Interpretive Simulations | Why Simulations Still Work When Students Have AI https://www.interpretive.com Learn by Doing Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:33:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.interpretive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/favicon.ico Interpretive Simulations | Why Simulations Still Work When Students Have AI https://www.interpretive.com 32 32 Why Simulations Still Work When Students Have AI https://www.interpretive.com/simulations-and-ai/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:32:54 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=23098 AI is everywhere in business classrooms. Here's why a well-built simulation keeps students doing the thinking — and how to frame AI as the assistant, not the answer.

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AI IN THE CLASSROOM

Why Simulations Still Work When Students Have AI

AI is now part of almost every business classroom. Students use it to research, draft, and summarize. And, increasingly, to work through assignments and cases. For instructors, that raises a real question: if AI can produce a polished answer in seconds, are students still learning to think a problem through and make the decision themselves?

It’s a fair concern, and worth taking seriously. But the answer isn’t to try to keep AI out of the classroom. It’s to design learning that keeps students doing the thinking, even when AI is available. For a lot of business courses, a well-built simulation does exactly that.

The same tool, very different results

Recent research shows just how widespread this already is. In a 2026 national survey, roughly 95% of undergraduates reported using AI, including on graded work. What’s telling is how differently students describe it. Some say AI frees them to focus on deeper analysis and understanding. Others are blunt — one student admitted, “I’m not using my brain at all.”

Same tool, very different outcomes. And the difference usually isn’t the technology — it’s what the course asks students to do with it. When an assignment can be finished by pasting a prompt into a chatbot, some students will. When it requires them to make and defend real decisions, there’s nothing to hand off.

What a simulation asks of students

This is where a business simulation fits naturally. A simulation doesn’t ask students to find the single right answer. It asks them to run a company and make decisions, with incomplete information, over several rounds, against competitors whose choices keep shifting the market.

There’s nothing fixed to look up, because the situation changes with every move. Students have to interpret what’s happening, commit to a course of action, see how it plays out, and adjust the next round. That cycle — decide, review the results, adjust, repeat — is where the learning happens. And it’s the part AI can’t do for a student, no matter how capable it becomes.

“Giving them practice dealing with the ambiguity is one reason I use a simulation.”

— Dr. Michele Yoder

What happens when AI plays the simulation

It’s a reasonable thing to test, and several instructors have. In one experiment, a professor had Google’s Gemini play a simulation against 18 of his student teams. It performed respectably, but only because he guided it closely, reasoning through the strategy and correcting it when it went off track. Even then, it never finished first. In another informal test, ChatGPT playing an introductory business simulation landed in the bottom quarter of the class. And when students competed head-to-head against an AI “student,” the AI never earned a perfect round.

The takeaway was consistent: AI can genuinely help, but there’s no shortcut. Getting a strong result still takes a person guiding the decisions and exercising judgment.

AI is the assistant. The student makes the call.

That points to a simple, useful way to frame AI for students. AI is the assistant; the student is the decision-maker. AI is good at the fast work like gathering information, explaining a concept, producing a first draft to react to. The student does the part that builds real skill: interpreting the results, weighing the trade-offs, and making the decision.

Two habits help students use AI that way. The first is to ask better questions, not “what should we do?” but “what are the risks here?”, “what are we missing?”, or “argue against our strategy.” The AI contributes; the student still decides.

The second is to grade the reasoning rather than the polished output. When students have to explain why they made each decision and what they changed along the way, the thinking is what counts, and that’s far harder to outsource to AI.

AI will keep improving, and students will keep using it and that’s fine. The goal isn’t to compete with it, but to make sure students are still doing the thinking a business career will demand. A good simulation keeps them there: making the decisions, owning the results, and learning from both.

The deciding — the thinking — stays with the student. And that’s exactly the point.

FROM INTERPRETIVE SIMULATIONS

Put students in the decisions

At Interpretive Simulations, our business simulations are built to do exactly what this article describes: keep students making the decisions, round after round, across marketing, management, and strategy courses. And because students are going to use AI anyway, we built an AI assistant into the simulations — the Interpretive Guide — that explains how the simulation works and what the results mean, but won’t make decisions for students (and you can switch it on or off).

You’re also never on your own. Our team helps set up the simulation for your course and supports you and your students all semester.

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]]> A New Edition of Brewing a Business https://www.interpretive.com/brewing-a-business-second-edition/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:39:22 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22987 The new second edition of Brewing a Business is reorganized into six chapters, with updated content and a stronger focus on business judgment. Hear from author Michael Levin.

