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The militaries of quite a few countries use computer games and simulations to equally teach and coach soldiers and officers in tasks and thought processes connected to their missions and specializations.

This technique is moving (slowly) into the corporate world as well, and one of the places where it's making the greatest inroads is in the realm of decision-making training.

From the perspective of training novice managers in your own organization, computer games and board games can be used to huge effect, though, there are some dangers. First, make certain that you're aware of what objective you're aiming for - schooling or training? Educational games center on one nested set of decisions and tend to remain fairly theoretical.

A good didactic game - focused on project management training for instance - should allow the players to explore the decision space reflected by that kind of game.

A training simulation is designed to determine how well a student is getting familiar and re-enacting doctrines and training techniques.

Though a first person shooting game, like Doom or Counter Strike is no substitute for rifle training for a soldier, it's an excellent tool to see if soldiers have learned about movement, communications, and coordinated actions in an aggressive environment, as the same things that will keep you breathing in the field will keep you breathing in the game - moving from cover to concealment, mobilized over watch, and similar concepts.

Schooling isn't just regurgitation of doctrine and training, it's acquainting of the decision creation processes.

For leaders (and officers in the armed forces) there needs to be stress on education as well as guidance.

A excellent executive should be familiar with the decision creation process of the layer of management that reports to him, and for two levels higher than him.

The same applies to a executive in most businesses.

Furthermore, an executive (or manager) should to be able to assess challenges to his course of actions, be aware of assets accessible to him, and with initiative, be capable to use those assets without compromising the tactics of those higher than him.

When taking lessons from computer games, center on the decision creation loops, and focus on concepts.

When trying to turn computer games into planned education for your workers, keep in mind that games are supposed to be enjoyable.

Games that aren't entertaining tend to get negative criticism from the players, and the teaching imparted by them don't stick.

Center on how the core concepts of the game will help your new executives work in your company, but let them enjoy in what they're doing - people find out more, and absorb the lessons better, when they're having pleasure.

So, the next time you're trapped playing a computer game in the workplace, maybe you can justify it as certified development.

Read full article on Using computer and other games to increase your product management skills