Project board game process

Abstract

An example method for modeling a process as a game includes establishing a set of game rules, establishing a game board and analyzing a process by playing the game board in accordance with the established game rules. In one example, a known process chart is designated as the game board. In another example, the game board is established by alternating turns between each of a plurality of players. Each of the plurality of players navigate playing stations of the game board to analyze the process modeled by the game board.

1 . A method of modeling a process by playing a game, comprising the steps of:
 (a) establishing a set of game rules;   (b) establishing a game board;   (c) analyzing a process by playing the game board established in said step (b) in accordance with the game rules established in said step (a).   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step (a) comprises:
 requesting an initial amount of simulated currency for playing the game board.   
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step (a) comprises
 associating each of a plurality of game pieces with a staff member type and a wage rate.   
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step (a) comprises:
 establishing a set of process goals for improving the process.   
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises:
 designating a known process chart for making an existing product as the game board.   
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises:
 alternating turns between each of a plurality of players to establish the game board.   
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein each of the alternating turns comprises performing at least one of the steps of:
 adding a playing station to the game board;   removing a playing station from the game board; and   creating an action card associated with each of the playing stations of the game board.   
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step (c) comprises:
 alternating turns between each of the plurality of players to navigate the game board.   
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said step of navigating the game board comprises navigating between a start station and a finish station. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said step (c) comprises:
 selecting at least one action card; and   performing an instruction associated with the at least one action card.   
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said step (c) comprises at least one of:
 creating a new action card during the playing of the game;   adding a playing station to the game board during the playing of the game; and   removing a playing station from the game board during the playing of the game.   
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising step of:
 (d) requesting an accounting to establish a winning player of the game.   
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said step (d) further comprises:
 tallying a sum of at least three factors to determine the winning player of the game, wherein the at least three factors include GOOD, FAST and CHEAP.   
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the process comprises an engineering process. 
   
   
       15 . An educational game for engineers, comprising:
 a game board having at least one start station, at least one process station; at least one review station, at least conditional station, at least one feedback loop, at least one junction point and at least one finish station;   a plurality of game pieces for marking a playing location on said game board, wherein said plurality of game pieces represent an employee type and a wage rate;   a simulated currency; and   at least one set of action cards associated with each of said at least one process station, said at least one review station and said at least one conditional station.   
   
   
       16 . The educational game as recited in  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of flow path arrows connecting each of said at least one start station, said at least one process station, said at least one review station, said at least one conditional station, said at least one junction point and said at least one finish station to define a process chart. 
   
   
       17 . The educational game as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said process chart comprises an engineering process chart. 
   
   
       18 . The educational game as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one set of action cards includes a plurality of actions cards each having an action instruction and a cost associated with said action instruction. 
   
   
       19 . The educational game as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a score keeping system including at least three factors to establish a game winner, a sum of said at least three factors being tallied to determine said game winner, wherein said at least three factors include GOOD, FAST and CHEAP. 
   
   
       20 . The educational game as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said game board is established by alternating turns between each of a plurality of players.