An Analysis of ABSEL: Its Past Achievements and Future Prospects

Abstract

This year begins ABSEL’s fourth year of existence. Consequently, sufficient time has passed to permit an evaluation of its achievements and failures. There is evidence that business simulation usage in collegiate education today has fallen far short of original expectations. Hence, ABSEL’s founding came at a time when progress in business simulation usage needed assistance. Therefore, a basic purpose of this paper is to place in some perspective a role for ABSEL in the future development and use of business simulations. However, an understanding of ABSEL’s future role cannot be considered apart from an awareness of the history of business simulation development. Thus, the first part of this paper will be concerned with reviewing some of the major developments of simulation usage in the past twenty years.