Sink or Swim: Learning by Doing in a Supply Chain Integration Activity*

We develop a single-class period learning game for the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) improvement cycle. The experiential activity walks teams through the PDSA problemsolving process as they create paper American footballs and improve their performance using each step of the cycle. The game is one of the first to focus on PDSA. Key benefits include increased student attention, engagement, and learning. Empirical tests show that participant pre-and post-test scores regarding their understanding of each phase of PDSA improved 21.2% after completing the game. Additionally, the treatment group performed 16.6% higher than the control group. In participant perception questions, 85% of participants felt the game was more effective than lecture or reading, 93% felt the game was fun, 95% felt the game improved their understanding of PDSA, and 98% felt the game was engaging.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…This hands-on activity has the potential to increase student understanding over reading textbooks or lectures (Fawcett, Ritchie, Wallin, & Webb, 2009;Gumus & Love, 2016;Harnowo, Calhoun, & Monteiro, 2016). The paper footballs in this activity are triangular, similar in shape to the prolate spheroid American football or a rugby ball.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teaching Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act (PDSA) in a Supply Chain Context: A Paper Football In‐Class Activity

Brau

Gardner

Webb

et al. 2019

“…Umble and Umble () use a simple ordering exercise to teach basic inventory management concepts. Harnowo, Calhoun, and Monteiro () use an activity that simulates a multi‐echelon supply chain to teach supply chain integration concepts. Hill and Baker () use a physical product design simulation to reinforce operations concepts in product design.…”

Section: Operations Gamesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Learning Curve‐Based Assembly Game

Robbins

2019

This article describes a game used in an MBA‐level operations management course to help students understand the concept of the learning curve. Student teams participate in an interactive, hands‐on Lego assembly exercise, measuring their times through repeated trials after which they calculate their team's learning curve rate. The exercise is oriented to illustrate the mechanisms by which learning occurs both individually and organizationally. After students complete their work in groups, the data is aggregated across the class and analyzed to further illustrate key principles of the learning curve. A modified version of the game based on cup‐stacking has been developed for online students.

“…Other supply chain games focus on such specific topics as sourcing alternatives (Ashenbaum, ), negotiation (Gumus & Love, ), and integration (Harnowo et al. ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within supply chain management, there is the classic Beer Distribution Game (Sterman, 1989) that enables participants to experience the bullwhip effect. Other supply chain games focus on such specific topics as sourcing alternatives (Ashenbaum, 2008), negotiation (Gumus & Love, 2013), and integration (Harnowo et al 2016).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patio Swings Intermodal Shipping Competition: An Inquiry‐Based Partial Information Exercise

Snider

Southin

Cole

2019

Rather than providing all the required information as classroom exercises typically do, this international purchase and intermodal transportation competitive in‐class exercise intentionally holds back selected supply chain details. This inquiry‐based learning (IBL) approach simulates a real‐world Distribution Requirements Planning scenario by requiring students to identify what information they need and seek out those details from the instructor while competing with fellow student groups. In this 20‐30 minute exercise students are challenged to identify the all the necessary supply chain activities required to effectively ship patio swings from a supplier in China to a national retail chain in time for a spring sale. Generating the benefits of improved critical thinking in a fraction of the time required for traditional IBL, the approach is best described as a Partial Information Exercise. A student survey (n = 310) found that students strongly supported the inquiry approach, it generated significantly increased interest in global supply chain management roles and responsibilities, and over 91% of participants recommended the exercise continue to be part of the introductory operations and supply chain management course.