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Brewing a Business 2nd Edition

Brewing a Business · Second Edition

A New Edition of Brewing a Business: Connecting Business Concepts to Business Decisions

What does a student really need to understand about business?

That question was at the center of the new second edition of Brewing a Business, the eBook developed specifically to accompany the BizCafe business simulation. Rather than trying to cover every possible topic in an introductory business textbook, Brewing a Business focuses on the concepts students need to understand how a business works and then gives them an opportunity to put those concepts into practice.

For the second edition, we took a fresh look at the book: its structure, the concepts it emphasizes, and especially the connections between what students read and what they experience while running their simulated café in BizCafe.

“I wrote this textbook because I wanted students to do more than just take notes in class, to just simply be passive in a lecture. I wanted them to actively wrestle with decisions.”

— Dr. Michael A. Levin, author of Brewing a Business

A More Intentional Journey Through Business

The second edition has been reorganized into six chapters that follow a more natural progression through the life of a business.

Students begin with one of the most fundamental ideas in business: creating and exchanging value. From there, they explore how businesses understand markets and customers, develop marketing strategies, manage people, operate effectively, and ultimately measure the financial results of all those decisions. Accounting and finance now come at the end of that journey, helping students see financial performance not as an isolated subject, but as the result of choices made throughout the business.

The content has also been substantially updated. Entrepreneurship receives broader treatment, while topics including digital marketing, sustainability, changing employment models, supply-chain challenges, customer experience, and artificial intelligence are integrated throughout the book. Operations has become a stronger standalone chapter, covering areas such as forecasting, suppliers, quality, logistics, and customer service.

The new edition also puts greater emphasis on business judgment, focusing on making decisions when the information available is incomplete and learning from the results.

Read It. See It. Do It.

Learning business judgment gets to the heart of the simulation experience. That’s why the combination of Brewing a Business and BizCafe works so well, we believe. Students aren’t simply reading about business while simultaneously playing a simulation. The two were designed to work together.

A student might learn about creating customer value in the eBook, discuss how a real business owner thinks about it in an interview, and then confront that same issue when making decisions in BizCafe. Marketing, staffing, operations, pricing, customer service, and finance become decisions with consequences rather than definitions to memorize.

Throughout the book, concepts are reinforced through mini-cases, assignments, ethical discussions, interviews with business owners, quizzes, and direct connections to the simulation. Instructors can use the entire book or select the chapters and resources that best fit their course.

The result is what we think an Introduction to Business course should increasingly provide: an introduction to the different functions of a business and an opportunity for students to see how those functions fit together.

With the second edition of Brewing a Business and BizCafe, students get to experience those connections for themselves.

And that’s where learning business starts becoming learning by doing.

Interested in reviewing the new second edition?

Instructors with Faculty Access can explore Brewing a Business, BizCafe, and the complete set of teaching resources through their Interpretive account.

Get your Faculty Access today!

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]]> Experiential Learning for Strategy Courses Using Airline https://www.interpretive.com/experiential-learning-for-strategy-courses-using-airline/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:43:03 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22608 Watch our faculty webinar to see how a business simulation can enhance your capstone or strategy course through real-world, decision-based learning.

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Post-webinar landing preview

FACULTY WEBINAR · ON DEMAND

A Practical Approach to Teaching Strategy Using a Business Simulation

How Prof. Calvin Lindo redesigned his capstone course to better prepare students for real-world experiences.

Watch the webinar Request a Demo

In this faculty webinar, Calvin Lindo, MBA, ABD, Associate Professor in the College of Business at the University of Northwestern Ohio, shares how he uses Airline in a capstone course to create a more realistic, team-based learning experience for students.

Prof. Lindo redesigned his course to help students strengthen the skills business advisory and community members often say graduates need most: communication, teamwork, real-world experience, and confidence.

Watch the Webinar: A Practical Approach to Teaching Strategy Using a Business Simulation

In this session, Prof. Lindo walks through how he moves students from passive learning to active decision-making — using Airline as the course content rather than a side activity.

Students do not simply study strategy. They run a company, make financial and operational decisions, weigh tradeoffs, respond to outcomes, and present results as if reporting to a CEO.

