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The militaries of quite a few countries use computer games and simulations to equally educate and coach armed forces and officers in tasks and thought processes connected to their missions and specializations.

This technique is moving (slowly) into the business world as well, and one of the places where it's making the largest inroads is in the realm of executive training.

From the perspective of training new managers in your own organization, computer games and board games can be used to huge effect, though, there are some dangers. First, make sure that you're conscious of what objective you're aiming for - schooling or guidance? Educational games center on one nested set of decisions and tend to remain quite abstract.

A good educational game - focused on project management training for instance - should permit the players to investigate the decision space reflected by that kind of game.

A training simulation is designed to measure how well a student is absorbing and re-enacting doctrines and training techniques.

Though a first person shooting game, like Doom or Counter Strike is no replacement for rifle training for a soldier, it's an outstanding tool to assess if soldiers have learned about movement, communications, and coordinated actions in an aggressive environment, as the same things that will keep you breathing in the field will keep you breathing in the game - moving from cover to concealment, mobilized over watch, and comparable concepts.

Schooling isn't just regurgitation of principles and training, it's an understanding of the decision making processes.

For leaders (and officers in the military) there needs to be an emphasis on education as well as coaching.

A excellent manager should be familiar with the decision creation process of the layer of management that reports to him, and for two levels above him.

The same applies to a manager in most companies.

In addition, an executive (or manager) should to be able to evaluate challenges to his line of actions, be aware of resources accessible to him, and with initiative, be able to deploy those resources without compromising the plans of those above him.

When taking instructions from computer games, center on the decision creation loops, and focus on concepts.

When trying to turn computer games into planned education for your workers, keep in mind that games are intended to be enjoyable.

Games that aren't entertaining tend to get unconstructive criticism from the players, and the teaching imparted by them don't stick.

Center on how the center concepts of the game will assist your new executives work in your business, but let them take pleasure in what they're doing - people learn more, and take in the lessons better, when they're having fun.

So, the next time you're caught playing a computer game in the office, maybe you can justify it as professional improvement.

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