Exploring the Practical Value of Business Games: Analysis with Toulmin’s Sensemaking Framework

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

With the advances in technology and the trend towards increased computer-based experiential learning in education settings, business games are being increasingly used by business educators. This article utilizes Toulmin’s Sensemaking Framework to investigate the sensemaking process of business professionals to reveal how they consciously reason about the value of business games for learning complex business concepts and principles. Using the analysis of responses from 43 business professionals, our study identifies key areas where business professionals find value in business games and the limitations of using business games. First, business games are found to be an effective tool when teaching practical business skill sets to business professionals.
Second, business games enhance the overall learning process in professional business training. Third, despite the advantages, some pitfalls in applying business games to practice are found. We also found sub-themes, claims, and argument patterns of how business professionals evaluate the value of business games through a grounded theory qualitative analysis method. Analysis results show several ground-warrant patterns exist in the arguments on values of business games including general principle – causal reasoning, personal experience – generalization, and personal projection – generalization. With these findings, we believe this paper contributes to the theory and practice of business game design, development, and the game playing and learning process.

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