In the webinar, Prof. Lindo discusses:

01

How he structures his capstone course using Airline

02

What students learn through the simulation experience

03

How CEO-style check-ins and annual presentations help students build communication skills

04

The major challenges students encounter

05

Recommendations for instructors who want to adopt a similar approach

A practical, real-world approach to capstone

In Calvin's redesigned capstone, student teams are not entrepreneurs — they are vice presidents of a newly purchased division reporting to a CEO. Prof. Lindo plays the CEO. Teams bring the big calls to him for approval: aircraft purchases, leases, additional debt, strategic plans, expansion plans, and major operational decisions. Each team also manages a $4–$5 million annual capital budget.

There are no rubrics, no tip lines, and no walk-throughs of the presentation. Teams set their own strategy, run their own competitive analyses, and resolve their own mistakes — with the CEO holding back for two to three quarters before intervening, so students can experience the consequences of their decisions.

Teams are not graded on profitability or stock price. They are graded on judgment, communication, and how they recover from mistakes. A team can be unprofitable across all 12 simulated quarters and still pass the class. As Calvin puts it in the session, the focus is on whether students can think and communicate like business professionals — not whether they hit a number.

Who should watch

This session is designed for faculty teaching or considering courses in:

Strategic management · Capstone · Management · Operations

Current Airline users are also encouraged to watch. Prof. Lindo's approach may offer new ideas for structuring team meetings, presentations, assessment, and student reflection.

Featured Presenter

Calvin Lindo has taught economics, finance, management, and marketing courses at the undergraduate level since 2006. He began teaching in the MBA Program at the University of Findlay in 2007 and joined the College of Business at the University of Northwestern Ohio as an adjunct instructor in 2009 before becoming a full-time faculty member in 2018. He became an Associate Professor in 2024.

In addition to his academic experience, Calvin brings more than 30 years of professional experience in financial and business planning, marketing and planning roles in healthcare systems, and business consulting. He holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and is ABD in the Doctor of Business Administration Program at Anderson University.

Calvin Lindo, MBA, ABD

Associate Professor, College of Business, University of Northwestern Ohio

Explore Airline Further

Watch the recorded webinar to see Calvin's approach, then request a free faculty demo to review the Airline simulation and instructor resources.

Watch the webinar Review Airline Request a Demo

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]]> Teaching Intro to Business with BizCafe https://www.interpretive.com/teaching-business-essentials-with-bizcafe/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:52:59 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22534 See how BizCafe connects business concepts to practical decisions. Watch the webinar for structure, key decisions, resources, and v5 updates.

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Teaching Business Essentials with BizCafe

Explore how BizCafe helps students connect core business concepts to practical decision-making in today’s classroom
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Introducing BizCafe v5

BizCafe is a Business Essentials simulation designed for students to learn about the challenges and rewards of making good decisions in a relatable service-based business — a local coffee shop.
Students encounter all the facets of running a business at a basic level, learning business terminology, how to create a successful enterprise, staff and inventory management, operations, marketing, and accounting.
Designed for courses such as Introduction to Business, Business Essentials, Small Business Management, and Principles of Management.

Watch the Webinar: Teaching Business Essentials with BizCafe

We recently hosted a webinar demonstrating how BizCafe supports introductory business courses through a competitive, decision-based environment.
The session includes a walkthrough of the simulation, key decision areas, performance evaluation, and a live demonstration of the platform, showing how BizCafe can be integrated into your course.
Teaching Business Essentials with BizCafe

The sections below provide additional detail on how BizCafe supports Business Essentials & Intro to Business courses in practice.

From Business Concepts to Application

BizCafe helps students connect core business concepts through one integrated business experience. Students make decisions, analyze results, and adjust their approach over time. The purpose of BizCafe is to allow students to experience some of the issues in running a business before their paycheck depends on it.
As the simulation progresses, students learn to make a good plan, coordinate their management, marketing, and operations decisions, analyze results, and make adjustments.

A Relatable Service-Based Business

BizCafe uses the context of a local coffee shop to introduce students to the key functional areas of a business at a basic level. Because the environment is familiar, students can focus on business terminology, decision-making, and the connections among different parts of the business.

Designed for Introductory Business Courses

BizCafe is commonly used in courses such as:

  • Introduction to Business
  • Business Essentials
  • Small Business Management
  • Principles of Management

What’s New in BizCafe v5

BizCafe v5 expands the simulation to reflect how real businesses operate today. Students are not only managing pricing, staffing, and operations, but also thinking about sustainability, community impact, and employee satisfaction. The update also improves the interface and adds more realistic economic scenarios, making the experience clearer for students and more flexible for instructors.

