Improving Decision Making Skills through Business Simulation Gaming and Expert Systems

Business simulations as experimental learning tools are common, but they usually train specific predetermined aspects. Research on artificial intelligence among business simulations is rare, and therefore, featured in this paper. The purpose of this research is to explore the use of business simulations games as an experimental learning tool through a contemporary, web-based application featuring artificial intelligence and mobile support. An expert system guides and advises the players, while they manage their virtual business in a competitive market against other participants. The core element is the design process of an artifact, based on the Design Science methodology. The training and learning effects on the participants are observed via the artifact itself in a series of experiments and an additional survey. Twenty-six students in Austria were chosen as the sample group to reveal and measure the improvements in decision making, experimental learning capabilities and the biasing ability of the artificial intelligence.