The virtual company: a re-configurable open shell for problem-based learning in industrial engineering

The interactive multimedia e-learning system (IMELS) is an e-learning courseware for industrial engineering developed at the University of Hong Kong. The system adopts a problem-based learning approach to the teaching and learning through the delivery of realistic case problems using interactive multimedia technology over the World-Wide-Web. The main features of the system include a multimedia portfolio of industrial engineering, an electronic knowledge base and the virtual company suit that presents the case problem that exists in two virtual enterprises. As the system is designed to enhance the effectiveness of teaching industrial engineers who will become more capable individuals to fit into their future careers through the exposition of vivid case problems in their learning process, one of the main features of the system is its ability to create computer-based material for case problems in a flexible and efficient manner. In this respect, the open-shell architecture of the virtual company, which consists of a client-based interface that runs on user PCs and a server-based repository, enables web-based materials to be loaded and organized in real time so that the content of individual virtual companies can be dynamically configured to cater for each case problem. Apart from the introduction of the IMELS, this paper focuses on the design and the functionality of the virtual company. The unique feature of the configurable animated entities will be explained and is illustrated with a case problem that exists in the GX Port Holdings Corporation virtual company. q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.