What is MonsoonSIM?
MonsoonSIM is an award-winning business simulation and gamification education platform. This platform has been used in business education since 2013, with a rapidly growing user base in 5 continents. We have more than 250 organizations using MonsoonSIM with more than 110,000 learners. MonsoonSIM allows educators to change the way they teach business concepts. For example: Instead of training with theory alone, you authorize the learners to conduct self-directed learning --- through simulation and gamification. Some of the MonsoonSIM users include: Michigan State Business School, Penn State, Esslingen University of Applied Science (Germany), Hong Kong Hang Seng University, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore Ngee An Poly, etc
What is the difference between MonsoonSIM and other business games?
There are numerous business games available on the market. Most of them, however, are vertically focused, such as stock trading, sales, team building, marketing, etc. In contrast, MonsoonSIM uses ERP (Business Process Process) as a base. Facilitators can teach either by gamification or by simulation. MonsoonSIM, in short, uses an innovative horizontal experiential learning model (click for a short video on this). There are altogether close to three hundred micro-business concepts. These fundamental concepts apply to any trading, distribution, eCommerce, manufacturing, and service business. MonsoonSIM allows learners to discover these concepts through experiential learning and analysis.
What are the benefits of MonsoonSIM for me as an educator?
Your teaching becomes a whole lot more fun and engaging with MonsoonSIM. Firstly, by being a certified facilitator in MonsoonSIM, you can create and conduct courses anytime, anywhere, with just a standard browser; likewise, your students can learn anytime, anywhere. Secondly, you do not have to create any content. MonsoonSIM comes with hundreds of micro-business concepts. All you need to do is to choreograph your business scenario and let the learners learn through experiential learning (gaming) or simulation. You control the tempo, depth and breadth of the business scenario. Teaching business processes through PowerPoint is no longer attractive for today's learners. Notes and slides can be dauntingly boring. With MonsoonSIM, learning becomes fun. With MonsoonSIM, the trainer can now focus on adding more teaching materials not covered by MonsoonSIM for the students before, after, or in the middle of the game whenever deemed appropriate.
What are the benefits of MonsoonSIM for me as a student?
Key benefits are improved employability, virtual "real-life" work experience, and more business operations knowledge. As a student, understanding the enterprise system will significantly expand your knowledge about how a business enterprise is run. You will learn about the relationships (data and process) among various departments. You will also learn how one department's failure can impact the other departments to the point that it may even bring down the entire operation of an enterprise. Therefore, it does not matter whether you are an accounting student, a business student, an industrial engineering student, or a student studying information technology, as learning about enterprise business concepts is always good. For example, as an accounting major, you would need to know the idea of product costing and experience it when playing the MonsoonSIM game. Whereas, as an MBA student, knowing how business is being run would be good. As an e-commerce system designer, learning the procurement and supply chain concept will undoubtedly help your system design. The benefits are multi-facet.
What are the benefits of MonsoonSIM for me as part of the management team of a corporation?
As a corporate manager, MonsoonSIM will help your staff better leverage your existing business system. Besides giving your staff a better understanding of what the enterprise processes entail, the staff can work together with more appreciation of each other's constraints. For example: if your staff is in the sales department, they need to be more aware of the delivery ability. Staff in the customer service department should know the key customers. Staff working in the production department should be more aware of the upcoming promotions by the folks in the marketing department. Having your employees undergo a MonsoonSIM workshop will improve their total work productivity and flexibility. Furthermore, as MonsoonSIM is a team game that requires teamwork and communication, playing the game by mixing players from different departments into one virtual company would surely improve their team spirit and collaboration.
I have established curriculums and would like to incorporate experiential learning in the courses; how can MonsoonSIM help?
MonsoonSIM's platform is highly configurable to the facilitators. Akin to how the business environment in the real world is dynamic, shifting, and ever-changing, facilitators can configure the business simulation and tailor their teaching materials (the business gaming scenario) to suit the learning ability and capacity of the students.
We have pre-set configurations and modules you can explore and use instantly and conveniently. Still, every feature in the game, how the business world is set within any department or business concept, can be tailored.
