SYSTEMIC: A Simulation Game for Experiential Learning in Systems Engineering

On April 9, 2025, a full-day workshop titled SYSTEMIC - A Simulation Game for Systems Engineering was hosted by the Institute for Mechanical Engineering (IMW) at TU Clausthal, Aula Academia. The event provided an engaging and hands-on introduction to Systems Engineering (SE), combining structured content with an interactive, team-based simulation, and was organized and moderated by Dr. Phil. Apoorv Naresh Bhatt, Theresa Ammersdörfer, Roman Stephan, and Thomas Schumacher.

SYSTEMIC is a specially developed simulation game used in workshops with various industrial partners to demonstrate and teach the practical aspects of SE in organizational contexts. Created by IMW (Chair of Integrated Product Development, Prof. Dr.-Ing. David Inkermann) in collaboration with BeSu.Solutions GmbH, the game addresses real-world challenges in SE implementation, including unclear benefits, limited expertise, and lack of management support.

During the workshop, 34 students took on different roles within a fictional organization and worked collaboratively to solve engineering tasks. Through the game's structured flow, they explored essential systems engineering components such as processes, methods, tools, and roles. Beyond technical learning, the workshop emphasized interdisciplinary teamwork, communication, decision-making, and the ability to collaborate across development domains. The competitive yet playful environment made for an enjoyable and memorable learning experience.

The successful delivery of this workshop highlighted the potential of game-based learning to simplify complex topics and inspire student engagement. IMW looks forward to hosting more such innovative formats in the future.

If you would like to learn more about the development and use of simulation games or are interested in further training opportunities in SE, please contact us directly at: ipe@imw.tu-clausthal.de.

We are always looking forward to exciting discussions about Systems Engineering and game-based learning.

"SYSTEMIC" - Let's do Systems Engineering!