Learning Software Project Management by Simulation – Experience and Recommendations from 20 Years of Teaching

Abstract

Learning software project management skills can be supported in various of ways. In particular, using business games or simulators represents added value in the classroom but also has some drawbacks and should be supported by an adequate didactic concept. This paper summarizes extensive data collected over nearly two decades from the AMEISE simulation environment used in European universities. It focuses on the output of simulation runs and aims to achieve three objectives: first, reporting on the setting, secondly, sharing lessons learned; and, finally, providing 34 recommendations for educational and training contexts. The paper starts by describing the simulation environment and its use in the lectures over the past 20 years; then, it presents an analysis of qualitative data collected, showing that, according to students, the simulation is one of the best parts of a course. Following the structure of a typical didactic handout, challenges in preparation and implementation, as well as external factors influencing the quality of teaching, are then highlighted, and approaches to solutions or improvements are systematically derived. Most of the recommendations in this paper also apply to courses without simulators, which can improve software engineering education in the long term.