ERP-based simulation as a learning environment for SME business

Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) lack an adequately skilled workforce and managers, since university education generally focuses on large enterprises and their needs. Complementary skills needed by SMEs have been of lesser interest even though several approaches, methods and environments could be utilized. For example, enterprise resource planning systems, business simulation games and practice enterprise models all support the learning of complementary and practical skills the SMEs desperately need. Yet all these learning environments are problematic as they approach business phenomena from narrow viewpoints. In this paper, we present a learning environment that merges these three environments so that they complement each other, allowing the learning of the daily management of SMEs. In this way future employees are better equipped when they enter the labour market, being ready to contribute to the business of SMEs. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.