Educational Innovation: Operation Management complexity- University College of Bahrain
Education_BH: Innovation and Excellence celebrates the remarkable innovations implemented in Bahrain’s schools and universities. We learned about these innovations, the process, the challenges, and the lessons learned from some of the leading educational institutions in the Kingdom. Read more in our latest issue.
Immersing students in these dynamic and practical exercises, they can gain a deeper understanding of key business concepts and develop essential skills.
Please share a brief background of your innovation:
The innovation aims to provide insights to students on how complex the decision-making process is, especially in operation management. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to innovate and enhance the teaching methods for business courses. Traditional lecture-based learning has its limitations, and we have been exploring new approaches to engage students and provide them with a more practical and interactive learning experience.
One innovative approach is the use of activities like the tangled web and simulation games. These activities aim to simulate real-world scenarios and challenges that business professionals often face. By immersing students in these dynamic and practical exercises, they can gain a deeper understanding of key business concepts and develop essential skills.
How was the innovation planned?
The tangled web activity is designed to illustrate the interdependencies and complexities within a business organization. Students are assigned different roles, such as different departments or stakeholders, and they are tasked with collaborating to solve a problem or achieve a common goal. This activity promotes critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills as students navigate the interconnectedness of business functions and learn to make informed decisions.
Simulation games, on the other hand, provide a virtual environment where students can practice applying theoretical knowledge to real-life business situations. These games often involve making strategic decisions, managing resources, and analyzing market dynamics. By engaging in these stimulating scenarios, students can enhance their problem-solving skills, decision-making abilities, and strategic thinking processes. They also gain valuable insights into the consequences of their actions and learn to adapt their strategies based on feedback from the game.
With the help of some senior students, we were able to prepare and execute the idea in class.
What were the challenges faced during implementation?
Breaking the ice and engaging most of the students required a lot of motivation.
Give us a brief assessment of your results:
Learning by doing was and is still the best way of executing tasks. Education is a great space to be innovative while conveying knowledge. The benefits of these innovative teaching methods are numerous. Firstly, these activities make the learning process more engaging and enjoyable, increasing student motivation and participation. They also provide a safe space for students to make mistakes, learn from them, and improve their skills without real-world consequences. Additionally, these activities foster collaboration and teamwork, which are crucial skills in the business world.
In hindsight, what were the most valuable lessons learned while implementing the innovation? Could things have been done differently?
People, no matter how different they are, will still find ways to communicate and reach consensus and understanding. Surely next time will try to engage everyone in the classroom.
