WAGESIM: A Wage and Salary Administration Simulation

Abstract

A three phase simulation of a Wage and Salary Section of a Personnel Department in a fictitious organization was developed for a Wage and Salary Administration course. The purpose of the simulation was primarily to provide students with a knowledge of various aspects of the compensation process and to give them an understanding of the frame of reference and problems encountered by compensation specialists who work in actual organizations. In Phase I of the simulation, student teams prepared a job analysis questionnaire, conducted job analysis interviews, and wrote job descriptions. In Phase II, student teams developed a point factor system of job evaluation for three hundred and fifty clerical employees and developed and priced their wage structure. During Phase III of the simulation, student teams solved between 35 and 40 In- Basket exercises. At the conclusion of the simulation, students completed a 6 item evaluation questionnaire with reference to the simulation.