It represents the next generation of the business simulation environment, where hundreds of students learn valuable lessons in managing global corporations by creating virtual products while working in virtual teams for virtual corporations in virtual economies, and see the consequences of their actions unfold in front of their eyes in real time. The simulation is being used by Purdue graduate students to learn leadership and decision-making skills. Chaturvedi developed the software program with Shailendra Mehta, director of entrepreneurship and small business outreach, and computer science Professor Chandrajit Bajaj. In a recent simulation, students formed teams to compete for the largest piece of the telecommunications industry in a synthetic U.S. economy. The chaos that can ensue during the course of a game is of great value, because the economy itself is always in flux.
Students begin with only information relevant to their assigned identities.
For example, some are telephone companies, others are cable and satellite providers, still others are consumers buying stock in these companies. This is a very practical tool that can be used not only for training students, but in the corporate world as well. Here Photo caption below The Purdue team says their game has more advanced features than other programs because it functions in real time, can simulate a year in 30 minutes, has an advanced 3-D graphics interface and can be played by a large number of players, real and virtual. A key component to the simulation is a pregame briefing and the after-action review, which the professors say is probably the most crucial step to learning. While only implemented in the classroom so far, the game soon could be available for corporate use.