We Never Took the Kobayashi Maru Test Until Now. What Do You Think of Our Solutions? Journeys of the Mind Through a No-Win Game

The Kobayashi Maru Test, a fictional no-win scenario from Star Trek, serves as a powerful tool for evaluating leadership qualities under extreme adversity. This raises the question of how individuals' cognitive and emotional states shift before and after experiencing such a scenario. The scenario is particularly intriguing as it explores the interplay between inevitable failure and attempts to rewrite the rules, highlighting how such challenges foster resilience and adaptability. We developed a text-based simulation powered by GPT-4, allowing participants to engage in the Kobayashi Maru Test and attempt various strategies, including rule manipulation to alter the outcome. Their responses were qualitatively analyzed using the SCAT method, revealing psychological transitions akin to the five stages of grief. Our findings suggest that such serious games can effectively elicit profound introspection, making them valuable tools for leadership training. Furthermore, they provide insights for designing future serious games aimed at exploring decision-making under constraints. Moreover, the use of LLMs for simulating and analyzing decision-making presents new possibilities for interactive learning experiences.