Understanding organizational implications of change processes: a multimedia simulation approach

Executive information systems (EIS), and other types of computer based and communication systems are increasingly used in companies to support major change processes leading to the redesign of work processes, information flows, responsibilities for resource allocation, and decision making. However, the high failure rate in implementing such systems is an indication of the resistance to change normally encountered in organizations and the limited skills of IS managers in the domain of change management. The “EIS Simulation”, a multimedia business simulation, has been successfully used to increase managerial awareness of the dynamics and the problems arising when implementing information systems which have important implications for work processes and power redistribution within companies. The paper illustrates the innovative design of this multimedia simulation and the broader pedagogical value of such an experimental learning approach