The Evaluation of Simulation Games Applicablity for Better Understanding Supply Chain Principles

In order to achieve competitive advantage, each company has to determine its strategic position in relation to its suppliers and buyers, and to realize how behavior of supply chain participants influence on overall supply chain functionality. Supply chains with high level of synchronization of activities from producer to consumer, at a long-time run, will achieve high business result for single participant, and for entire chain. Supply chain synchronization is complex and expensive process. Therefore, in supply chain principles education process, simulation games are frequently used. The aim of simulation games is to overcome potential losses that occur when the method of "learning-bydoing" is used. In the literature, there are several famous simulation models that are used in education in this field for a long time. However, there are little papers that evaluate which modus of playing simulation game is the most effective as an educational method. Several groups of students of the business economy at higher study years have played different versions of simulation game. The first group of students played game by using papers, pencils and physical things that are delivered between participants of a supply chain. The second group of students played simulation game based on computer simulation model in controlled conditions, while the third group of students played game via web interface at their homes. In each group of students several questions on functionality of supply chain were distributed. At the end of the class student were asked to evaluate effectiveness of simulation game as a learning method. The results of this research show that simulation games are well accepted as a learning method, but that one modus of simulation game playing is more efficient than other two. Experiences described in this paper can be used in order to prepare classes for students, but also for education of managers in the field of supply chain management.