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Do business games foster skills? A cross-cultural study from learners' views

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:8644922
    Authors:
    Hernández-Lara, A.B., Serradell-Lopez, E., Fitó-Bertran, À.
    Abstract:
    Purpose: This study seeks to analyse students’ perception of the effectiveness of business games as an e-learning method in management training. This analysis of games’ effectiveness is centred in the generic and managerial skills acquired, through the comparison of students’ opinions in different cultural contexts within Europe. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis focuses on 120 management students at postgraduate level who use the same business game at different universities in five European countries: Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Germany. Findings: The results indicate that students positively assessed the generic and specific managerial skills fostered by the business game. The generic skills most valued were information and decision-making, and leadership. Regarding the specific skills, the most valued were management skills and the least valued, skills related to planning and the acquisition of theoretical knowledge. However, significant differences were found between students in different cultural contexts and education systems in the case of certain specific managerial skills. Practical implications: This finding suggests that the students’ perception of how a business game helps them acquire specific managerial skills is influenced by cultural aspects and previous exposure to experiential learning, which determine that the teachers’ role and the teaching process should be adapted to the students’ learning model. Originality/value: With this study, a better knowledge about the students’ perception of this e-learning method is obtained, not just considering a specific educational environment, but comparing opinions of students from different cultural contexts, which adds value to the analyses developed.
  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Hernández-Lara, A.B., Serradell-Lopez, E., Fitó-Bertran, À.
    Department: Gestió d'Empreses
    URV's Author/s: Hernandez Lara, Ana Beatriz
    Keywords: Specific managerial skills Specific managerial competences Generic skills Generic competences E-learning Cross-cultural study Business games
    Abstract: Purpose: This study seeks to analyse students’ perception of the effectiveness of business games as an e-learning method in management training. This analysis of games’ effectiveness is centred in the generic and managerial skills acquired, through the comparison of students’ opinions in different cultural contexts within Europe. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis focuses on 120 management students at postgraduate level who use the same business game at different universities in five European countries: Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Germany. Findings: The results indicate that students positively assessed the generic and specific managerial skills fostered by the business game. The generic skills most valued were information and decision-making, and leadership. Regarding the specific skills, the most valued were management skills and the least valued, skills related to planning and the acquisition of theoretical knowledge. However, significant differences were found between students in different cultural contexts and education systems in the case of certain specific managerial skills. Practical implications: This finding suggests that the students’ perception of how a business game helps them acquire specific managerial skills is influenced by cultural aspects and previous exposure to experiential learning, which determine that the teachers’ role and the teaching process should be adapted to the students’ learning model. Originality/value: With this study, a better knowledge about the students’ perception of this e-learning method is obtained, not just considering a specific educational environment, but comparing opinions of students from different cultural contexts, which adds value to the analyses developed.
    Thematic Areas: Strategy and management Sociologia i política Psicología Organizational behavior and human resource management Management of technology and innovation General o multidisciplinar Education Educación Educació Economia Ciencias sociales Business and international management Administração pública e de empresas, ciências contábeis e turismo Accounting
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Author's mail: anabeatriz.hernandez@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0002-8110-9328
    Record's date: 2025-03-15
    Paper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Paper original source: Intangible Capital. 14 (2): 315-331
    APA: Hernández-Lara, A.B., Serradell-Lopez, E., Fitó-Bertran, À. (2018). Do business games foster skills? A cross-cultural study from learners' views. Intangible Capital, 14(2), 315-331. DOI: 10.3926/ic.1066
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2018
    Publication Type: Journal Publications
  • Keywords:

    Accounting,Business and International Management,Education,Management of Technology and Innovation,Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management,Strategy and Management
    Specific managerial skills
    Specific managerial competences
    Generic skills
    Generic competences
    E-learning
    Cross-cultural study
    Business games
    Strategy and management
    Sociologia i política
    Psicología
    Organizational behavior and human resource management
    Management of technology and innovation
    General o multidisciplinar
    Education
    Educación
    Educació
    Economia
    Ciencias sociales
    Business and international management
    Administração pública e de empresas, ciências contábeis e turismo
    Accounting
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