BUSINESS GAMES AND THE CASE METHOD: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROCESS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING IN MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This study examined the joint application of business games and the case method, compared to the application of only business games. The paper presents the fundamentals of business games, experiential learning and the case method approach within the field of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) which moves from conventional teaching approaches, which focus on the role of the teacher, to a constructivist approach, which is student-centered. The study is of an applied research nature, conducted through a controlled experiment with two groups from a management course at a public university. The test group received orientation on the simulator rules utilizing the case method approach, while the control group received instructions using the expository method. Two content tests and the results of the business game were used to gather the data, with quantitative analysis and hypothesis testing subsequently employed. The preliminary results of the survey show that there were no significant differences in the assimilation of knowledge between the groups. The use of controlled experiments to assist thinking about the teaching and learning process within management courses stood out among the study’s contributions.