Instructor Support and Course Resources

All of Interpretive’s simulations include fully administered services designed to simplify course integration. There are many ways to integrate BizCafe into a course. It can be used over the whole semester, as a unit in the middle of the course, or in a compressed timeframe at the end of the semester as an assessment of material learned. Sample schedules and sample syllabi provide guidance on including the simulation in a course.
Our team manages the logistics of the simulation event, allowing you to focus on teaching rather than administration.
Implementation Support Includes:

  • Creation of your simulation course site
  • Assistance selecting simulation options and assignments
  • Schedule configuration and student list setup
  • Ongoing instructor guidance throughout the simulation

In addition, our customer support specialists respond to student technical questions submitted online within 24 hours. This ensures that classroom discussion remains focused on strategic decision-making rather than technical troubleshooting.

Explore BizCafe Further

We invite you to join us for a live webinar exploring BizCafe on April 21st at 2 pm ET!

Request your free faculty demo access to learn more about our BizCafe simulation!

LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS

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]]> Introducing BizCafe v5: New Features and Updates! https://www.interpretive.com/bizcafe-v5/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:54:12 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22456 Explore BizCafe v5 updates: sustainability, better UX, new scenarios, and model updates. Log in with Faculty Access to review.

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Explore What’s New in BizCafe v5

Available for limited release in Summer 2026 & Full release in Fall 2026

We’re excited to share the latest updates to BizCafe!
BizCafe v5 includes new sustainability elements, improved user experience, new scenarios, and miscellaneous changes. You can preview the updates in the BizCafe sample course site using your Faculty Access.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our support team.
Explore the latest BizCafe v5 updates
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New Sustainability Elements

In addition to the existing Green Upgrade incident, BizCafe v5 adds four more sustainability-focused incidents that bring new decisions around waste, energy use, and sourcing into the simulation:

  • Solid Waste Management
  • Sandwiches
  • Community Solar
  • Energy Efficiency

BizCafe can now track additional sustainability metrics:

  • Carbon Footprint
  • Landfill Waste
  • Employee Satisfaction
  • Community Reputation

New fair-trade coffee quality options, changing Good, High, and Organic options to:

  • Good
  • Fair-Trade
  • Organic
  • Fair-Trade Organic

Improved Student Experience

  • Updated Dashboard: More metrics can be displayed, and a graph on each metric’s tile gives a sense of how the metric has changed over time. Metric details now include tabular data in addition to the metric definition and graph.
  • Espresso maker flexibility: Students may now exchange the espresso maker for a different model after the start period for a fee. This is useful if students miss the start period or change their minds.
  • Clear incident choice: All incidents now have an explicit option to take no action. Instructors can now tell the difference between students neglecting to answer an incident and students actively choosing the status quo.

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New Scenarios

  • Scenario 6: Minimum wage of $15 like scenario 5, but servers expect higher wages than previous scenarios. Higher expected coffee price than previous scenarios: $4.75. Higher base demand makes it easier for value-focused cafes to make money, compared to scenario 5.
  • Scenario 7: Minimum wage of $20. Higher expected coffee price of $4.95. Challenging.

Pricing, Demand, and Expense Updates

BizCafe v5 includes several model updates related to expenses, pricing, and demand.
Expenses and utilities

  • Utilities are now reported as separate electricity and water expenses.
  • Monthly trash and recycling expenses are reported under a Solid Waste Pickup line item on the Income Statement.
  • Utility expenses now vary with sales.
  • For the Green Upgrade incident, reductions in utility use are now prorated based on when in the utility billing cycle the incident occurs

Pricing and demand

  • For the Potential Spike in Demand incident, the sales price of coffee from the cart now depends on the scenario. For scenarios 3 and 4, the price remains $2. For scenarios 5–7, the price is $3.
  • For scenarios 5–7, the price range is now $0.30 to $1.50.

BizCafe NEW CASE: Starbucks

Discover Starbucks, a free case series for BizCafe users that brings strategy and customer value to life. Students explore how Starbucks built its iconic “third place” experience, how it drifted during the pandemic, and how the company’s newest CEO is working to rebuild the brand. Paired with a ready-to-use instructor lesson plan, it’s an engaging, discussion‑driven addition to any BizCafe course.
More information about the new case will be available soon.

