The OPRAD Research and Development Management Game

Abstract

The OPRAD game was developed as an educational and research tool in R&D management. The game is an extension of a previously developed OPSIM management game (Darden and Lucas, [Darden, W. R., W. H. Lucas. 1969. The Decision Making Game: An Integrated Operations Research Management Simulation. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York.]) to include R&D personnel and project decisions. A methodology of game evaluation includes both player performance and results of a written questionnaire. Utilizing data on player performance in a model of the learning process yields results which correspond to conclusions obtained from the questionnaire, providing justification for the approach taken. These results indicate that the game is useful in the training of both R&D managers and management scientists.