Research
What happens when we rehearse reality
Our work studies structured simulation (role-play) as a tool in education — combining mind and body in a model of real life.
73
simulations
238
questionnaires
90
participants in three groups
Key finding
Simulation significantly raised psychological empowerment — and it lasted.
After one year, simulation groups showed a significant rise in empowerment: perceived control, a sense of competence and ownership of goals. Groups that only discussed the issues showed a decline.
Discussion only
Improved awareness of:
- Why ethical dilemmas matter in communication
- The value of teamwork
- The need for management support
- Avoiding aggression and punishment
Discussion + simulation
A far wider spectrum of understanding:
- Empathy
- How the setting shapes a conversation
- The timing of a discussion
- Boundaries and egalitarian discourse
- The value of showing weakness to teammates
- The influence of life outside work
- Creative ways to use each person's strengths
Foundations
Simulations & the brain
Rehearsing a realistic scenario stores it across the brain's systems for perception and action, shaping how we predict and respond next time.
Authentic learning
Participants 'step into the shoes' of others in a social microcosm, tackling ill-defined problems as they would in real life.
Experiential learning
Active practice is internalised far more deeply than lectures — especially in agile and project-management settings.
Going online (OTBS)
Online Team-Based Simulations train the empathy, etiquette and on-camera presence that global virtual teams now depend on.