Brewing a Business

The 2nd edition of Brewing a Business, coming this fall, will feature new and expanded content on topics including artificial intelligence, digital marketing, establishing a value proposition, budgeting, supply chain, and more. New video interviews with entrepreneurs as well as new cases will be included in the eBook resources, along with updated quizzes, PowerPoint slides, and instructor guidance.
Beyond content, the eBook is also getting a full redesign to improve readability and appearance. We look forward to sharing this new version of Brewing a Business with you soon!
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Review updated resources and sample games:

Please log in with your faculty access and select the Simulations tab to go to
BizCafe sample course site!

Request your free faculty demo access to learn more about our BizCafe simulation!

LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS

The post Introducing BizCafe v5: New Features and Updates! first appeared on Interpretive Simulations.

]]> Teaching Introduction to Marketing with NewShoes https://www.interpretive.com/teaching-intro-to-marketing-with-newshoes/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:29:44 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22381 Webinar: NewShoes helps students apply marketing concepts as they manage an athletic shoe company and compete in a structured market.

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Teaching Introduction to Marketing with NewShoes

See how NewShoes turns marketing concepts into practical learning
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Introducing NewShoes v4

NewShoes is an introductory marketing simulation in which students manage an athletic shoe company competing directly with other teams in the class.
Designed for Introduction to Marketing and Principles of Marketing courses, NewShoes helps students move beyond memorizing concepts and apply them through structured decision-making in a competitive market.
Students manage key marketing decisions including pricing, promotion, product, and distribution, while analyzing performance through company reports and market results.

Watch the Webinar! Teaching Introduction to Marketing with NewShoes

We recently hosted a webinar demonstrating how NewShoes supports introductory marketing courses through a competitive, decision-based environment.
The session includes a walkthrough of the simulation structure, key decision areas, performance analysis, and a live demonstration of the platform, showing how NewShoes can be integrated into your course.
Teaching Introduction to Marketing with NewShoes

From Marketing Concepts to Application

In many introductory marketing courses, students learn concepts such as segmentation, positioning, pricing, promotion, and distribution through lectures and readings.
NewShoes allows students to apply those ideas by managing a company in a simulated market. Teams analyze performance reports, make marketing decisions, evaluate results, and adjust their strategy over multiple simulated periods.
Because teams compete directly against other companies in the class, outcomes depend on how effectively students apply marketing principles in a competitive environment.

A Competitive, Decision-Driven Environment

In NewShoes, student teams manage an athletic shoe company within a shared market. Each company begins from the same position, and performance depends on the effectiveness of marketing decisions.
Students review market and company reports, analyze results, and adjust their decisions as the simulation progresses.
This structure helps students connect marketing theory with the consequences of real business decisions.

Designed for Introductory Marketing Courses

NewShoes is commonly used in courses such as:

  • Introduction to Marketing
  • Principles of Marketing

The simulation focuses on core marketing concepts and does not assume advanced analytics or prior business experience.

Instructor Support and Course Resources

All Interpretive simulations include fully administered services designed to simplify course integration. When you adopt NewShoes, you are partnered with a dedicated Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) who works directly with you to support setup and implementation.
Our team manages the logistics of the simulation event, allowing you to focus on teaching rather than administration.
Implementation Support Includes:

  • Creation of your simulation course site
  • Assistance selecting simulation options and assignments
  • Schedule configuration and student list setup
  • Ongoing instructor guidance throughout the simulation

In addition, our customer support specialists respond to student technical questions submitted online within 24 hours. This ensures that classroom discussion remains focused on strategic decision-making rather than technical troubleshooting.

New: Textbook Pairing Option

NewShoes works alongside a wide range of marketing textbooks, giving instructors flexibility in how they structure their course.
One example highlighted in the webinar is pairing NewShoes with FlatWorld’s Principles of Marketing eReader. The eReader includes embedded videos and interactives, audio learning options, self-study tools, and instructor resources that complement the simulation experience.
FlatWorld’s Principles of Marketing eReader

Explore NewShoes Further

Watch the webinar to see how NewShoes works and how it can be integrated into your marketing course. You can also visit the NewShoes product page and request free demo access to review the simulation and instructor resources.

LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS

The post Teaching Introduction to Marketing with NewShoes first appeared on Interpretive Simulations.

