GGSB MSc Finance - Grenoble Ecole de Management

NEWSLETTER
GGSB MSc Finance
Serious Game
Hélène Michel and Olivier Cateura
April 2013
We have facilitated the MSc
Finance Serious game module
(that replaced the Integrative
case study) : Hélène Michel in
London and Grenoble (with Jean
François Perinel), Olivier Cateura
in Singapore.
“Serious Game”: How to define
such an oxymoron We can
present serious games as “games
in which education (in its various
forms) is the primary goal, rather
than entertainment”. These
applications then use the
characteristics of video games to
engage individual in a learning
experience. They belong to the
type of computer-mediated
environments of human learning,
combining mediatized learning
by machines, simulation,
emotional r eaction s and
professionalization. Serious
Games as learning methods have
been widely developed since the
2000s and Grenoble Ecole de
Management is developing their
use more and more.
When using game with learners,
we try to reach several goals: the
first one is to enhance students’
motivation to learn complex
concepts. Using competition,
challenge or curiosity as levers,
we engage them in this process.
The second goal is to improve
their academic level concerning a
topic. The game is a kind of
G G S B M S c I N F I N A N C E
“magic circle” where error is
a l l o w e d . T h e r e f o r e , w e
e n c o u r a g e s t u d e n t s ’
experimentation and creativity to
analyze and solve problems. The
third goal is to reduce the
“knowing-doing gap”: with a
classical learning approach,
students understand a concept
but have often difficulty to use
their knowledge in “real” life.
When using simulation, we offer
the possibility to experiment
different cases representing
professional situations. We
therefore increase the transfer
possibility from “virtual” to “real”
life, from “knowing” to “doing”.
The Global challenge business
game simulation is an easy to
use and very interactive tool that
gives the opportunity to our
students to manage a high-tech
company on a global market.
Based on the Nokia mobile
phone industry, the students
have to understand the market,
make strategic decision and
finally be smarter than the
competition. They learn strategic
management concepts and how
decisions (marketing, innovation,
HR, manufacturing….) impact the
financial performance of a
company. The game also
provides an opportunity for
students to develop their soft
skills: team work in a
multicultural environment (as
students are in teams competing
one against each other), ability
to make decisions under time
pressure (as several decision
rounds take place throughout
the week), written and oral
communication skills (as
students have to explain their
decisions and present their
results), leadership (as they have
to defend their position and
convince their team mates and
instructor)… To go further and
discover more about Cesim
Global Challen ge: h t t p: / /
www.cesim.com/blog/bid/125570/
Interview-Olivier-Cateura-On-
Business-Simulations
We have really enjoyed this
experience with the MSc Finance
students: they have learned a lot,
and had fun too ! Thanks also for
the good atmosphere and
interactive exchanges we got
during our stay in the city of the
Lion (Singapore) and the City
(London) !
The MSc Finance intake in Singapore
2