Serious Play Conference

Serious Games For

Leader and Team Training

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

August 23, 2012

Objective

Provide an overview of what I think makes a

“good” serious game an effective tool for

Leader and Team TrainingLeader and Team Training

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

Overview

• Training must be a continues cycle of study, practice and

reflection.

• Complex or abstract concepts become tangible when using

a serious game

• Use of the game promotes improved visualization of events • Use of the game promotes improved visualization of events

with respect to time, space, distance, and capabilities.

• Students can experiment and make bold decisions without

suffering catastrophic failure.

• Experience can be rapidly repeated.

• Games can dramatically and effectively link cause and

effect.

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

My “Ah-hah” Moment…

CGSC, Spring 1998

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“Decisive Action” Exercise - 1998

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DA - PE 2 Combined Obstacle Overlay

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DA - PE 1 Combined Obstacle OverlayDA - PE 2 RED Situation

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DA - PE 1 Combined Obstacle OverlayDA - PE 2 BLUE Situation

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“Decisive Action” Exercise - 1998

RED – Student Group 1Task: Seize TABRON Purpose: To establish a shorter line of communication

BLUE – Student Group 2Task: Defeat the III Red CorpsPurpose: To set the conditions for offensive operations

Instructions to Both Groups:

1. Both sides will fight using U.S. doctrine

2. 6 hours to plan, 5 hours to “fight”, 1 hour for AAR

3. Before Battle: Quick briefing on estimate of situation and plan

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

Attacker’s Most Likely and Dangerous Courses of Action

BlueG2_ECOA.wmv

BLUE Intelligence Officer

BlueG2_ECOA.wmv

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Attacker’s Plan

Red_COA_Short.wmv

RED Commander

Red_COA_Short.wmv

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• Students were very shocked to discover their plans were so

predictable.

• During the next 4 battles, they made every effort to out-

think their opponent.

Results of “First Battle”

• I discovered the great learning benefit of fighting “Blue

against Blue”.

• I realized that I was a mediocre instructor and a mediocre

officer within a mediocre system. We were great at process

(science of war), but weak at applying the science (art of

war).

Another REDFOR Group…

Play A301History.wmv

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

How does a person become a strong leader or an effective

team member?team member?

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

Like any skill training, it must be cyclic.

Study

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

PracticeReflection

Science

Art

Where do most leaders and teams expend their efforts?

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

Study

After all, we have a wealth of experience.

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

PracticeReflection

Science

Art

What is a better model for continued growth and success?

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

Conduct quality practice and allocate more time and energy for selected study and critical reflection

Selected Study

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

Science

ArtQuality Practice

Critical Reflection

Findings• An effective training approach supported by a

“good” serious game can dramatically improve

leadership and team skills.

• Time spent learning to play the game is almost

always wasted time!always wasted time!

• Use crawl, walk, run, approach to increase training

performance.

• Emphasize process over outcomes.

• The game must rapidly and continuously engage the

students

• Task repetition with additional factors increasingly

difficult situations is critical to success© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

Findings• Instructor interaction should take place during the

exercise, as needed, to highlight problems, coach

before continuing further.

• Require students to be responsible for much of

their learningtheir learning

• Create and inject compelling problems as needed to

force student actions.

• Simple videos introduced at the right time can

create powerful effects.

• No matter how good the game, the teacher will

make or break the quality of the learning experience

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.

®

Jim LunsfordPresident

Decisive-Point

816-584-2882 (Direct)

816-584-2883 (FAX)

jim@decisive-point.com

www.decisive-point.com

© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.