L’apport des simulations d’entreprise à la pédagogie et la recherche en entrepreneuriat : bilan et propositions
Résumé
Les simulations d’entreprise sont utilisées de façon fréquente et croissante dans la pédagogie de l’entrepreneuriat bien que leurs bénéfices soient imparfaitement établis. Leurs évaluations sont souvent cantonnées à la satisfaction des participants et apprécient mal les acquis pédagogiques. Cet article présente les résultats d’une recherche visant à évaluer par triangulation une simulation dédiée à l’entrepreneuriat. Notre méthodologie s’appuie sur trois approches complémentaires : (1) l’étude du réalisme de l’expérience vécue par les participants, (2) l’observation des modes d’apprentissage activés (Fox et al., 2018) et (3) la validation de la simulation (Feinstein et Cannon, 2001). Ces trois dimensions de l’évaluation confirment les apports spécifiques de cette simulation. Cette évaluation indique aussi la possibilité et l’intérêt d’exploiter des données issues de simulation pour approfondir notre compréhension du management des jeunes pousses (startups) d’une façon comparable à celle dont les simulations d’entreprise matures ont fait l’objet dans la recherche en management stratégique.
The benefit of business simulations for entrepreneurship education and research: Results and suggestions Business simulations are extensively and increasingly used in entrepreneurship education. Yet their benefits are only partially understood. Most evaluations are only based on participant satisfaction and overlook these simulations’ educational benefits. This article presents the results of a study aiming to evaluate a business simulation specifically dedicated to entrepreneurship, through triangulation and combining the models of Feinstein and Cannon (2001) and Fox et al. (2018). Our evaluation analyzes the simulations along three dimensions: (1) the “fidelity” of the simulation, (2) the types of learning triggered, and (3) the “validity” of simulation models. The three evaluation dimensions highlight this simulation’s educational benefits. Moreover, they demonstrate the value of data drawn from these simulations to grow our understanding of startup management processes, consistent with past academic research on business simulations of mature firms.
The benefit of business simulations for entrepreneurship education and research: Results and suggestions Business simulations are extensively and increasingly used in entrepreneurship education. Yet their benefits are only partially understood. Most evaluations are only based on participant satisfaction and overlook these simulations’ educational benefits. This article presents the results of a study aiming to evaluate a business simulation specifically dedicated to entrepreneurship, through triangulation and combining the models of Feinstein and Cannon (2001) and Fox et al. (2018). Our evaluation analyzes the simulations along three dimensions: (1) the “fidelity” of the simulation, (2) the types of learning triggered, and (3) the “validity” of simulation models. The three evaluation dimensions highlight this simulation’s educational benefits. Moreover, they demonstrate the value of data drawn from these simulations to grow our understanding of startup management processes, consistent with past academic research on business simulations of mature firms.