]]> Introducing NewShoes v4: Coming Fall 2026 https://www.interpretive.com/introducing-newshoes-v4/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:29:09 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22331 NewShoes v4 launches for Fall 2026 with a redesigned interface, new textbook pairing, improved dashboard, and more helpful updates.

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Explore NewShoes' Latest Updates

Available for limited release in Summer 2026 & Full release in Fall 2026
NewShoes update

Introducing NewShoes v4

We’re excited to share the latest version of the NewShoes simulation—a major update designed to enhance clarity, navigation, and the overall user experience for both instructors and students.
Version 4 includes a redesigned interface, updated dashboard visuals, improved navigation, and responsive layout enhancements. We’re also introducing a new NewShoes + FlatWorld eReader pairing option.

Review our key updates below

Modern, Customizable Interface

  • Updated visual layout
  • Collapsible navigation menu
  • Light and dark mode options
  • Custom accent colors and font selections via the user menu

The refreshed interface keeps students focused on decision-making while making navigation more intuitive.
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Updated Dashboard

  • Graph displayed within each metric tile to show how performance changes over time
  • Expanded metric detail including tabular data
  • Clear, professional visualization of results

Students can now more easily connect decisions to outcomes across periods.

Responsive Layout

NewShoes v4 adapts seamlessly across devices.

  • Compact display on smaller tablets
  • Full use of screen space on larger monitors
  • Improved readability across screen sizes

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Enhanced Navigation, Search & Instructor Reporting

  • All reports and decisions accessible from the left-side menu
  • Faster switching between pages
  • Built-in search tool to locate reports, glossary terms, and decisions
  • New Company Comparison report (Instructor view) – Allows instructors to view decisions made by all firms, either by company or by decision category

Students benefit from quicker access to information, and instructors gain improved visibility into team strategy and decision patterns.

NewShoes + FlatWorld eReader Pairing

We’re also introducing a new pairing option that connects marketing theory with hands-on simulation.
The new edition of Principles of Marketing provides a clear, modern introduction to marketing fundamentals. NewShoes then gives students the opportunity to apply those ideas by managing an athletic shoe company and competing in dynamic markets.
The textbook also includes strong coverage of digital marketing, social media, analytics, AI, ethics, and global marketing, making it a timely and relevant complement to the simulation. To support this pairing, we’ve created a dedicated Instructor Integration Guide designed to make course planning and execution easier.
FlatWorld’s Principles of Marketing eReader

Accessibility

NewShoes v4 is in the process of third-party certification to conform to WCAG 2.2 AA standards, reinforcing our commitment to accessible and equitable learning environments.

Review updated resources and sample games:

The NewShoes v4 sample course site will be available late March 2026.
Please log in with your faculty access and select the Simulations tab to go to the NewShoes sample course site!

Request your free faculty demo access to learn more about our NewShoes simulation!

LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS

The post Introducing NewShoes v4: Coming Fall 2026 first appeared on Interpretive Simulations.

]]> Teaching Strategy with Airline: Best practices from Interpretive https://www.interpretive.com/teaching-strategy-with-airline/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:11:10 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22290 Explore how the Airline strategy simulation helps students move from strategy discussion into execution in undergrad and MBA strategy courses.

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Teaching Strategy with Airline

Explore how Airline builds real-world strategic thinking in your classroom
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Introducing Airline v4

Airline is a strategy simulation in which students manage a regional airline competing directly with other teams in the class.
Designed for courses in Business Strategy, Strategic Management, and Strategy in a Service Industry Context, Airline supports students in developing the ability to formulate and implement strategy in a competitive environment. Through the simulation, students learn to evaluate performance measures, interpret financial and market reports, allocate resources across functional areas, and adjust strategic decisions over time under conditions of uncertainty.

Watch the Webinar: Teaching Strategy with Airline

We recently hosted a webinar demonstrating how Airline supports strategy courses through a competitive, decision-based environment.
The session includes a walkthrough of the simulation structure, key decision areas, performance evaluation, and a live demonstration of the platform, showing how Airline can be integrated into your course.

The sections below provide additional detail on how Airline supports strategy courses in practice.

From Discussion to Strategic Management

In many strategy courses, students analyze cases but do not experience the consequences of their decisions over time. Airline requires teams to define a strategy, execute decisions, evaluate results, and adjust based on performance data across multiple simulated quarters. Because outcomes depend on execution within a competitive environment, students move from discussing strategy to managing it.

