Framework for Gamifying Production Management Principles in Education with Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Games

Abstract

This paper introduces a framework for integrating gamification principles into production management education and production via commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software. It synthesizes multidisciplinary insights from management science (logistics), psychology, and computer science to demonstrate how gamified interactions can effectively represent complex management concepts such as lean manufacturing, workflow optimization, TOC, and resource allocation. The framework emphasizes factors like motivation, engagement, and cognitive retention, as well as computational considerations, realistic simulation, adaptive feedback, and comparisons to mathematically optimal solutions. The goal of the study is to outline these games can be repurposed as effective, low-barrier and relatively low-cost tools for teaching complex production systems and developing practical decision-making skills in both academic and professional settings.