinkertoys Revisited: Exploring Trust Based Relationships Overall Dominance in Total Enterprise Simulation Performance Success or Bankruptcy: The Relationship between Personal and Goal Orientation and Simulation Performance Assessing the Effects of Feedback: Muti-method and Muti-directions in Multi-pedagogical Courses The Missing Ingredients in Experiential Learning Purpose and Learning Benefits of Business Simulations: A Design and Development Perspective Building Capabilities for Change through Laboratory Simulations Modeling Innovation as a Process of Design in Educational Business Simulation The Need to Measurer variance in Experiential Learning and a New Statistic to do so Assessing Effectiveness of an Experiential Oriented Course Over Time Developing Participant Satisfaction Models of Experiential Exercises in Business Education Perceptions of Learning in TE Simulations Students' View on the Use of Business Gaming in Hong Kong Management Gaming's Lost Opportunity: Meditations about the Russian Experience and Prospects for the Future Unanticipated Enhancements in the Business Strategy and Policy Game when Running in Windows 95 Using a Business Game to Demonstrate Broad Business Concepts A New Model for Business Courses (Getting the Student Connected) Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Integrating Knowledge Using Large Scale Simulations in Capstone Business Strategy Classes Is It Here To Stay? A Roundtable Discussion of the Inter-Group Interaction Interactive Tools Used in Applying Financial Concepts Strengthening Essential Skills through a Finance Exercise: Calculation of Beta A Model of Currency Exchange Rates Understanding Currency Exchange Rates: A three-part Exercise Student Experiences in the World Intercollegiate Business Game Competition Student Experiences in the International-Collegiate Business Policy Game Competition Using Boards of Directors in Simulation Environments: Comments From Board Members Sharing Best Practices: Teaching Smarter, Not Harder Star Power: A Simulation for Understanding Power and Empowerment The Marketing Game: A Marketing Principles Simulation Alexander Islands: GSSM Tiny Business Simulator on the WWW Putting Strategy into Strategic Business Games Industry Analysis, Porter's Five Forces Model and Strategic Group Maps in the Business Strategy Game Simulation The Use of Concept Mapping to Improve Student Performance and Understanding of Strategic Management Concepts: A Comparison of Techniques Transformational thinking in the Organizational Behavior Course: The Use of Metaphor as an Assessment Tool Creation of a Virtual Learning Community for the Global Virtual Enterprise Project Inter Institutional use of Educational Resources: Joint Use of Management Simulation Games Business Insights: Theory and Practice with the Aid of a Business Simulation Progress: An Experiential Exercise in Development Marketing The ABC's of teaching the Theory of Constraints to Undergraduate Business Students Demonstrating Principles of Organizational Purchasing Behavior through an Experiential Exercise The Virtual Manager: A Different Simulation for Managing Complexity When the Rules are changing and Chaos Breeds Innovation: Recapturing the Value of Constructive Thinking and Play in Simulation Training The Pitfalls, and Potential, of Actual Events as Problem Drivers Using Business Games to teach Environmental Awareness and Green Management: The International Experience with the ENSIM Game A Review of my ABSEL-Related Work Simulation of Government: A Workshop Using GEO Creating Internet-Based Games Using Perl and JavaScript Who's on First? Exploring the Concepts of Problem-Based Learning, Experiential Learning, and Lifelong Learning Students Learn Customer Service and Selling while Conducting Research So You Want to Run an NFL Football Team–An Honors Interdisciplinary Project Supervised Internship: The Employer's Perspective Using Computer Assisted Simulation to Teach International Business Strategy: A Case of the Multinational Management Game (MMG) Multi-Cultural Experiential Learning: A Computer Simulation in China An Appreciative Stance on Diversity as We Move into the 21st Century: A Timeline Exercise to Identify Key Experiences in Good Work Relationships between Black and White Peers A Day in the Life of an Interactive, Real Time, and Internet Delivered Course: A Demonstration Comparing Internet Search Engines: An Experiential Learning Exercise Total Enterprise Simulations and the Internet: Assessing Student Perceptions and Preferences Teaching Accounting Information Systems in a Practicum Format Providing Experiential Learning in Accounting through a Field Study Payroll Project A Spreadsheet Based Business Simulation Game Computer-Behavioral Simulations Training for Project Managers Simulation Scenarios - Rationale and Illustration