A Structured, Competitive Environment

Airline places student teams in direct competition within a shared market. Each company begins from the same position, with no initial competitive advantage. Performance is determined by how effectively teams align pricing, marketing, operational, and financial decisions within the constraints of the simulation.
Because results are generated from the interaction of decisions across teams, outcomes cannot be predetermined. Students must interpret company and market reports, compare performance measures, and defend their strategic choices within the context of a dynamic competitive setting.

Designed for Strategy Courses

Airline is used in undergraduate and MBA courses in:

  • Business Strategy
  • Strategic Management
  • Strategy in a Service Industry Context

Airline is designed to integrate planning, execution, financial analysis, and competitive positioning within a single, evolving simulation environment.

Instructor Support and Course Resources

All of Interpretive’s simulations include fully administered services designed to simplify course integration. When you adopt Airline, you are partnered with a dedicated Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) who works directly with you to support setup and implementation.
Our team manages the logistics of the simulation event, allowing you to focus on teaching rather than administration.
Implementation Support Includes:

  • Creation of your simulation course site
  • Assistance selecting simulation options and assignments
  • Schedule configuration and student list setup
  • Ongoing instructor guidance throughout the simulation

In addition, our customer support specialists respond to student technical questions submitted online within 24 hours. This ensures that classroom discussion remains focused on strategic decision-making rather than technical troubleshooting.

Explore Airline Further

Request demo access to review the Airline simulation and instructor resources.

LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS

The post Teaching Strategy with Airline: Best practices from Interpretive first appeared on Interpretive Simulations.

]]> Introducing Airline v4: A look at the latest update for Fall 2026 https://www.interpretive.com/airline-v4/ Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:59:53 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22238 Airline v4 launches for Fall 2026 with a redesigned interface, updated pro forma, improved onboarding, and a better overall experience for students.

The post Introducing Airline v4: A look at the latest update for Fall 2026 first appeared on Interpretive Simulations.

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Explore Airline's Latest Updates

Available for limited release in Summer 2026 & Full release in Fall 2026
Airline v4

Introducing Airline v4

We’re excited to announce the latest version of the Airline simulation—a major update designed to enhance clarity, usability, and instructional flexibility.
Version 4 includes a fully redesigned interface, new real-world incidents, and updated teaching resources to support strategic learning outcomes in today’s classroom.
Available for limited release in Summer 2026 & Full release in Fall 2026

Review our key updates below

Accessibility and Usability

  • Meeting WCAG AA standards to ensure equitable access for all users.
  • Conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ensures essential accessibility while balancing design and usability.
  • The layout adapts to various screen sizes, from tablets to large monitors.

Redesigned Simulation Interface

  • Modern and Customizable Appearance: Clean, modern layout with collapsible navigation menus. Dark mode and display preferences can be set under the user menu in the upper left corner of the page.
  • Easy Onboarding Experience: A redesigned simulation home page provides structured guidance on simulation setup, decision timing, and next steps.

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Device Frame

Enhanced Navigation and Search

  • Streamlined Navigation: Decision areas have been grouped by function (e.g., Marketing, Scheduling, Finance) and reorganized to reduce unnecessary clicks and improve student focus.
  • Quick Access & Search Tools: A collapsible sidebar and top-level menu offer faster access to simulation reports. Glossary and search tools help students find what they need quickly.

New Added Incidents

To provide students with relevant, real-world strategic challenges.

  • Incident 20: Customer Data Breach—To Disclose or Not?
  • Incident 21: Noise Pollution

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Device Frame

Updated Reports

  • The Pro-Forma has been improved, so students can more easily anticipate their financial performance in the next simulated quarter. The calculated Pro-Forma cost-per-seat-mile is used on the Fares and Scheduling decision pages to help with analysis.
  • Improved Scheduling Feedback: New visuals and route planning aids improve visibility into capacity, profitability, and time allocation.

Review updated resources and sample games:

The Airline v4 sample course site will be available in March 2026.
Please log in with your faculty access and select the Simulations tab to go to the Airline sample course site!

The redesigned interface makes it easier to find key information quickly, and the improved aircraft view makes discussing and managing strategic decisions much more straightforward.

Holly Miller, Customer Relationship Manager

Request your free faculty demo access to learn more about our Airline simulation!

LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS

The post Introducing Airline v4: A look at the latest update for Fall 2026 first appeared on Interpretive Simulations.