Example: If you teach Accounting Information Systems and want your students to learn more about Inventory. You can configure a simple retail game and let your students operate their business, in teams, against each other to achieve specific apparent targets such as profitability or efficiency. While playing the game, students will learn inventory procurement, storage, and costing.
Click here to learn more about how MonsoonSIM can help enhance your curriculum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zErYhExfJUM&t=198s
How can MonsoonSIM help in studying Data Analytics?
MonsoonSIM can greatly support the study of Data Analytics by providing learners with access to live data, enabling them to analyze and interpret real-world business information. The platform offers hands-on experience in working with data, making data-driven decisions, and understanding the impact of data analysis on business outcomes.
All the game data in MonsoonSIM can be accessed, in real-time, by any 3rd party Data Analytics tools such as (Excel, R, Tableau, PowerBI, and Google Data Studio).
Click to see how a university in Germany uses MonsoonSIM to teach data analytics in a Management Accounting course : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St9NcvhJ6AE&t=653s
How long is a typical session of MonsoonSIM?
A typical session of MonsoonSIM can vary in duration and is highly flexible. It can be configured to run for as short as 1 hour or extend up to 30 days, depending on the facilitator and players' preferences. The facilitator has control over the pace, depth, and breadth of the business environment, and sessions can be stopped and resumed at a later date.
Is there any pre-requisite knowledge needed to play MonsoonSIM?
No, there is no prerequisite knowledge required to play MonsoonSIM. The simulation is designed to cater to a wide range of users, from primary school students to university students and individuals at all levels in a corporation. The game's difficulty level can be adjusted and configured according to the needs and abilities of the players.
How configurable is MonsoonSIM?
MonsoonSIM is highly configurable, allowing for a tailored and personalized experience. Users can configure various aspects of the simulation, including the locations of retail stores, warehouses, cash, and bank facilities, costs, machine capacity, storage capacity, suppliers, customers, and product bill of materials (BOM). Additionally, users can determine which departments to run, customize game timings, and choose which concepts to emphasize or hide. This configurability enables users to adapt the simulation to their specific learning objectives and desired level of complexity.
Is MonsoonSIM run on any commercial product such as SAP or Oracle business system?
MonsoonSIM is an independent simulation platform that does not rely on specific commercial products such as SAP or Oracle business systems. It is not designed as a product training tool but focuses on conceptual training, providing learners a comprehensive understanding of various business concepts and processes. MonsoonSIM emphasizes developing critical thinking, decision-making skills, and holistic business understanding rather than specific software proficiency.
Which universities have adopted MonsoonSIM in their teaching curriculum?
A wide range of universities around the world has adopted MonsoonSIM. Some notable universities that have incorporated MonsoonSIM into their teaching curriculum include:
- Penn State University - USA
- Hong Kong University of Science & Technology - Hong Kong
- Esslingen University of Applied Sciences - Germany
- National University - Philippines
- Michigan State University - USA
- Deakin University - Australia
- Swiss German University - Indonesia
- Trisakti University - Indonesia
- Francis Marion University - USA
These are just a few examples, and more than 250 universities across different countries have embraced MonsoonSIM as a valuable tool for business education.
What is the MonsoonSIM's mission?
MonsoonSIM's mission is to transform business education by making the teaching and learning experience easier and more enjoyable. The platform aims to revolutionize how business concepts are taught by providing a dynamic and interactive environment that engages learners and enhances their understanding of real-world business scenarios. By combining gamification and simulation, MonsoonSIM aims to create an immersive learning experience that imparts knowledge and develops critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Ultimately, MonsoonSIM seeks to empower educators and students worldwide to embrace innovative approaches to business education and prepare the next generation of business professionals for success.
Is there a standard methodology in delivering MonsoonSIM?
While there is no standard methodology in delivering MonsoonSIM, the platform offers a high level of configurability and flexibility, allowing Certified Facilitators to tailor the delivery based on their training objectives and the needs of their learners. Here are some considerations that trainers can take into account when delivering MonsoonSIM:
- Business Scenario Selection: Trainers can choose from various business scenarios such as trading, retail, service, or a combination based on the learning objectives and the learners' background.
