Emerge2Maturity: A Simulation Game for Data Warehouse Maturity Concepts

• Published in: Journal of information systems education Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 77 - 91
• Main Authors: Mannino, Michael V, Khojah, Mohammed, Gregg, Dawn G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: West Lafayette Journal of Information Systems Education 22.03.2021; EDSIG
• Subjects: Behavioral Objectives; Business intelligence; Constraint modelling; Costs; Course Descriptions; Data warehouses; Decision making; Educational objectives; Enterprise resource planning; Equipment and supplies; Experiential learning; Games; Information technology; Learning; Learning curves; Learning disabilities; Lesson Plans; Simulation; Software; Software development; Student Surveys; Students; Teaching; Teaching Methods; Warehouse stores; Colorado
• ISSN: 1055-3096; 2574-3872

This paper describes an innovative approach for teaching the challenges in the management of data warehouse development. The approach contains lecture material providing conceptual background about the management of data warehouse development, a simulation game supporting experiential learning, and a post-play debriefing to support synthesis of conceptual material and experiential learning. The simulation game, Emerge2Maturity, addresses learning challenges faced by students as they experience development over time, determine capabilities to balance costs and benefits for consistency with an organization's strategy, observe organizational learning effects on costs and benefits, and gain awareness of the impact of external events. To support decision-making by players and address these learning challenges, Emerge2Maturity uses two novel models: the Capability Assessment Model for choices about data sources subject to budget and resource constraints and the Configuration Model for transition among decision-making phases involving constraint levels, learning effects, and external events. Simulation in each phase and phase summaries provide opportunities for players to reflect about their progress in developing a data warehouse. Initial evaluation of Emerge2Maturity in a data warehouse course demonstrated the potential to improve instruction about maturity concepts pertinent to data warehouse development in organizations.