]]> Soft Skills and Simulations: Practice Makes Progress https://www.interpretive.com/soft-skills-and-simulations/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:42:57 +0000 https://www.interpretive.com/?p=22076 One of the most valuable outcomes from a simulation is soft skills practice. Give your students an opportunity to practice this vital skill by using one of our simulations.

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Soft Skills and Simulations: Practice Makes Progress

One of the most valuable outcomes from a simulation is soft skills practice. 

Ask any employer what new graduates are missing, and you’ll hear the same answer again and again: soft skills. They’ve got the technical know-how, the Excel formulas, the data analysis, the theory, but many stumble when it comes to communicating clearly, collaborating on a team, or adapting when things don’t go according to plan. 
Business simulations don’t teach soft skills in a step-by-step way. But they require them! And when students engage deeply with a simulation, they get a controlled, challenging environment to practice the very skills they’ll carry into their careers. 

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are personal attributes and interpersonal abilities (often called “people skills”) that shape how well someone works with others and performs on the job. Unlike hard skills, which are technical and job-specific, soft skills transfer across industries and roles. Whether you’re running a startup, managing a project, or climbing the corporate ladder, these skills are the foundation for success. 

Seven Soft Skills Simulations Put to the Test

1. Communication: Teammates have to make their case to each other and to their instructor as they justify their decisions. Explaining why your team adjusted its pricing strategy or expanded into a new market builds clarity and confidence. It might seem obvious but most businesses struggle with communication. Our simulations provide students a regular, periodic opportunity to practice communicating their thoughts and ideas.   
2. Teamwork: If students learn nothing else, they will learn what it takes to function as a team (both positively and negatively). Simulations make that unavoidable. The workload is often too much for one person, so dividing responsibilities and trusting your teammates becomes essential. Collaboration often means better outcomes. 
3. Adaptability: Students face uncertainty in our simulations. Market share drops. Competitors launch new products. Customer preferences shift overnight. These force students to pivot quickly and adjust their strategies. Adaptability is the difference between surviving and winning. 
4. Problem-Solving: Every decision round presents a new challenge. Should you increase marketing spend or hold steady? Adjust your price? Invest in new technology or double down on operations? Students sharpen their ability to analyze information, weigh trade-offs, and take action.
5. Leadership: Ever been on a team where no one wants to make the call? Simulations surface leadership moments fast! Each team has a leader responsible for finalizing decisions, but true leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about guiding discussions, building consensus, and standing by the plan when the pressure rises.
6. Work Ethic: Winning teams aren’t just lucky (most of the time!), they need to put in the hours. Students quickly discover that success requires digging into the materials, running the numbers, and showing up for their team. And just as important, they learn what happens when someone doesn’t pull their weight.
7. Time Management: Simulations are fun. Sometimes too fun. Students can easily spend hours analyzing every line of data. Time management becomes critical, balancing the need for deep analysis with the reality of other classes, projects, and life commitments. 
Seven Soft Skills Simulations Put to the Test

How Instructors Can Help

While simulations create the environment for soft skills to grow, instructors can amplify the experience by: 

  • Debriefing after each round
    Lead discussions about what went well, what didn’t, and how students worked as a team. Use the above list as topics students should cover, review, evaluate, consider.
  • Encouraging reflection
    Have students journal weekly about their teamwork, leadership, or adaptability takeaways. Ask the students to turn the journal into a paper summarizing their simulation experience from a “soft skills” point of view.
  • Providing feedback
    Highlight moments where students communicated effectively or adapted under pressure and note with guidance the areas where they could have improved.

Activities to Reinforce Learning

Want to make soft skills even more visible? Try these classroom ideas: 

  • Post-Round Reflection Prompts
    “Did any of you have conflict on your teams this week?” (Bring it out!)
    “How did your team handle conflict this week?” (Lean into the awkward!)
    “What would you do differently next round?” (Reflective learning)
  • Soft Skills Tracker
    Have students rate their skills, e.g. adaptability or teamwork, at the start and end of the simulation to see growth over time. (0-5: how would you rate yourself?)
  • Peer Feedback
    Invite students to give one another anonymous, constructive feedback midway through the exercise and at the end. (Use our peer review survey or create your own!)

The Takeaway

Business simulations aren’t just about numbers and strategy. They’re about people and how they work, lead, and adapt together. By engaging in simulations, students don’t just understand business concepts better; they get to practice the skills that will make them more effective in the workplace, long after the simulation ends. 
Author: Tim Sams
Director of Marketing for Interpretive Simulations.

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