System dynamics to design an educational game for improving interpersonal skills to manage conflict

Abstract

This research discusses how system dynamics is used to develop an educational game, called CANDY OG, to learn how to improve supply chain performance under conflict of key performance indicators (KPIs). Its objective is to explore applicability of system dynamics to design a business game for fostering interpersonal skills. A causal loop diagram is used to confirm the game design so that the participants can learn by playing about importance of understanding other stakeholder’s mental model to improve supply chain performance. The game was played for experiments to evaluate effectiveness of the game design by surveys and other qualitative methods such as samples’ memos during the game, follow-up interviews and participatory observations. Our experimental results suggest a possibility that the game provides experiential learning to develop interpersonal skills at managing conflicts of KPIs, and thus indicate that the use of system dynamics helps to ensure appropriate designing of the game. The originality is a use of system dynamics for designing an educational game, leveraging its capability to analyze mental models of stakeholders in a system.