IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i23p13277-d691993.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Learning through Play: A Serious Game as a Tool to Support Circular Economy Education and Business Model Innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Saskia Manshoven

    (Unit Sustainable Materials Management, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium)

  • Jeroen Gillabel

    (Unit Sustainable Materials Management, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium)

Abstract

Despite the increasing attention on circular economy at the policy level, the implementation of circular business models in companies is still limited. Many companies are put off by the apparent complexity to translate the general concepts of a circular economy into their business practice. This paper presents the development and testing of a simulation board game that aimed to address this gap between theory and business practice. The board game, Risk&RACE, was developed with the purpose of enabling students and business executives to experiment with circular economy business models. The gameplay was tested with 120 users, and cognitive learning outcomes as well as learning dynamics were assessed using a survey. The results of the game workshops demonstrated that the game advanced the participants’ awareness of the need for a circular economy, their understanding of basic circular economy principles, and their insight in opportunities and challenges of circular business models at the company level. When reflecting on the game as a learning tool, players highlighted its engaging and realistic nature and praised how it stimulated strategic thinking. Complementing the gameplay with a debriefing discussion afterwards encouraged players to reflect upon their newly gained insights, deepening their learning experience.

Suggested Citation

  • Saskia Manshoven & Jeroen Gillabel, 2021. "Learning through Play: A Serious Game as a Tool to Support Circular Economy Education and Business Model Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-25, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:13277-:d:691993
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/23/13277/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/23/13277/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Julia L. K. Nußholz, 2017. "Circular Business Models: Defining a Concept and Framing an Emerging Research Field," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Rocio de la Torre & Bhakti S. Onggo & Canan G. Corlu & Maria Nogal & Angel A. Juan, 2021. "The Role of Simulation and Serious Games in Teaching Concepts on Circular Economy and Sustainable Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Nancy M. P. Bocken & Paavo Ritala & Pontus Huotari, 2017. "The Circular Economy: Exploring the Introduction of the Concept Among S&P 500 Firms," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 487-490, June.
    4. de Jesus, Ana & Mendonça, Sandro, 2018. "Lost in Transition? Drivers and Barriers in the Eco-innovation Road to the Circular Economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 75-89.
    5. Somi Yu & Jieun Lee, 2019. "The Effects of Consumers’ Perceived Values on Intention to Purchase Upcycled Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, February.
    6. Nancy Bocken & Lars Strupeit & Katherine Whalen & Julia Nußholz, 2019. "A Review and Evaluation of Circular Business Model Innovation Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-25, April.
    7. Kirchherr, Julian & Piscicelli, Laura & Bour, Ruben & Kostense-Smit, Erica & Muller, Jennifer & Huibrechtse-Truijens, Anne & Hekkert, Marko, 2018. "Barriers to the Circular Economy: Evidence From the European Union (EU)," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 264-272.
    8. Walter R. Stahel, 2010. "The Performance Economy," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, edition 2, number 978-0-230-27490-7.
    9. Mariale Moreno & Carolina De los Rios & Zoe Rowe & Fiona Charnley, 2016. "A Conceptual Framework for Circular Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-15, September.
    10. Walter R. Stahel, 2010. "The Performance Economy," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, edition 0, number 978-0-230-28884-3.
    11. Mateusz Lewandowski, 2016. "Designing the Business Models for Circular Economy—Towards the Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-28, January.
    12. Phil Brown & Nancy Bocken & Ruud Balkenende, 2018. "Towards Understanding Collaboration Within Circular Business Models," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Lars Moratis & Frans Melissen & Samuel O. Idowu (ed.), Sustainable Business Models, chapter 0, pages 169-201, Springer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Damjan Krajnc & Darko Kovačič & Eva Žunec & Kristijan Brglez & Rebeka Kovačič Lukman, 2022. "Youth Awareness and Attitudes towards a Circular Economy to Achieve the Green Deal Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    2. Salih Çevikarslan & Carsten Gelhard & Jörg Henseler, 2022. "Improving the Material and Financial Circularity of the Plastic Packaging Value Chain in The Netherlands: Challenges, Opportunities, and Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, June.
