Simulating Operational Complexities: A Hands-On Experiential Exercise With Laundry

Abstract

Responding to change is a critical workforce competency and an essential skill for effective leadership and management along with abilities to work in a group, problem solve, and demonstrate critical thinking capabilities. In this experiential exercise, students collaborate in groups, think critically, and respond to customer demands in a fast-paced, competitive, and complex environment while trying to execute process tasks associated with running a laundry facility. Students search and retrieve products (sheets), complete operational processes (associated with preparing clean sheets), and react to customer requests (changes in supply and demand). This exercise can be used to support and emphasize continuous improvement, group performance, change management, problem solving, and critical thinking.

Winners and Losers: An Introduction to Product Management

“…Finally, research has shown that “the ability to work in group-based environments and across functional boundaries is a requirement of management” (Criscione-Naylor, 2020, p. 6). Through this exercise, students are introduced to the role of product managers while fine-tuning teamwork and creative thinking.…”

The Loki Equipment Exercise Part 1: Leading Change

“…We note that several other class exercises focus on the topic of leading change. For example, Criscione-Naylor (2020) introduced an exercise about leading change from an operational lens, while Virajanand (2020) developed a multimedia exercise that helps to determine change recipient’s readiness for change. In another exercise, Trefalt (2020) introduced a semester-long project that challenges students to engage in personal transformation.…”