Process management becomes tangible

As Albert Schweitzer knew, "the most important art of the teacher is to awaken the joy of creating and recognizing". With the help of the GRID process management simulation game, this is exactly what was achieved during a workshop week run by the Career Service at St. Marienthal Monastery in Ostritz. First, the employees of the Career Service got to know the simulation game themselves with the support of developer Eric Treske and were able to pass on their knowledge as trainers or instructors to students on the "Integrated Management Systems" and "Integrated Management" courses on the second day of the workshop.

Mr. Treske gave a brief insight into the materials required and the basic rules, and the game could begin. The content of the game is the maintenance and management of a local infrastructure. This would be a challenge in itself if there weren't any disruptions...

The group can also choose which type of infrastructure they want to deal with. Do you want to deal with gas, water or electricity lines or would you prefer to plan a road, subway or train network? This decision already shows whose idea can prevail and how communication works within the game team. It is also important to decide who will take on a leadership role, who will act as the team leader and who will sit directly at the board as the executor. It is important to manage, calculate and ultimately implement the processes associated with the upcoming maintenance work in a target-oriented manner. This brings process management to life.

The workshop was rounded off by activating team development measures with both groups, which focused on the topic of project management. In the practical part, a multi-course meal was then prepared for all participants in the conference center's event kitchen with appropriate time, resource and process planning.

The special challenge for the students was the participation of an Erasmus student from the State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO), a partner university of the two courses from St. Petersburg, who does not yet speak German. But the fun factor was not neglected either.

If you would like to experience project and process management for yourself using this simulation game, you will have the opportunity to do so from the winter semester 2017/18. We look forward to your participation.

Author: Maike Schiller

The complete program of the Career Service and further information can be found here.