- Session Duration and Tempo: Trainers can determine the session duration, whether a few hours or multiple days and set the game's pace to ensure an optimal learning experience.
- Course Materials and Monitoring: Trainers can decide if any course materials will be provided to learners and establish methods for monitoring their progress, such as quizzes or regular assessment intervals.
- Emphasizing Micro Concepts: Trainers can highlight specific micro concepts at appropriate points during the session to reinforce learning and understanding.
- Introducing New Market Dynamics: Trainers can introduce new market dynamics or challenges throughout the session to simulate real-world business environments and enhance critical thinking and decision-making skills.
- KPI Targets and Objectives: Trainers can set Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets and objectives for learners to achieve, providing a sense of achievement and motivation.
- Robot Deployment and Transactions: Trainers can deploy robots within the game to assist learners and provide transactions that learners can observe and learn from.
- Measurement and Scoring: Trainers can establish measurement criteria and scoring mechanisms to assess learners' performance and provide feedback on their decision-making and outcomes.
- Reporting and Self-Assessment: Trainers can require learners to submit reports or engage in pre-session and post-session self-assessment activities to reflect on their learning and progress.
Overall, the methodology of delivering MonsoonSIM is adaptable and can be customized by Certified Facilitators to align with their training plans, curriculum, and desired learning outcomes.
MonsoonSIM is team-based learning, but can it also be a single learner?
Yes, MonsoonSIM can be configured for both team-based learning and individual learning. While the platform is designed to facilitate team collaboration and decision-making, it is also possible to set up a single learner mode. In this mode, the learner will be challenged by their own Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets without direct interaction with other participants. The competitive landscape and market dynamics can still be created by the MonsoonSIM robots in the background, providing a realistic business environment for the individual learner.
What subject matter (major) is suitable to teach with MonsoonSIM in my university?
MonsoonSIM is a versatile platform that can be used to teach various subjects. Here are some major topics that are suitable for teaching with MonsoonSIM in a university:
- Entrepreneurship: MonsoonSIM can simulate the challenges and dynamics of running a business, allowing students to learn about various aspects of entrepreneurship, such as sales, marketing, procurement, and financial management.
- Supply Chain and Logistics: MonsoonSIM provides hands-on experience in managing supply chains, optimizing inventory, coordinating logistics operations, and understanding the overall flow of goods and services.
- ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning): MonsoonSIM can teach students about implementing and managing ERP systems, giving them practical exposure to real-world business processes and integration across departments.
- Operations Management: MonsoonSIM offers insights into operational decision-making, production planning, resource allocation, and quality management, helping students understand how to optimize processes and improve efficiency.
- Management and Financial Accounting: MonsoonSIM allows students to gain practical knowledge of financial management, budgeting, cost analysis, and financial decision-making within a simulated business environment.
- Business Fundamentals: MonsoonSIM covers essential business concepts, including sales, marketing, procurement, finance, and human resources, making it suitable for introductory courses in business studies.
- Economics Fundamentals: MonsoonSIM can give students a practical understanding of economic principles, market dynamics, pricing strategies, and demand forecasting.
- Human Resources: MonsoonSIM offers insights into human resource management, including staff recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and workforce planning.
- Capstone Projects: MonsoonSIM can be used as a platform for capstone projects, allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills in a simulated business environment and tackle complex challenges.
- Data Analytics: MonsoonSIM provides access to live data and analytics support, making it suitable for teaching data analytics concepts and techniques across various business disciplines.
These are just a few examples, and MonsoonSIM can be adapted to various other majors and courses depending on the learning objectives and desired outcomes of the curriculum.
How do I start to use MonsoonSIM for my teaching needs?
To begin using MonsoonSIM for your teaching needs, you can start by completing a 1-day (8-hour) certification - The MonsoonSIM Certified Facilitator Level-1. MonsoonSIM conducts facilitator certification training regularly, and you can reach out to them to enroll in the next certification batch. Once you have completed the certification, you will have access to your assigned server, which will allow you to conduct MonsoonSIM sessions for your students. There is an online guide available for facilitators that you can refer to at any time for assistance. It's worth noting that there are currently over 2000 certified facilitators of MonsoonSIM worldwide.