National Farm and Garden
The role-play is an exercise in which the class is divided into teams of five to six each. The students read a very short case situation and are then assigned roles in the organization. They are provided with varying levels of information about an issue. The teams then interact to provide recommended courses of action representing short-term, mid-range and long-term consideration. Each team experiences the group dynamics and tension that can occur between different departments seeking protection of their own interests.
These exercises were developed to create an additional technique for enhancing the learning outcomes of introduction to business courses. They address important issues that companies, management, and employees may be faced with on a daily basis. The exercise is a teaching tool that provides students with a very realistic experience in a simulated organizational setting. Through student participation in a role-play, we hope to increase their decision-making skills and help make them more aware of current issues and how to handle them. Beyond a case analysis approach, a role-play recreates the complexities of relationships and incomplete information that are pervasive in an organizational setting. Also, the exercise seeks to enhance inherent conflicts between certain departments within the organization. Therefore, a key goal is to improve individual awareness of the complexity involved in dealing with business issues. Finally, we hope to gain students absolute involvement and participation in class. By participating in a role-play, students will be able to develop their leadership skills and engage in problem solving activities directly related to organizational issues.
Specific learning objectives of role-play exercises include:
1. increasing students’ awareness of the complex dimensions of business decision-making
2. developing students’ analytical skills for resolving issues.
Instructions for Classroom Use
The role-play exercise
These exercises were developed to create an additional technique for enhancing the learning outcomes of introduction to business courses. They address important issues that companies, management, and employees may be faced with on a daily basis. The exercise is a teaching tool that provides students with a very realistic experience in a simulated organizational setting. Through student participation in a role-play, we hope to increase their decision-making skills and help make them more aware of current issues and how to handle them. Beyond a case analysis approach, a role-play recreates the complexities of relationships and incomplete information that are pervasive in an organizational setting. Also, the exercise seeks to enhance inherent conflicts between certain departments within the organization. Therefore, a key goal is to improve individual awareness of the complexity involved in dealing with business issues. Finally, we hope to gain students absolute involvement and participation in class. By participating in a role-play, students will be able to develop their leadership skills and engage in problem solving activities directly related to organizational issues.
Specific learning objectives of role-play exercises include:
1. increasing students’ awareness of the complex dimensions of business decision-making
2. developing students’ analytical skills for resolving issues.
Instructions for Classroom Use
The role-play exercise