IBM serious game provides training to tackle global business challenges

Building on the early success of Innov8 in the academic community over the past year, Innov8 v.2 will be available at no cost to businesses and academic institutions for simulations and training.

The new version of the game features puzzles and tasks that challenge players to tackle real-world challenges, such as reducing traffic congestion, eliminating waste in the food supply chain and improving customer service at call centers.

Serious games are at the cusp of widespread adoption within all sectors of business and government, from military flight simulators to corporate training. According to The Apply Group, by 2012, between 100 and 135 of the Global Fortune 500 will have adopted gaming for learning, with the United States, United Kingdom and Germany leading the way.

Innov8 v.2 delivers a complete redesign of the game, featuring a new global collaboration feature for players to collaborate with virtual team mates to progress to the next level of the game.

In addition, three new game scenarios reflect a new level of intelligence required for future, high-value job opportunities:

- 'Green' Supply Chain: Players evaluate a traditional supply chain model and are tasked with reducing a fictional company's carbon footprint.
- Efficient traffic flow: Players evaluate existing traffic patterns and re-route traffic based on sensors that alert the player to disruptions such as accidents and roadway congestion.
- Call Center Customer Service: Using a call center environment, players develop more efficient ways to respond to customers.

"Innov8 was designed as a powerful tool for businesses to simulate challenges and explore solutions before committing resources," said Takreem El Tohamy, General Manager, IBM Middle East and North Africa. "The new feature in Innov8 will allow companies to ease risks, remain agile enabling smarter working in the new interconnected, rapidly changing global business environment."

Learning Through Visualization

Most MBA programs are already heavily based on projects that reflect how individuals and teams need to interact in the real world. Innov8 v.2 takes that a step further by actually allowing students to step into a dynamic business environment. Based on advanced commercial gaming technologies, it allows players to visualize how technology and related business strategies affect an organization's performance. Together, players can map out business processes, identify bottlenecks and explore 'what if' scenarios in an experiential learning environment.

According to a 2008 study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a great lecture can improve learning outcomes by 17%. The study also found that switching to a different delivery mechanism such as serious games can improve learning outcomes by 108 percent.

Through its Academic Initiative, IBM is partnering with thousands of universities worldwide to help re-tool course work so it energizes both students and up and coming executives. Innov8 v.2, available to Academic Initiative members, was designed to be delivered in a one-hour learning lab to supplement courses such as Business Process Management, Corporate Strategy and Operations and IT Management.

In one year, more than 100 universities - including Duquesne University, University of Southern California and Manchester Business School (UK) - have teamed with IBM to integrate Innov8 into their curricula.

"Until now, some of the most important skills such as leadership, project management, innovation and entrepreneurship could only be taught using standard case studies and inspirational quotes,"

said Clark Aldrich, author of "The Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games: How the Most Valuable Content Will Be Created in the Age Beyond Guttenberg to Google."

"IBM's game is one way that universities can help students to learn by doing through simulations in conjunction with traditional teaching methods to build new skills and retain knowledge."

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IBM's Academic Initiative program offers a wide range of technology education benefits to meet the goals of colleges and universities. As members participating in this initiative, schools receive free access to IBM software, discounted hardware, course materials, training and curriculum development.