Teaching supply Chain management: Mixed vs. pure strategies in simulation based training

Abstract

We investigate two inter-entity strategies for using SBT by teams—a competitive strategy and a cooperative strategy within the supply chain management domain. We examine how a combination of these inter-entity strategies would work at situations wherein both are used, one following the other. The goal is to investigate from a pedagogical and practical perspective which strategy is the most effective using SBT techniques for business education— pure strategy (strictly cooperative/competitive) or mixed (a combination of both). The results indicate that it is better to teach with mixed strategies when using SBT by teams, than to teach only one (pure) strategy. Moreover, if both strategies are used, then the order of teaching is significant. It is better to start with a competitive strategy and then move to a cooperative strategy rather than the reverse.