Simulating Performance: Capturing the performance management literature in a computer simulation game for hospital managers

The literature on performance measurement and management has produced an expansive range of nuanced insights. Teaching students and practitioners about performance management can then be a daunting task, especially if teachers... [ view full abstract ]

The literature on performance measurement and management has produced an expansive range of nuanced insights. Teaching students and practitioners about performance management can then be a daunting task, especially if teachers aim to not just transfer knowledge but really engage with the complexity, unpredictability, and importance of contingency of performance management. This paper explores the use of computer simulation games as an alternative teaching method, reflecting on the development and first tests of a computer simulation game about the performance management. Players act as the manager of a hospital department faced with the challenge of satisfying multiple stakeholders through the balanced implementation of different performance instruments. Our findings suggest that serious games form a valuable additional teaching method, which also raise interesting questions for scholars. Students get the opportunity to experience the difficulties of performance management, while scholars are challenged to translate nuanced research findings into crisp computer algorithms.

TRY THE GAME ONLINE NOW:

We invite all IRSPM participants to test the game at www.performancemanagementgames.com. The game takes about 20 minutes to play. We are still improving different elements of the game and welcome all feedback on this beta-version. The game will be available online in August 2017 for all public management teachers and students at no costs. Please contact s.c.douglas@uu.nl if you want to use the game in your teaching activities.