Computer based management games for the building industry

THE PROBLEMS INVESTIGATED: The following problems are investigated in the thesis. The nature of management games. Their value in management instruction, education and training. The advantages of computerisation. The special nature of some aspects of building management. The need for, and dearth of appropriate management games for the building industry. THE PROCEDURES FOLLOWED: The procedures followed included: A literature and correspondence search for general management games and for those devoted to the building industry. A re-definition of management games for the purposes of the thesis. The development of a taxonomy of management games. A review of the advantages and disadvantages of computer-based management games. A review of those aspects of management which are peculiar to the building industry, and which are appropriate topics for management games. The development of a methodical approach to the design, construction and testing of management games. The design, construction and testing of five computer-based games for the building industry. The computerisation of one such game, a manual version of which was presented by another writer. The presentation of computer programs in flow-chart form. THE GENERAL RESULTS OBTAINED: There are some confusing definitions of management games. Out of some hundreds of management games found, only fourteen were specifically devoted to the building industry. There are a number of classification systems. Computer-based games have advantages over manual ones. Eight specific building management functions are suitable topics for specially designed management games. THE MAJOR CONCLUSIONS REACHED: They are that: A need exists for computer-based management games for the building industry. The special nature of certain aspects of building management necessitates the construction of special games. The dearth of such games warrants the construction of more. The six games presented in the thesis fulfil part of the need for games. The method of game construction which has been devised and used is satisfactory, and may be used by others.