BUSINESS GAMING
IBM educates through "serious game"
By Alma Anonas-Carpio, Contributing Writer
IBM recently introduced a video game designed to help university students and young professionals develop a combination of business and information-technology (IT) skills. Thousands of universities around the world now have access to Innov8, IBM's new "serious game" for free.
Serious games are defined as "computer and video games used as educational and training tools." In the same way that airline pilots are taught their skills using flight simulators, many corporations and universities see serious games as an effective way of teaching new skills to a generation that has grown up in the video game era.
"The best-kept secret in the world of computer and video games is the rise of a movement-now in the thousands-of gamers, universities, and corporations dedicated to applying games to serious challenges such as education, training, medical treatment, or better government," said David Rejeski, director of the Serious Games Initiative, which is housed at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. "IBM has established itself as a pioneer in serious gaming by enabling universities to educate students using the gaming medium they understand, enjoy and embrace.
Games in the classroom
IBM developed Innov8 as a new way to teach business students and young IT professionals-many whom have grown up playing video games-about competing successfully in business.
Innov8 is an interactive, 3D educational game designed to bridge the gap in understanding between IT teams and business leaders in an organization. This type of serious gaming-simulations that have the look and feel of a game but correspond to nongame events or processes such as business operations-has emerged as a successful method to train employees or develop new skills.
Most MBA programs are already heavily based on group projects to reflect how individuals and teams need to interact in the real world. Innov8 takes that a step further by allowing students to step into a dynamic business environment. The game is based on advanced commercial gaming technologies and allows players to visualize how technology and related business strategies affect an organization's performance. Together, users can visualize business processes, identify bottlenecks, and explore "what if" scenarios before technology is deployed.
Addressing a skills shortage
In an IBM survey of chief executive officers, it was shown that 75 percent of them cite education and the lack of qualified candidates as issues that will have the greatest impact on their business over the next three years. In addition, a study from Gartner Group indicates that six out of 10 people affiliated with IT will assume business-facing roles by 2010.
With a growing number of jobs and professions require a combination of technology and business skills, Innov8 can be an effective way of developing this new, hybrid skill set.
"IBM views serious gaming as a new and exciting way to develop the skills that are required as business and IT become more closely aligned," said Sandy Carter, vice president, IBM SOA and WebSphere strategy, channels, and marketing. "Innov8 was designed to address this specific skills shortage while also helping universities realize the benefits of using serious games as a powerful tool for teaching today's students."
In 2008, IBM will host a university challenge based on Innov8. Teams of university students will have an opportunity to compete against one another as they identify and solve unique business challenges. Details on the Innov8 University Challenge will be announced early next year.
Innov8 is now available through IBM's Academic Initiative, a program offering a wide range of technology education benefits to meet the goals of colleges and universities. As a member of this initiative, participating schools receive free access to IBM software, discounted hardware, course materials, training and curriculum development. Nearly 2,000 universities and 11,000 faculty members worldwide have joined IBM's Academic Initiative.
The technical requirements users must meet to be able to play Innov8 game are:
A Microsoft Windows Vista/XP/2000/98/Me operating systems; 128 MB RAM; 750 MB of disk space; a Pentium III or Athlon 800 MHz or greater processor; 16-bit DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card and drivers; CD-ROM: 4x CD-ROM drive and drivers; 3D hardware accelerator card and an nVidia GeForce 2 or equivalent ATI card or higher; and Direct X 9.0c (compliant 32 MB Video card and drivers) software.
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