Business schools typically teach decision-making as an orderly process, failing to include real-world variables like time constraints, ambiguity, and evaluating the reliability of information.
“You can have team projects and case studies,” Dr. Parnell said, “but real learning is something other learning methods fail to cover.”
Executives claim crisis management is a crucial area in the corporate world, but few programs teach students more than theories from textbooks. The Inbox microsimulation addresses constraints in a timed environment, mimicking reality. That’s one of the things lacking: applying decision-making tools in a different world.
In CapsimInbox: Crisis Management, participants enter a day-in-the-life microsimulation overseeing a multimillion-dollar manufacturing company. Students experience real-world crises—in a safe environment—and must respond to them by gathering complex information and making difficult decisions.
Timing decisions is crucial. Aside from encouraging students to focus for an hour without interruptions, it also reinforces real-world situations. Information moves quickly in an increasingly globalized business world—students don’t have a chance to Google a response or ask others for their opinions. Learners are forced to make rapid decisions on the spot and move on to the next ones.
“Capsim gives students that competitive environment to make decisions,” Dr. Parnell said.
In CapsimInbox, students are challenged to think strategically and make critical organizational decisions to address a wide range of crises that can affect the firm. As learners collect information, they reduce their uncertainty to make the best decision. And responses are quick, thoughtful, and strategic—reflecting the fast pace in the global business environment.