Use of “flight simulator” for training IT managers in investment decision making

Abstract

In this paper it has been suggested that the findings of research on managerial decisionmaking may be relevant in IT, but that research needs to be carried out on the factors that influence the decisions of IT managers in order to develop an effective “flight Simulator”. While this is useful as a first step, the paper argues that a systems thinking/ systems dynamics approach is necessary for developing flight simulators as learning environments for managers. The advantage of SD is not merely that it captures the complexity of decision-making processes; it also offers a way of exploring the impact of change on decision-making over time. The paper describes the model, identifies a number of propositions that can be derived from it and suggests how these may be tested empirically through a flight simulator.