    3. Alexander Vélez & Rebeca Kerstin Alonso & Markel Rico-González, 2023. "Business Simulation Games for the Development of Intrinsic Motivation-Boosting Sustainability: Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Jingyuan Fu & Meng Sun & Minhong Wang, 2022. "Simulation-Assisted Learning about a Complex Economic System: Impact on Low- and High-Achieving Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marina P. P. Pieroni & Tim C. McAloone & Daniela C. A. Pigosso, 2019. "Configuring New Business Models for Circular Economy through Product–Service Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Animesh Ghosh & Prabha Bhola & Uthayasankar Sivarajah, 2022. "Emerging Associates of the Circular Economy: Analysing Interactions and Trends by a Mixed Methods Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-41, August.
    3. Thomas Nyström & Katherine A. Whalen & Derek Diener & Marcel den Hollander & Robert H. W. Boyer, 2021. "Managing Circular Business Model Uncertainties with Future Adaptive Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Armaghan Chizaryfard & Paolo Trucco & Cali Nuur, 2021. "The transformation to a circular economy: framing an evolutionary view," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 475-504, April.
    5. Phil Brown & Nancy Bocken & Ruud Balkenende, 2020. "How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, February.
    6. Piera Centobelli & Roberto Cerchione & Davide Chiaroni & Pasquale Del Vecchio & Andrea Urbinati, 2020. "Designing business models in circular economy: A systematic literature review and research agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 1734-1749, May.
    7. Okechukwu Okorie & Fiona Charnley & Jennifer Russell & Ashutosh Tiwari & Mariale Moreno, 2021. "Circular business models in high value manufacturing: Five industry cases to bridge theory and practice," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1780-1802, May.
    8. Maryam Hina & Chetna Chauhan & Rajat Sharma & Amandeep Dhir, 2023. "Circular economy business models as pillars of sustainability: Where are we now, and where are we heading?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 6182-6209, December.
    9. Julian Lauten-Weiss & Stephan Ramesohl, 2021. "The Circular Business Framework for Building, Developing and Steering Businesses in the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Anita Ollár & Paula Femenías & Ulrike Rahe & Kaj Granath, 2020. "Foresights from the Swedish Kitchen: Four Circular Value Opportunities for the Built Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-21, August.
    11. Massimiliano Borrello & Stefano Pascucci & Luigi Cembalo, 2020. "Three Propositions to Unify Circular Economy Research: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, May.
    12. Gilbert Silvius & Aydan Ismayilova & Vicente Sales-Vivó & Micol Costi, 2021. "Exploring Barriers for Circularity in the EU Furniture Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-25, October.
    13. Miha Dominko & Kaja Primc & Renata Slabe-Erker & Barbara Kalar, 2023. "A bibliometric analysis of circular economy in the fields of business and economics: towards more action-oriented research," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 5797-5830, July.
    14. Johannes Matschewsky, 2019. "Unintended Circularity?—Assessing a Product-Service System for its Potential Contribution to a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-27, May.
    15. Aurelija Burinskienė & Olga Lingaitienė & Artūras Jakubavičius, 2022. "Core Elements Affecting the Circularity of Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-21, July.
    16. Ghinoi, Stefano & Silvestri, Francesco & Steiner, Bodo, 2020. "The role of local stakeholders in disseminating knowledge for supporting the circular economy: a network analysis approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    17. Julia L. K. Nußholz, 2017. "Circular Business Models: Defining a Concept and Framing an Emerging Research Field," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-16, October.
    18. Svetlana Ratner & Konstantin Gomonov & Inna Lazanyuk & Svetlana Revinova, 2021. "Barriers and Drivers for Circular Economy 2.0 on the Firm Level: Russian Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-24, October.
    19. Manal Hamam & Gaetano Chinnici & Giuseppe Di Vita & Gioacchino Pappalardo & Biagio Pecorino & Giulia Maesano & Mario D’Amico, 2021. "Circular Economy Models in Agro-Food Systems: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    20. Deborah Sumter & Jotte de Koning & Conny Bakker & Ruud Balkenende, 2021. "Key Competencies for Design in a Circular Economy: Exploring Gaps in Design Knowledge and Skills for a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:13277-:d:691993. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.