Simulation gaming in construction: ER, The equipment replacement game
Journal of Construction Education, 7 (1):
16--30 (2002)Abstract
Simulation gaming has been used to add an exciting feature to classroom instructions in a variety
of disciplines. Generally, simulation games mimic real life situations in order to develop a wide
array of professional skills. This paper firstly surveys simulation games used in the construction
management domain including, estimating, bidding, and negotiation. A brief description of the
surveyed games and the learning objectives are provided. Secondly, the paper describes the
EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT (ER) game. ER is a multi-player game that can be used in
teaching and explaining the different effects of various equipment buy/sell strategies on the
economic performance of construction companies. The game is aimed at simulating the buy and
sells decisions of construction equipment and can be used to simulate various strategies for
equipment with different cost magnitudes. The probabilistic aspect of demand in the construction
market is incorporated and the pedagogical aspects of the ER game are also discussed. The game
is implemented as an Excel add-in using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).