The Organization Game: Its Use and Life Cycle

Abstract

The Organization Game is a behavioral simulation designed to “provide a realistic setting in which students and managers can experience fundamental concepts and issues in Organizational Behavior, Organization Theory and Management, and Organizational Change and Development” (Miles and Randolph, 1979, ix). A description of it published in EXCHANGE indicated that it was a robust simulation, “forgiving” possible errors in administration and offering considerable variability in terms of “special events” that could be introduced on a class-by-class basis (Miles and Randolph, 1979a). Intrigued by this description, instructors at Rochester Institute of Technology began using the game in Behavioral Science classes. Behavioral Science is a sophomore level course required for all College of Business undergraduates. Over the three-year period when the game was in use, seven professors and over one thousand students participated in it.